What Middletown's Newest Brewery, Ross Brewing, Is Like

BELFORD, NJ — Middletown is a town that like its beer.

But nothing could prepare John Cocozza when he saw people lining up at 9 a.m. this morning for the opening of his business, Ross Brewing, in Port Monmouth.

"I said, 'We don't even open until noon!'" said Cocozza Friday afternoon, grand opening day, and seeming like he'd imbibed more coffee than beer. "People have been coming by all week asking if we are open. First of all, I'm so grateful to the Middletown community because, as a business owner, you work and you work and you work to open a business and sometimes you don't know if people will come. So to see this many people is amazing. Thank you to Middletown."

So far, the top two questions he's been asked are: "Can I bring kids? Can I bring dogs? Yes and yes!"

The line of cars went past The Dunes condo Friday afternoon, as hundreds of Middletown residents lined up to check out the new brewery.

"It's just nice to have a new place nearby, a nice place to sit outside and have a beer," said Craig Sanford, 48, a Port Monmouth resident who lives close enough to walk. "It's nice to have any new business in Port Monmouth and Middletown."

Blame the lines on the 90-degree day. Or well, it is beer. Or maybe it's just Middletown's eagerness — and happiness — to see someone putting money into its Belford section, a part of town that was devastated by Superstorm Sandy.

No matter the reason, Ross Brewing is the place to be Friday night and all weekend long in Middletown. They have two food trucks outside — tacos and lobster rolls — and will have live music on the dock from 7-10 p.m. Friday, 1-3 Saturday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday. They open tomorrow at 12 noon and same time Sunday. Due to New Jersey's strict brewery laws, they are not allowed to serve food. You can bring food with you, order and have anything delivered or use UberEats or DoorDash. Ross Brewing has many local menus on hand.

Of course there's the existing Belford Brewing right around the corner on Leonardville Road, which first opened in 2014. It was Belford Brewing that first brought the craft beer industry to Middletown.

But Cocozza said Mike and Kevin Enny, the brothers who own Belford Brewing, welcomed him and a new brewery to the area. The two breweries have even shared hops when one runs out.

Cocozza bought the building from Shoal Harbor Lobster Co. in 2020 and spent the past two years gut renovating it — which including removing three large pools for the lobsters. He donated them to the seafood co-op.

The brewery will have 15 different beers on tap — Cocozza got his start brewing beer out of his garage in Little Silver — and has outdoor seating in the front and a lovely waterfront area in the back. There are future plans to open a tasting room and an event space overlooking Belford Seafood Co-op, but beyond that Raritan Bay.

He said a Middletown-based florist, Full Sun Floral, already contacted him about taking promotional photos at his waterside dock.

"She said you're definitely going to have engagement parties here and maybe even weddings," he said. "When the sun starts to set and it's all pink and orange over Raritan Bay, you just have no idea how beautiful it is."

The brewery is called Ross Brewing Co. and they are located at 909 Main St. in Port Monmouth.

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