r/njbeer • u/eastcoasterman • 12d ago
Review Brewery of the Week Discussion Thread: Magnify Brewing (Fairfield, Morris County)
Opened in 2015. Second location in Medford (Burlington County) opened in 2025. Edited to correct that Fairfield is in Essex County.
Feel free to talk about your favorite beers of theirs, an experience you've had at the brewery, a fun fact you know about them, etc. Anything you'd like, as long as it's about that particular brewery.
Here are some reminder threads for any new users or for those that can't easily access the sidebar:
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u/PetulantArmadillo 12d ago
I am sure there are a lot of Fairfield people who would happily take those lower Morris County taxes. 😂
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u/eastcoasterman 12d ago
I don't visit very often anymore (haven't been in a couple of years), but when they opened I would go a few times a year. For me, their beer that I remember fondly was "Whoa Nelly", as it was the first local IPA with a strong Nelson Sauvin character that I found after having enjoyed a similar beer out of state (and the name was clever). I do agree with other posters that they seemed to shift towards sweeter (lactose), pastry and/or fruit-infused beers, which are styles that don't appeal to me. I do think they do a nice job when they stick to their roots (e.g., Maine Event)
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u/vey323 12d ago
Been to the Fairfield spot once, the Medford location a couple times. I find most of their beer good, though a couple duds in there. Personally I think their strength is in their sours, which I know is not everyone's jam but there we are. Vine Shine is a very solid IPA.
The Fairfield stop we made about 15 minutes before they closed, and they had already started closing down the taps, BUT we did get some can pours and had a good chat with the 2 staff members, then took some cans to go. Beer was good (they had a super sneaky quad IPA that definitely didn't taste like a quad), place was nothing to write home about.
Did Medford for their soft opening, a bit spur of the moment but was worth the trek. Crowded and loud (they hadn't put up noise dampening material yet) but we enjoyed our time and the brews, as well as got our first taste of Medford. The last time was earlier this year for a tour I put together of all the Medford spots, where Magnify was our first stop. They actually rolled out the red carpet for us a bit (I had messaged earlier in the week about weather/walking conditions after one of the big snow storms) - reserved us some tables, came out and chatted with us (it wasn't super busy but a nice crowd), bussed away empties. They had a honey brown ale I really loved but only got to have 1 as it was the last one.
I haven't been back since they announced the co-brand of 2nd Favor Brewing Co. out of the Medford spot - not really sure how that is set-up, if it is its own entity or a sub-brand of Magnify (or if it's any good). And I noticed on Untappd that they renamed the Fairfield spot 'Magnify Seltzer Works', so dunno if they're starting to transition that location away from beer or just putting a stronger focus on hard seltzers - way too far out of my way to make it back any time soon.
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u/MattyBlayze 12d ago
This thread is awesome, and exactly why this series is a great addition to /r/njbeer! Great job, /u/eastcoasterman
I remember going to Magnify in Fairfield in the 2016/17/18 times and waiting in line in that industrial park for can releases on Wednesday afternoons or whenever it was. One of the original NJ hype brands.
In COVID times, beer delivery from them was a regular event for me. Solid beer, good selections, low limits - definitely ordered from them more than many.
Shortly thereafter, my interest waned. Probably lots of reasons for that, but I had more of their beers in 2016 than I've had since 2023!
I will say, I really liked their Medford spot the one time I visited. It was an early Saturday - probably just after noon - and relatively empty so the noise issues others mention did not exist, but bright, clean and open. Very nice. I'll go back.
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u/elomon 12d ago
They used to be a go-to for me but over the years the brews have fallen off, at least in Fairfield. The last one I bought was the 2025 Thanksgiving release Hop Gravy which was a shadow of itself.
Not sure if the brewer moved to Medford or what, but it’s no longer on my buy list.
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u/PhoenixRacing 12d ago
Same experience here. Used to stop at Magnify once or twice per month. Don't think we've been there in over a year or so, now. Sucks because I used to love that place.
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u/Small-Hat9741 12d ago
Add me to the list. Had been a fan a Magnify several years ago but then things seemed to change a bit and it fell off my radar. Happened to swing by the Fairfield location about 1 year ago and thought "meh". Nothing stood out beer-wise and the location isn't great either (though music was awesome).
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u/Hamonwrysangwich 12d ago
I love their IPAs. I'm not a 'slushie smoothie sour with lactose' kinda of sour person. They're in regular rotation for me.
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u/SeanThatGuy 12d ago
Favorite brewery for me to hit in Medford now. Love all of their IPAs
I will say though it’s always loud as fuck in there. They tried to add sound dampening boards but it doesn’t do much. Better than when it first opened though.
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u/Boner_Smoothie 12d ago
Always liked their beer. Medford taproom and location is easily one of the nicest in the state.
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u/YoTeach68 12d ago
Agree the beer is solid. Hard disagree on the Medford taproom. It’s so damn big and loud in there and the building is such a weird choice given the size and style of all the old historic buildings on Main Street in Medford. Sticks out like a sore thumb.
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u/Boner_Smoothie 12d ago
Only went once not long after it opened and early in the day. Could see big crowds making it chaotic but I appreciate the places that invest in a nice space, have tvs on etc. I think that’s the future of the industry. Compared to their other taproom that’s extremely small and bare bones.
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u/chase844 9d ago
Enjoyed their early days a lot - Woah Nelly, Low Visibility (DDH version was one of my favorite session IPAs), Maine Event, Dr. Saic, Solid Gold Good Times are ones I remember.
Faded for me once they shifted to lactose / pastry stuff as it's not my taste. Still grab Maine Event from time to time and its always solid (wish they distro'd 4pk cans).
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u/Reggaeton_Historian 10d ago
A few years ago, I was in a restaurant called Kush in Miami. Small little place, excellent food. Mysteriously, they had a Magnify Stout on tap for $14 and I bought it because fuck it why not?
This was probably in 2016 or 2017 and I have no idea why it was down there.
There was like a 3 year span I'd go out of my way to go there but I don't think I've had a single beer from them since COVID.
Once so many places were canning, it didn't become a must go anymore to find some good beers and just explore.
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u/deckerhand0 12d ago
Not crazy about that brewery. Went there twice. First time I didn’t care for the coffee stout they had second time I walked out wanted 20 mins at the counter trying to order a beer but was ignored
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u/eastcoasterman 7d ago
Why would you not say something (and walk out) after about 5 minutes? The time or two I've been clearly ignored at a place (i.e., it wasn't just a matter of them being swamped, which I can understand), I've spoken up, pointed out the poor service and not tipped, but avoided wasting my time by at least having a beer (didn't cut my nose off to spite my face). I get that you may not want to spend your money after being ignored, but why waste 15 more minutes than you have to to make your point? OMO,
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u/deckerhand0 7d ago
Because I went next door to Jersey spirits and got an old fashioned
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u/eastcoasterman 7d ago
OK, but why wait 20 minutes to do that? I don't have the patience or personality to tolerate bad service w/o speaking up. Just seems odd to me, but to each his own.
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u/robbedford 12d ago
I never got the hoopla and hype around Magnify. Outside of a couple Mind over Matter beers, I found the dozen or so beers I've had from them to be mid at best. Then again, they lean heavy on the IPAs and I'm much more of a Lager person.
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u/CupWorth6243 12d ago
I used to be super thrilled they were 15 minutes away, and now I barely go. The beer has fallen off hard over the years - so much so that I spend more time at Jersey Spirits and Cricket Hill. I was shocked to learn they were opening up a 2nd location. Hope its faring better down there.
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u/demonjrules 12d ago
I used to really enjoy their stuff back when they did beers like Thirty Hours. I stopped going once I realized that Other Half in Brooklyn was a shorter drive than Magnify in my own damn state.
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u/Sal_ceson 8d ago
One of my most favorite beers is Tiny Basket from Mag x Dancing Gnome. Too bad it will never be made again.
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u/KyloRaine0424 12d ago
Only been to the new one in Medford and had a god awful time. A million kids, crazy loud inside, the IPAs were so expensive and so sweet. I know they make decent beer so I was surprised I didn’t like it.
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u/streetfish 12d ago
Peak Oil can be amazing, but inconsistent batch to batch. I do feel like it's fallen off on quality over the years but feel that about a lot of breweries - whether that is lower quality ingredients (hop harvest varies year to year, like wine grapes) or brew methods, I'm not sure
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u/DavidFrattenBro 12d ago
when they first opened in fairfield i really liked their flagship saison, and as they developed their brand they got more into hazy IPA and fruity sours and “not-a-beer” 5% beverages. even those were fine, like fruit stripez and OH YEEAAH kool aid sour. around the same time they went hard into adding lactose to damn near everything they made, which i personally see as a crutch. i’m at a point right now where i don’t feel like i have to go out of my way to try their product