WESTWOOD—If you don’t yet know the difference between a flight, a growler, and a crowler you’ll need to visit Westwood’s new craft brewery to update your beer vocabulary — and find out what’s on tap at Five Dimes Brewery, the Pascack Valley’s first brewpub.
The venue, long anticipated, officially opened the weekend of April 22–24, with a few soft openings before that to make sure the taps were working and the staff was ready, said its owner, a longtime home beer brewer and beer connoisseur.
(The announcement was made April 7, National Beer Day.)
Special thanks went to Midnight Moonlight and the Police Pipes & Drums of Bergen County “for an incredible live music experience,” and Cakes of Wrath “for the coolest cake around.”
Owner Chris Alepa, who purchased the former L.N. Grand Five and Dime store about two years ago, was instrumental in informing the latest borough master plan update, which now adds brewpubs as a permitted use, and was committed to an overhaul that respects the site’s nearly six decades as a beloved five and dime. (One nice touch: the store’s old sign has a place of honor inside.)
Garage-style doors will open to the sidewalk on Westwood Avenue amid gorgeous weather, inviting time well spent.
The brewery is spearheaded by brewmaster McLain Cheney and Jessica Davies, who, reviews said, crushed it.
“People really had a good time, a great experience, and were coming all weekend. We were full every day, it’s been a little nutty this first week,” Alepa told Pascack Press on April 25.
He said that staff made sure the new brewpub kept to its 200-person capacity, with lines outside throughout the weekend.
In contrast to what we saw on a tour Alepa gave us in November 2021 — when exposed framing, concrete, and services dominated — inside are brick walls and pillars, wood paneling, gleaming wood floors, long wood tables and a large dark-wood bar. On the ground floor, patrons enjoy at large and small group tables, plus bar seating.
Throughout, Alepa has adopted the Buffalo Nickel as his brewpub’s logo, in honor of its roots as a five-and-dime store. Buffalo photos and murals adorn the walls throughout. Even the tap handles are capped by a buffalo nickel design.
The three-level brewery comprises approximately 7,000 square feet. A mezzanine above the brewhouse offers extra seating while a rooftop beer garden, ringed by what feel like reassuring battlements, add another 1,600 square feet, and yield unparalleled views of this part of the central business district.
The brewery also offers an enclosed room upstairs that’s available for private events.
Alepa, a chiropractor, owner of Select Wellness in Westwood, said many supply delays were caused by the pandemic in getting the place up and running — including a shipment of kegs that were ordered from Canada and were held up by U.S. Customs.
He said kegs were not available from U.S. manufacturers. Due to delays, it took them more than 45 days to get them in place. He said they arrived only days ahead of opening weekend.
Alepa said eight beers were on tap for opening weekend, including a selection of India pale ales, a Belgian strong blonde, Pascack Pilsner, several lighter beers, and a stout. He said the brewery also did well with its homemade hard seltzers, and a non-alcoholic root beer.
Lo Cinco, an easy-drinking Mexican lager, was named “in homage to the many trades that built our beautiful brewery, which required many more than five,” Alepa posted April 20.
“This is a very great thing for this town,” Alepa told us. He said that hundreds of residents, including families, have visited, and many also bought food from surrounding restaurants, shops, and eateries and enjoyed them with libations at Five Dimes Brewery.
He said that the pub would offer pre-packaged items, such as chips, but for now will focus on the brewery and offering new craft beers.
Alepa said the brewpub offers 64-ounce growlers, or glass containers, to transport any beer selection on tap, along with so-called crowlers, a 32-ounce aluminum vessel similar to a regular beer can.
He said soon the front refrigerator will hold a selection of crowlers that patrons can pop in and purchase or purchase on their way out. He also said he hopes to soon begin canning certain Five Dimes craft beers for purchase on site and at local restaurants and liquor stores.