Vineland is on deck to become a beer lover’s paradise, thanks to an assist from a flourishing brewery with a passion for great brews and a clear vision for the future. South Jersey’s own Wander Back Beerworks is laying down roots in the neighborhood by opening a new home there later this year, reports local media outlet 42 Freeway.
The brewery and tasting room will be occupying a 7,500 square foot space on the ground floor of the Mori building, located at 830 East Landis Avenue. Owners Justin Vitti, Brian Hink, and Christopher Henke offered What Now Philadelphia some insight into their newest venture. They explain that the Vineland region’s relative dearth of breweries allows Wander Back to gracefully fill a need-as well as being geographically beneficial. They state: “There is a huge hole when looking at the NJ brewery map and absence of any other brewery in the city, and only one other in the county, meant there was room to grow and no need to ‘step on toes’ of existing operations. Also, we are in very close proximity to our local grain provider, Rabbit Hill Farms, which helps us keep it local and be more efficient & sustainable with our grain.”
The unique state of the beer scene presents the trio with a powerful opportunity to serve enthusiasts in a way that is specific and honest to Wander Back. They say: “Beer is in a weird time right now – people who are really into beer are really into beer, and people who’ve just been casually into exploring beer are more interested in THC beverages, canned cocktails, hard teas, etcetera – the canned alcohol industry is really in a time of transition. With us being focused on ‘Beer Flavored Beer’, and more specifically lagers and more traditional beers, we felt now was the time to strike, a time we could really make our mark on the more focused beer drinker. The beer drinker who is really looking for quality, a beer/beverage they can feel good supporting.”
Wander Back will not have a kitchen but that doesn’t mean visitors will go hungry. Vitti, Hank, and Henke explain: “we hope to have plenty of local Vineland food trucks available for patrons and visitors as well as offerings from all the diverse restaurants in Downtown. “
In fact, this is one of the many ways that Wander Back is invested in its local community. Ownership assures customers that the beers they’re enjoying have roots in the surrounding regions. “We’re very transparent about our support for local agriculture, supporting local farmers, using exclusively locally grown and malted grains, being the owner/operators/brewers – putting a face to a brand people can trust.” they say, adding “That’s important right now, when there’s just a sea of ‘brands’ existing, coming and going like the tide and being just another flavor of the week.”
Vineland beer enthusiasts still need to exercise a degree of patience; Vitti Hank, and Henke expect construction to be concluded by the end of summer and for the establishment to be open and ready to serve the area by Q4 of this year.
Wander Back promises to be well worth the wait. More than simply a place to grab a great beer-as if that weren’t enough-Vitti, Hank, and Henke are determined to make the tasting room a destination for the local community. They state: “We want to build a quality beer destination but still maintain an inviting, communal space for Downtown Vineland, being actively involved in community and events that happen throughout the year in the city and on the avenue. Vineland definitely deserves a quality local brewery to support and call home, and we’re super excited to welcome Vineland through our doors and hopefully help bring a new energy and excitement to downtown!”
