From Basement Bar to Brewery: Freckled Jawn Opens in Woodbury

Written By Kpspaeth17

We stopped into Freckled Jawn for the  London game to catch the Eagles and were blown away by the place and the beer. Definitely worth a stop!

South Jersey has a new taproom to add to the roadmap. In Woodbury, husband and wife Colleen Gibson and John Wagner have taken over the former Eight & Sand Beer Co. site at 1003 N Evergreen Ave and reopened it as Freckled Jawn Brewing. After Eight & Sand closed following a ten-year run, the couple invested $40,000 in renovations to give the space a fresh, elevated neighborhood feel.

From Home Basement Bar to Brick-and-Mortar

"Freckled Jawn" started as the name of John and Colleen's basement bar at home, where they hosted friends long before they owned a commercial space. The name pairs John's nickname for Colleen, "Freckles," with "Jawn," a nod to both the classic Philadelphia term and the way she pronounces his name.

When Eight & Sand wound down, the couple stepped in rather than watch a favorite neighborhood spot go dark. The brewery license transfer took just a few weeks, and with help from family and friends, they brought their home bar concept to Evergreen Avenue.

A Comfortably Elevated Taproom

The remodeled interior was designed under Colleen's direction, with dark tones, deep green accent walls that match the brewery's logo, black accents, new flooring, dim lighting, and an electric fireplace. Highlights include:

  • Bar seating: Thick-cushioned barstools line a bar that seats at least 15.

  • Lounge area: Leather furniture in the far-left corner makes a cozy spot for conversation.

  • Sports: As big Philadelphia sports fans, the owners installed screens around the bar, plus a four-screen wall between the bar and table seating.

  • Capacity: The indoor taproom holds 77 guests. The expanded backyard patio, with covered seating and TVs, can fit 150 to 200. Florida Keys-inspired outdoor upgrades are planned for spring.

  • Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are welcome, and they may be greeted by the owners' own dogs, Neo and Trinity.

In the Brewhouse

Head Brewer Matt Karg, who relocated from Asheville, North Carolina, runs a 10-barrel brewhouse with 20-barrel fermenters. He's focused on using local South Jersey ingredients and is building toward a nine-beer tap list. Early standouts include:

  • Local Coffee Stout: Brewed with beans roasted by Talk N' Coffee in Deptford

The system gives the brewery room to keep taps rotating in Woodbury while laying the groundwork for future distribution.

Quick Reference

Kpspaeth17
Next

New Trail Brewing Co: How a Broken Heel Became Pennsylvania's Fastest-Growing Brewery