The Tun Tavern is Atlantic City’s and county’s only microbrewery, namesake of the original Philadelphia brew house established by Samuel Carpenter in 1685 – the tun in the name is an Old English word for the measured cask or barrel that beer was aged and transported in. Montgomery Dahm, a former Marine and local entrenpreur, learned about the original Tun’s connection to the birth of the Corps, and acquired the trademark in 1991. In 1998, he opened the Tun Tavern in Atlantic City in the Sheraton Hotel, across Michigan Avenue from the A.C. Convention Center, with the expressed goal of bringing a world class steakhouse and craft beer to Atlantic City. The area’s award-winning water supply, the Kirkwood –Cohansey aquifer may have been a contributing factor in his decision, and certainly improves the quality of the beer.
Current brewmaster Tim Kelly began homebrewing in his native Vermont in 2000 and working for his current employer in 2007. He’s a graduate of the the Brewing Science & Engineering course conducted by the American Brewers Guild and a veteran of local Cherry Hill establishment Flying Fish, where he was Assistant Brewer.
Four beers are always on tap : the Devil Dog Pale Ale, Leatherneck Stout, Irish Red Crimson Ale and All-American IPA with the additional of two seasonal brews, currently an Octoberfest and a Wee Heavy Scotch Ale. A Pumpkin spiced ale will be added in October.
Some notes about Kelly : in 2010 he collaborated with At the Shore magazine to create a Dunkelweizen beer, unfiltered and 5.9% ABV, inspired by a great dark Weiss made by Chris LaPierre at Iron Hill brewery in Maple Shade. When asked, he said that similar future collaborations may happen seasonally.
Draft prices at the bar : pilsners are $3.50, pints $4.50, 5 3 oz samplers are available for $6.50.
Growlers with the Tun’s logo can be purchased at the bar for $18.00 and refilled for $10.00.
Free parking is available across the street at the Michigan Avenue parking lot with a $10.00 Tun Tavern purchase and validated ticket. The address is 2 Miss America Way, Atlantic City and can be found online and on Facebook.