Fall is a busy time for craft breweries. Just ask Marvin Bowe III, who officially opened the Swedesboro Brewing Company in 2021.
Two years later on June 1, he launched his second location – Raccoon Taproom at 1 Powell Lane in Collingswood, where his son Marvin Bowe IV is leading the charge.
“This space was formally known as Devil’s Creek Brewery,” Bowe III explained. “They were the ground breakers to be honest. They worked with the township, changed the ordinance of the town to allow for alcohol manufacturing. The town embraced them, and they were around for seven years.”
Bowe III said he introduced himself to the owners of Devil’s Creek Brewery when he was launching in Swedesboro.
“I had reached out just as an industry buyer and said if you ever decide you don’t want to do this anymore, I want to be the first person you call.”
That phone call was made and now the Raccoon Taproom is experiencing its first fall season. The fall favorites went on tap starting Aug. 15.
“Every brewery does one of two types of beer either a pumpkin beer of some kind or a fest beer, which some people call a mӓrzen,” Bowe III said. “We actually went both routes with a slightly different take on it.”
Raccoon Taproom opened in June and offers an experience for the entire family.
Fall Harvest Ale is the brewery’s take on pumpkin beer and is their top seller during the season. It’s a seasonal variation of their classic Amber Ale.
“It’s like pumpkin pie in a can,” Bowe III explained. “Fall harvest is still our number one selling fall beer. People crave that.”
It is sold all the way into the winter months. Fall Harvest pays homage to the indigenous people that taught the early settlers how to harvest native crops, particularly butternut squash, the beer’s signature ingredient.
“…It’s sweeter,” Bowe III said of the vegetable.
Another fall favorite is the mӓrzen, which they have dubbed Marvin the Marzen – a homage to the time-honored German-Style Marzen, also known as Oktoberfest.
“It’s also our namesake,” Bowe III said of the name.
This beer is an embodiment of rich maltiness harmoniously balanced with a touch of clean hop bitterness, reminiscent of the renowned Vienna lager, according to its website.
Their later fall beer is Cranbasket, which is a variation of their classic wheat beer called Breadbasket.
“We made that one for Thanksgiving,” Bowe III said. “It’s such a fun beer that has a nice tart to it. It’s beautiful in color, it’s a rich pink, crystal clear.”
Beers on tap
Currently, their Swedesboro location has 24 beers on tap. And the Racoon Taproom has 12 beers on tap. Both locations have seltzer bars.
Each beer has a name attached to a little bit of history as well as food pairings.
“Anybody that knows me knows I’m kind of filled with a lot of useless information,” Bowe III admitted. “I’m just curious, always have been. History seems to be one of those things.”
Hence why Bowe III fell in love with Swedesboro, which has a storied history. As does Collingswood.
Irish Tenth Red Ale, which is a favorite of Bowe IV, is a tribute to the bold pioneers of 1677, the Irish Quakers. At the time, land formerly known as West Jersey was divided into 10 parts. The Third Tenth, stretching across what is now Camden and Gloucester counties, was sold to the Irish Quakers. The area became commonly known as the Irish Tenth where many Irish immigrants settled to work as shipwrights.
Shipwright IPA is a tribute to the early Irish shipwrights who not only navigated the waters of the Cooper and Delaware rivers, but also built the ships that sailed them. The bright and bold flavors of the beer make it an excellent match for a variety of dishes, especially those with rich, savory, or spicy profiles.
Our First Lady Saison – a farm ale – pays homage to Elizabeth Haddon, a pioneer and influential figure in Haddonfield, and the farmhouse brews that sustained the colonial community. The beer captures the essence of those traditional brews offering a light, citrusy aroma and a slightly tart finish.
Steamboat Philly is a light refreshing California Common, often referred to as a steam beer to pay homage to the “marvelous engineering of steam technology.”
Dark Piney, or Black IPA, is a unique India Pale Ale – an inspiration from the New Jersey Pinelands – historically referred to as the Pine Barrens – due to its sandy and highly acidic soil considered unsuitable for traditional farming. The darker malts lend roasted flavors that complement the floral and citric flavors of the hops creating a unique and delicious experience.
Flying Steagle is a tribute to Swedesboro’s own Ted Laux, who was a Collingswood High School graduate. He loved football and played for the Steagles – a team that was a temporary merger between the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, due to player shortages brought on by World War II. The craft beer is a cool-fermented lager with a clean and crisp flavor.
Whitall’s Wit Witbier delivers a light, citrusy aroma and a smooth, creamy finish. It is a tribute to John Mickle Whitall, of Whitall Tatum Company of New Jersey, a leading glass manufacturer during the 19th century. Whitall vacationed in Collingswood and played a pivotal role in the beer industry by crafting some of the first bottles used by early American breweries.
Over the Top Hazy IPA is a salute to the courage and spirit of the 81 doughboys from Collingswood who serviced in World War I. The beer’s juicy and tropical hop character makes it a versatile pairing with a variety of dishes, enhancing and complementing flavors with its bold profile.
Raccoon Taproom opened in June and offers an experience for the entire family.
Taproom experience
“We wanted to make the spaces comfortable,” Bowe III said of both locations. “There’s a bit of a contrast I would say between a common footprint of a craft brewery and ours.
“Ours might look and feel like a restaurant with chairs padded and nice tables that still allow for standing bars.”
The Collingswood location considered the walkability of the town.
“We set up places for people to people watch … that’s a little novel to this space,” Bowe III said.
He explained that a craft brewery is the place to experience “when you are no longer in the bar scene.”
“It’s not uncommon on Sunday afternoon and see a family drinking, the kids playing on the iPad or arcade game and either mom or dad is watching them,” Bowe III said.
At Raccoon Taproom, they don’t sell food, so it’s BYOF – bring your own food. Make sure to check out the website for food recommendation pairings.
Outlook
Bowe III’s passion in craft brewing began in an organic chemistry class in college at Beaver College, now Arcadia University in Pennsylvania. After graduating with a medical illustration degree, he spent 25 years in pharmaceutical advertising. In 2018, he decided to start his own advertising agency and in 2019, he decided to start a brewery.
The pandemic delayed their start by a year and with the help of the community, The Swedesboro Brewing Company opened in May 2021.
Since then, they have hit the ground running and many things are on tap as the company continues to grow and expand.
The locations offer a membership club, which has created friendships that may never have blossomed without the club, Bowe IV said. A membership includes a 20 ounce pour mug, a members’ logo shirt every year, discounts on merchandise, specials, gift cards during the holiday season, a free pour on birthdays, and complimentary taste on early release beers.
In September, members at Racoon Taproom were treated to a block party, which Bowe III said was a “thank you” to their members.
This year, the company piloted a beer garden at Trenton Thunder Ballpark with 12 beers on tap right on the third baseline.
“It’s a great partnership with Trenton Thunder,” Bowe III said. “We signed a five-year deal with them and the first year was a proof of concept … we’re all in.”
The Swedesboro location has a private party room that can hold up to 50 people.
Aside from the two locations, the company will be busy out and about in the community during festivals and community days. Look out for them with their six-foot racoon mascot and check out what’s on tap.
