Our Story
Residents of Bergen County, most specifically Westwood, NJ are very familiar with the space that sits on the east side of Westwood Avenue between Fairview and Kinderkamack. This space was home to the renowned L.N. Grand 5 & 10 Cent Store for over 60 years. The “shop that had everything” opened in 1960, was a staple in the community and thrived through three generations of the Naginsky family. In 2019, third generation owner Steve Naginsky, and his wife Pat, knew it was time to move onto their next adventure but they wanted to make sure that 247 Westwood Avenue was kept as a hub for conversation, humor and gathering.
Enter Chris Alepa, Five Dimes Brewery owner. Chris and Steve have been friends for a few years and bonded over their love for the community and good, craft beer. Chris started home brewing a long time ago after touring dozens of breweries across the country with his friend “Uncle Tony”. He realized that brewing a good beer took knowledge and skill, was intrigued, and dove head first into learning everything he could about beer.
He also saw how beer brought all sorts of people together. Breweries attract locals but are also pit stops on out of towners road trips. The conversation that you find at a brewery is incomparable and the community that develops at and around a brewery is family. Chris can’t wait to keep the family and community growing through Five Dimes Brewery.
In 2024 Chris extended his passion to his home-away-from-home in Red Bank, NJ where he plans to create many more memories with the community.
Drink local, it just makes cents!
BREWing Beer at Five DImes
Beer making is a delightful dance of science and art, where four ingredients; hops, water, yeast and barley join forces to create the nectar of the gods. It all starts with the careful selection of the finest ingredients, which are then crushed and steeped in hot water to extract the sugary goodness. The sugary water at this stage of the beer making process is called "wort."
From there, the wort is carefully separated from the crushed grain and slowly transferred to the boil kettle. The heat of the boil and the addition of various hops impart bitterness as well as unique flavors and aromas, creating a symphony of taste and scent.
Once the boiling is done, the beer is rapidly cooled and transferred to a fermenter where yeast is added to work its magic, converting the sugars in the wort into alcohol and carbon dioxide through a process called fermentation. Once yeast is added, the wort can now officially be called "beer." This fermentation process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the beer style and desired flavor profile.
As the yeast works its magic, the beer gradually transforms from a sweet, liquid to a crisp, bubbly, refreshing beverage. The final step is to bottle or keg the beer, where it patiently awaits its ultimate destiny – to be savored and enjoyed by beer lovers around the world.
So there you have it, the beer making process – a beautiful blend of science, art, and pure deliciousness. Cheers!
