Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub

Krogh’s: The Original Brewpub in Sparta, NJ

The building at 23 White Deer Plaza opened in 1927 as a Tea Room and Gift Shoppe, the first commercial building in the plaza. Over the decades it was the Seneca Shoppe, then the Sagamore Restaurant, then the Sagamore Inn, and after Prohibition ended, Carl Malmquist turned it into a tavern. Frede Krogh bought the place in 1937, and that name is the one that stuck. In 1998, owner Bob Fuchs and chef David Carl Cooper installed the first brewery Sussex County had ever seen, and the restaurant became the brewpub in Sparta NJ that locals still just call Krogh’s. The room still shows its age in the best way: hand-carved booths, tables, and doors, heavy log cabin woodwork around the fireplace, stained glass lamps hanging low over the tables, and black and white photographs of old Lake Mohawk scenes on the walls.

Beer, Burgers, and the Kids’ Table

What’s on Tap

Six flagship beers pour year-round: Krogh’s Gold, Alpine Glow Red Ale, Brogden Meadow Pale Ale, Old Krogh Oatmeal Stout, Three Sisters Golden Wheat, and a rotating seasonal. Guest taps from other breweries, an extensive wine list, and separate whiskey and tequila menus fill out the rest.

On the Plate

The kitchen leans into comfort food done properly: brisket burgers, nachos, slow-cooked beef brisket, dry-rubbed baby back ribs, top sirloin. There are vegetarian options on the menu, and the kitchen will modify dishes for vegan, gluten free, and other diets if you call ahead. Kids 12 and under get smaller portions of the regular favorites, a free soft drink, and a scoop of ice cream.

The Krogh’s Nest and the Patio

The Krogh’s Nest was the first rooftop bar in Sussex County, and it still has the best seat in White Deer Plaza, perched above the shops with Lake Mohawk spread out across the street. It’s open seven days, weather permitting, from 4:00 pm on weekdays and 1:00 pm on weekends, with a curated drink list and small bites. All guests must be 21 or older, seating is first come first served, and dogs aren’t permitted up there. The patio faces White Deer Plaza and the lake beyond it, which makes it a sought-after seat when the Lake Mohawk fireworks go up on the Fourth of July. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the ground-floor patio off the Gallery dining room, though. Ask your server for a water bowl.

Music, Parties, and Parking

Live music runs Thursday and Friday evenings in the Krogh Bar downstairs, with occasional ticketed shows featuring larger regional and national acts. Both the Gallery dining room and the Nest can be booked privately for parties of up to about 40. Parking in the plaza is first come first served and gets tight on weekends, so keep the Lake Mohawk Country Club lot down West Shore Trail in mind as backup, paid through ParkMobile.