Whims Brewing closing at the end of 2026 is now official. The Atco, New Jersey, brewery at 302 White Horse Pike plans to wind down at the end of the year, owner Dorien Saunders announced on social media on Monday, Oct. 20, 97.3 ESPN reported. Whims has been open about five years.
Two caveats about the Whims Brewing closing news, up front. First, this rests on a single local source: a 97.3 ESPN story by Mike Gill, which quotes the brewery’s Instagram post. Second, no exact closing date has been given. “The end of the year” is as specific as it gets for now.
What the owner said about Whims Brewing closing
The station quotes Saunders’ post directly: “So long story short, we will be winding down this operation at the end of the year.” According to 97.3 ESPN’s summary, Saunders said the way he wants to run the brewery isn’t currently feasible. The station does not spell out what that means, and the Bureau will not guess.
Saunders also thanked friends and family who supported the brewery and said the staff had become family, per the station. Neighboring brewery 3 Three’s in Hammonton replied on social media: “Such sad news Dorien. We know this decision could not have been easy.” Patrons chimed in too, with one writing, “Glad you’re going out on your own terms!”
Visit before the lights go out
Whims sits inside the Town Square plaza, in Units B1, B2 and B3, per its website. Until the closing date is set, the posted hours are:
| Thursday | 4–9 p.m. |
| Friday | 4–9 p.m. |
| Saturday | 12–9 p.m. |
| Sunday | 12–6 p.m. |
| Monday–Wednesday | Not listed |
The Bureau recommends checking the brewery’s Instagram, @whimsbrewing, before you drive out. With Whims Brewing closing on a date nobody has named yet, hours and tap lists could change.
A brewery built on overthinking
The name is a joke on its maker. Whims’ About page says doing something on a whim means deciding without much thought, but at the brewery “every decision undertaken at the brewery has too much thought being applied to it, obnoxiously so.” The page sums it up: “Nothing is ever truly done on a whim.”
Per the site, Saunders got into homebrewing through friends, then joined homebrew clubs, won competitions, made guest beers at breweries, worked at a professional brewery and became a beer judge before opening Whims. The site says its approach changes from beer to beer, from strict style guidelines to historical mashups to wild fermentation “with a slight guiding hand.”
97.3 ESPN’s Gill wrote that what stood out on his visit were the purple walls, cozy seating and plants around the taproom. He said he had a beer called Order No. 3 and called it solid. That is his tasting note, not the Bureau’s.
Other Atco and Hammonton breweries
If you are planning a farewell crawl, 97.3 ESPN points to Brotherton Brewery, which reopened earlier this year at 2208 Atco Ave., less than five minutes away. Hammonton, about a 15-minute drive, has 3 Three’s and Snouts and Stouts.
The Whims Brewing closing lands in a rough season for small taprooms. BeerAlien has tracked others, including The Roadies Brewing and Hoppin’ Charlotte. Even long-running brands end their run, like Shmaltz Brewing after 25 years.
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