Cape May Brewing Company

Cape May Brewing Company
Industry Alcoholic beverage
Founded 2011
Headquarters Rio Grande, New Jersey, US
Products Beer
Production output
 ~1500 U.S. barrels
Owner Independent; Bob Krill, Ryan Krill, Chris Henke founders

Cape May Brewing Company (CMBC) is a brewery in Jersey Shore, USA. Beginning its operations in July 2011, the brewery grew from a 12 gallon operation to about 1,500 barrels by late 2013. The beer is on tap in 57 locations in five counties across South Jersey, mostly in Cape May County where the brewery is located.

History

After taking up the hobby of homebrewing, Bob and Ryan Krill and Chris Henke opened Cape May Brewing Company (CMBC) in July 2011,[1][2] having incorporated in October 2010.[3] Henke, a mechanical engineer, built the first brewing unit out of scrap metal. After searching for a suitable location in South Jersey, the owners began the operations at an unused warehouse at the Cape May Airport,[4] located at 1288 Hornet Road in Rio Grande, New Jersey.[1] On December 1, 2011, the Delaware River and Bay Authority officially opened the tasting room and tour of the brewery.[5] Initially, the CMBC began brewing 12 gallons at a time, but gradually expanded.[2] In the first year of operations, the CMBC brewed 62 barrels, or about 1,900 gallons.[6] By 2013, the number increased to about 1,500 barrels, with a full-time staff of 10 people.[7] As a result of the expansion, the CMBC expanded from a nanobrewery into a microbrewery in early 2012.[8]

In 2012, the council of Lower Township provided a 10 year small low-interest economic development loan as part of its Revolving Loan Fund, the first such loan from the township in nine years. The loan utilized funding from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, and was provided to purchase new equipment and for construction costs.[1] After the loan, the CMBC rebuilt its taproom and expanded its brewing operations.[2]

Products and sales

The CMBC is the first microbrewery to open in the Jersey Shore,[9] as well as first brewery in Cape May County.[5]

Due to a change in brewery laws in 2012, the CMBC was able to sell a pint along with a tour, instead of previously being able to provide a sample. The brewery generates some of its revenue on premise from selling growlers of beer, which is a 64 US fl oz (1.9 l) reusable glass container.[10]

In July 2011, the Cabana’s Beach Bar and Grill in Cape May became the first account of the brewery.[5] By November 2012, the brewery's products were available at 20 locations in Cape May County,[2] including the Cape May – Lewes Ferry.[11] As of early 2014, CMBC was available in 57 locations, including 15 collectively in Atlantic, Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington counties.[12]

Awards

View of the brewery from the outside

At the 2012 Atlantic City Beer Festival, the CMBC won the award for Best India Pale Ale (IPA) with its Centennial IPA.[8] In 2012, the company won both the "New Business Venture Award" and the "Conservation Award" from the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce.[13][14]

In March 2013, both Ryan Krill and Chris Henke were listed in All About Beer magazine's 30 brewers under 30 years old.[15]

On October 20, 2013, co-owner Ryan Krill presented a TEDx talk at Cape May Convention Hall.[9] At the event, Krill described the social effects of beer and the company's production process. For various recipes, the company utilizes local businesses, such as coffee and wine,[16] as well as locally grown honey and cranberries.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mary Linehan (2012-08-15). "Council doubles economic development loan to Cape May Brewing Co.". Cape May Gazette. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Desmond Miller (2012-11-27). "Cape May Brewing Company continues to expand". NBC40. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  3. ↑ Christopher South (2012-04-04). "Cape May Brewing Company gets beer money from Lower Township" (PDF). Cape May Star and Wave. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  4. ↑ Lee Prodica (2011-04-13). "Cape May men look to open a brewery by summer in an area that's not big in the beer industry". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 J. Salmon. DRBA Welcomes Cape May Brewing Company to Cape May Airport (Report). Delaware River and Bay Authority. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  6. ↑ Christopher South (2013-12-25). "Cape May Brewing’s Krill, Henke are Men of the Year" (PDF). Cape May Star and Wave. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  7. ↑ James E. Salmon. DRBA Commission Authorizes Lease with Glasstown Brewing Company (Report). Delaware River and Bay Authority. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Amy S. Rosenberg (2012-06-08). "High tide for beer". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Theme: "Nature and Nurture" Cape May, NJ, United States". TEDx. 2013-10-20.
  10. ↑ Brian Ianieri (2013-01-11). "Cape May Brewing Co. expanding as its beer cup runneth over". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  11. ↑ "Ferry renames outdoor café ‘On the Rocks’". Cape May Gazette. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  12. ↑ "Beer Finder". Cape May Brewing Company. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  13. ↑ "2012 Annual Report" (PDF). Cape May County Chamber of Commerce. 2013-01-01. p. 5. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  14. ↑ Al Campbell (2013-10-19). "Tourism Gets Renewed Status by Governor, SEA". Cape May County Herald. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  15. ↑ "Get to Know Our 30 Under 30". AllAboutBeer.com. 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  16. ↑ Michael Miller (2013-10-18). "Cape May Brewing joining TEDx talks Sunday". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2014-01-12.

External links


Coordinates: 39°00′09″N 74°54′45″W / 39.0026°N 74.9126°W