Cape May Brewing Company

Cape May Brewing Company
Industry Alcoholic beverage
Founded 2011
Headquarters Rio Grande, New Jersey, US
Products Beer
Production output
 ~6,000 U.S. barrels
Owner Independent; Bob Krill, Ryan Krill, Chris Henke founders

Cape May Brewing Company (CMBC) is a craft brewery at the Jersey Shore, USA. Beginning its operations in 2010 and officially launching in July 2011, the brewery has grown from a 12-gallon system to a three-vessel, 30-barrel brewhouse. Having produced over 100 beers, the company's tasting room now offers the widest selection of any in the state. The beer is available at over 300 locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, many 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 allowed for tours 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] Now, they brew approximately 6,000 barrels per year.

In 2012, the council of Lower Township provided a ten-year, 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]

In 2015, the CMBC further expanded into a nearby warehouse, adding a new brewhouse, bottling line, and new tap room, at the cost of $500,000 (USD).[7] In May of this year, the company dedicated the new brewhouse, capable of expanding their yearly production to 15,000 barrels. Currently, they are converting their original brewery into a sour beer production facility.

Also in 2015, CMBC President Ryan Krill was elected President of the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild.[8] Under his leadership, the Guild more than doubled in membership, crafted a Best Practices document for Jersey tasting rooms,[9] launched a new website, hired its first Executive Director,[10] and successfully lobbied Congress for greater job creation within the industry.[11]

Products and sales

CMBC is the first microbrewery to open at the Jersey Shore,[12] as well as first brewery in Cape May County.[5]

Due to a change in brewery laws in 2012, CMBC became able to sell pints in conjunction with brewery tours; heretofore, they had only been able to provide a samples. The brewery generates some of its revenue on-premises from selling beer in growlers, or 64 US fl oz (1.9 l) reusable glass containers.[13]

In July 2011, the Cabana’s Beach Bar and Grill in Cape May became the first account of the brewery.[5] Now, CMBC's beers are available in over 300 locations throughout New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania.

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.[14] In 2012, the company won both the "New Business Venture Award" and the "Conservation Award" from the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce.[15][16]

In March 2013, both Ryan Krill and Chris Henke were listed in All About Beer magazine's 30 brewers under 30 years old.[17]

On October 20, 2013, co-owner Ryan Krill presented a TEDx talk at Cape May Convention Hall.[12] At the event, Krill described the social effects of beer and the company's production process, including its use of local ingredients.[18]

In 2015, CMBC's Sawyer’s Swap barley wine ale took home a silver medal from the US Open Beer Championship, based in Ohio, in the aged beer category.[19] And at the Best of Craft Beer Awards, based in Oregon, their Coastal Evacuation brew took home a silver medal in the category of Imperial IPA, and the Tower 23 earned a silver in the Berliner Weisse category. The Devil's Reach won a bronze in the Belgian Gold Strong Ale class.[20] At the World Beer Championships, CMBC took home a silver medal for Devil's Reach, and a bronze for another Belgian-style brew, the Tripel Wreck.[21] In a different iteration of the same competition, also in 2015, CMBC received a bronze medal for the South Jersey Secession Session Scottish Ale; silvers for the Mop Water Ale, Biscuits and Honey ESB, and Coastal Evacuation Double IPA; and a gold for the Blonde Ale.[22]

Also in 2015, Cape May Brewing Company took home the People's Choice Award from the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival.[23] And President Ryan Krill was named a winner in the 2015 NJBIZ Forty Under 40 awards program.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mary Linehan (2012-08-15). "Council doubles economic development loan to Cape May Brewing Co.". Cape May Gazette. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  2. 1 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. 1 2 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. ↑ "Cape May Beer quaffs larger market share". Press of Atlantic City. 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
  8. ↑ "Garden State Craft Brewers Build | Straight to the Pint". capemaybrewery.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  9. ↑ "Big News From The Guild!". Straight to the Pint. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  10. ↑ "Don Russell | Straight to the Pint". capemaybrewery.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  11. ↑ "Hill Climb Recap". Straight to the Pint. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  12. 1 2 "Theme: "Nature and Nurture" Cape May, NJ, United States". TEDx. 2013-10-20.
  13. ↑ Brian Ianieri (2013-01-11). "Cape May Brewing Co. expanding as its beer cup runneth over". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  14. ↑ Amy S. Rosenberg (2012-06-08). "High tide for beer". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  15. ↑ "2012 Annual Report" (PDF). Cape May County Chamber of Commerce. 2013-01-01. p. 5. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  16. ↑ Al Campbell (2013-10-19). "Tourism Gets Renewed Status by Governor, SEA". Cape May County Herald. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  17. ↑ "Get to Know Our 30 Under 30". AllAboutBeer.com. 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  18. ↑ Michael Miller (2013-10-18). "Cape May Brewing joining TEDx talks Sunday". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  19. ↑ "Cape May Brew Co awards | Straight to the Pint". capemaybrewery.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  20. ↑ "Best of Craft Beer Awards | Straight to the Pint". capemaybrewery.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  21. ↑ "Cape May Brewing Company Wins World Beer Championship Awards". CraftBeer.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  22. ↑ "Cape May Brewing Company Wins Five World Beer Championship Awards | CraftBeer.com". CraftBeer.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  23. ↑ "People’s Choice Award | Straight to the Pint". capemaybrewery.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  24. ↑ "NJBIZ Top Forty Under 40 awards | Straight to the Pint". capemaybrewery.com. Retrieved 2015-11-20.

External links

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

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