Straight to the Pint - Cape May Brewing Co

I think ‘goofy’ is the best way to describe him.

13 Sep 2018

CMBC for Cliff

We’ve been sponsoring a team for BikeMS: City to Shore for seven years, and Cliff Martin has been an integral part of the team since its inception.

“I started riding the MS 150, and after one ride I started looking for a team to join,” Cliff said in a blog in 2016. “Most were banks, insurance firms, accounting firms or hospital systems (nothing wrong with any of those organizations), but I wanted to join a team with something I really enjoyed, and [CMBC] had it: craft brews.”

In April of this year, Cliff passed away suddenly at the tender age of 67. He’d been a strong supporter of BikeMS, tirelessly fundraising and training for the ride, and his sudden passing has struck a huge blow to the team.

“Cliff was not only one of our original riders and team members but the elder of the team as well,” says Team Captain Steve Briggs. “Whether during a practice ride or during the actual City to Shore ride he kept everything relaxed and light, somewhat sensing people’s nerves and creating a laugh. That went a long way for our new team members each year, but also for myself, who had a lot of coordination and planning in the works. We’ll miss his wisdom, comedy, and energy, for sure.”

This year, Cliff’s daughter Becca and her husband Bryan Boucher will be picking up Cliff’s mantle and running with it. (Well… biking with it is more accurate.) We got together with her to talk a bit about Cliff, biking, and beers.

“It really ties Left Hand and Cape May together,” Ryan said.

13 Sep 2018

Beer School

Ties the Room Together

Way out west, there’s this brewery. A brewery we wanna tell you about. Brewery by the name of Left Hand Brewing. At least, that was the handle its loving co-founders, Eric Wallace and Dick Doore, gave it, but no one has much use for it themselves. This Left Hand Brewing, they call themselves “Left Hand”.

Now, “Left Hand” — that’s a name no one would self-apply where we come from. But then there was a lot about Left Hand that didn’t make a whole lot of sense to us. And a lot about where they live, likewise. But then again, maybe that’s why we find the place so darned interestin’.

They call Longmont “The Long Apple”. We didn’t find it to be that, exactly. But, we’ll allow there are some nice folks there. ‘Course, we can’t say we’ve seen London, and we never been to France. And we ain’t never seen no queen in her damned undies, as the feller says.

But, we’ll tell you what — after seeing Left Hand and this here story we’re about to unfold, well, we seen somethin’ every bit as stupefyin’ as you’d see in any of those other places. And in English, too. So, we can die with a smile on our face, without feelin’ like the good Lord gypped us.

Now this here story we’re about to unfold took place over the past year or so. We only mention it, because sometimes there’s a beer… We won’t say the best beer, ‘cause what’s “the best”? But, sometimes, there’s a beer. And we’re talking about a beer from Left Hand and CMBC, here. Sometimes, there’s a beer, well… it’s the beer for its time and place. It fits right in there.

And that’s Ties the Room Together, in Longmont and in Cape May.

But, sometimes, there’s a beer… sometimes, there’s a beer….

Aw… We lost our train of thought here. But…

Aw, hell. We done introduced it enough.

I think alcohol is an interesting beverage in general.

13 Sep 2018

Brew Crew

Welcome Chris!

At the beginning of the summer, we were without a Tasting Room Manager. Our assistant managers, Dan and Danielle, rose to the occasion and did a bang-up job, but we needed someone to helm the ship.

Enter Chris Costello.

“Chris is a total pro,” Ryan says. “He’s got the education, experience, and passion for running the Tasting Room operation. In the past few weeks, he’s gotten the hang of what we do around here, and, as a long-time fan of CMBC, he’s had no problem fitting into our culture. We’re glad to have him aboard!”

Welcome Chris!

It is a wonderful opportunity to meet and share stories with a lot of people wanting to feel good doing good -- all while out for a scenic bike ride.

13 Sep 2018

Fun & Random, Local Interest

Why I Ride: Karl Dyer

As we get closer to the ride, we’ll be checking in with the brave and intrepid riders on our BikeMS: City to Shore team. This week, we’ll be meeting one of our BikeMS: City to Shore team veterans, Karl Dyer.

Meet Karl!

Go BIG or go home!

13 Sep 2018

Fun & Random, Local Interest

Why I Ride: Adrienne Petrillo

As we get closer to the ride, we’ll be checking in with the brave and intrepid riders on our BikeMS: City to Shore team. This week, we’ll be meeting one of our BikeMS: City to Shore team rookies, Adrienne Petrillo.

Meet Adrienne!

The wine drinker can relate, the cocktail drinker should love them, and the beer drinker -- once they realize it's still beer -- will absolutely love them.

6 Sep 2018

Fun & Random, Local Interest

Sour Beer Day!

We’ve been loving our sour beer program, and it sounds like everyone else has been, too. Beer Connoisseur recently released their Top 38 Sour Beers — the highest-reviewed sour beers on the site, ever — and Cape May Brewing Co. had an astounding three beers represented.

That’s… pretty huge for us. We’re proud of our sour beer program. We’re a relatively small brewery 20 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean — the recognition our sour beers have received has been nothing short of astounding, and we couldn’t be more gratified.

To celebrate all of the wonderful things about sour beer, the powers that be — we’re not sure who they are, but they should be thanked — have carved out one day each year to commemorate this most laudable of beer styles.

That’s why, on September 8th, we’ll be throwing down sour-beer style in the Tasting Room all day, with a blowout in honor of Sour Beer Day.

“Cape May Brewing Company has been a truly valued Partner of the Festival.”

6 Sep 2018

Fun & Random, Local Interest

Music Connects Pop-Up Beer Garden

While the summer season has, in theory, drawn to a close, we’re still livin’ it up down in Cape May. It’s still perfect beach weather, and, now that school is open, the crowds have died down a bit. It’s like having your own private beach!

(Okay, maybe not. It’s still nice, though.)

Either way, we’re not quite ready to say goodbye to summer, and with the events we have coming up in September, we don’t have to! Up this weekend: the Music Connects Pop-Up Beer Garden!

“It’s quiet,” he says. “Compared to New York? It’s very quiet. It’s not too bad.”

6 Sep 2018

Brew Crew

Welcome John!

As our production and distribution has increased, we’ve realized that we needed some help getting our drivers out on the road in the morning. Thankfully, John Baez, our new Warehouse Assistant, has come in to fill that need.

“John came highly recommended,” says Distribution Manager Justin Vitti. “Since he’s been here, he’s lived up to his recommendation. He’s a hard worker, brings an air of levity to the job, and I can always count on him to complete his assigned tasks well.”

He’s been an absolute godsend to the warehouse. Welcome John!

Do at least some training, enjoy the ride and the atmosphere on the course, and eat all the PB&J sandwiches you get offered along the way.

6 Sep 2018

Fun & Random, Local Interest

Why I Ride: Haleigh Nash

As we get closer to the ride, we’ll be checking in with the brave and intrepid riders on our BikeMS: City to Shore team. This week, we’ll be meeting one of our BikeMS: City to Shore team veterans, Haleigh Nash.

Meet Hayleigh!

Cape May Brewing Co. makes nothing but the best!

6 Sep 2018

Fun & Random, Local Interest

Why I Ride: Michael Malinowski

As we get closer to the ride, we’ll be checking in with the brave and intrepid riders on our BikeMS: City to Shore team. This week, we’ll be meeting one of our BikeMS: City to Shore team veterans, Mike Malinowski.

Meet Mike!