In 1996, Steve Izenour, an American architect, urbanist, and theorist, had some thoughts for the revitalization of Wildwood, a mere stone’s throw from the brewery. In a letter to Jack Morey, the second-generation owner of Morey’s Piers, he advised against attempting to become another poor, homogenized imitation of a Disney theme park.

“Rather, your strategy should be to make the most of what you have,” he wrote. “What Wildwood is, is one of the last really down and dirty, TACKY with a capital T, beach resorts. What you need to do is take Tacky to new heights.”

Now celebrating their fiftieth year of business, Jack Morey and his team have been concentrating their efforts over the past twenty-three years on doing exactly that: creating a destination of such refined Tackiness that not even Disney could beat them at their game.

And, to help celebrate, we brewed up a crisp, clean, and ridiculously approachable Kölsch-style ale, Wild Wooder, available at eateries throughout the Piers.