Cape May Brewing Celebrates Expansion With Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
(Cape May, NJ) — On May 8 – alongside politicians, dignitaries, local entrepreneurs, and members of the Delaware River and Bay Authority — Cape May Brewing Company held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the dedication of their new building, a 15,000 square-foot warehouse at Cape May Airport that used to house a wallpaper swatch company. Here, CMBC will make beer inside a new, 30-barrel brewhouse before packaging it in a new bottling line. Perhaps most importantly, the new space will allow the company – already at 31 employees — to continue hiring.
President Ryan Krill gave the opening remarks, discussing how far the brewery has come since its 2011 launch — in just three-and-a-half years, CMBC has gone from one account to more than 300, upgrading brewing equipment five times in order to cope with demand. And Krill talked about how far this new space has come in the year-and-a-half CMBC has been renovating it –when they moved in, the site had been abandoned for 20 years and smelled of sewage gas.
“This building allows us to increase capacity. It allows us to increase jobs. More importantly, it allows us to give back to the community that supported us in the beginning, and what better way to do that than over a beer?” Krill said.
Several legislators also made speeches, in which they expressed their pride in CMBC, as well as their excitement for the economic boost the company is bringing to the area. Total, the company received one resolution, a congressional recognition, a proclamation, Freeholder Recognition and two legislative commendations.
“This exemplifies the American spirit and the American dream,” said US Rep Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd). “The best thing we as government can do is get out of your way and get out of your pocket.”
Later, during a catered reception, LoBiondo also confided that The Bog is “my new favorite beer of all time.”
Because CMBC is holding on to their original space at the airport, as well as the 15-barrel brewhouse there, Cape May Brewery is the first company in the state to boast two production breweries. For more fun facts, or information on taps, tours and tastings, visit capemaybrewery.com.
About Cape May Brewing Company:
Once upon a time, twenty-something Ryan Krill earned a six-figure salary working in finance and real estate development in Manhattan, while his college roommate, Chris Henke, designed satellites. During a summer weekend at the Jersey shore, they brewed a batch of beer with Ryan’s dad that wasn’t half bad. “Should we open a brewery?” Ryan asked, only half-serious. But, by the following year, the three guys had secured a space at Cape May Airport where they concocted a makeshift brew system and honed their beer-making skills. In 2011, they started with one client. Today, there are over 300 accounts in Jersey and Pennsylvania proudly serving the guys’ award-winning recipes. And CMBC’s fearless leaders have never looked back.
