December Days

December is finally upon us! Though the 60-something degree weather and tornado warnings remind me very much of Georgia and not something I'd associate with Jersey this late into the year.

If you haven't already, don't forget to bring a toy for the Lynch Toy Drive! We have a drop box near our front door.

And it's the last chance to enter our raffle for Habitat for Humanity. Drawing for the winner will be done on December 5th and that lucky person will get a huge gift basket of merch from all Cape May County breweries. Come up to the main bar and buy as many tickets as you like! They're only $5 each for almost $1000 worth of goodies. And your money helps fund the house that will be built in Upper Township! If raffles aren't your thing, we still have some delectable fudge porter on tap - all the proceeds also go towards Habitat for Humanity.

That being said, I'll be resuming my regular assistant brewer duties this week after a two-day canning run last week.

Being an assistant brewer isn’t easy. It’s not glamorous (in fact, it's quite messy at times). It’s not all puns and hop pellets (though there is a good amount of each, as well as Dad Jokes™ from both Tony and I). I learn best by taking notes, so I have a notebook filled with detailed steps on how to rack beer, how to cycle-in-place the vessels, how to clean anything and everything. And though I still ask a lot of questions, it's more or less ensuring Tony and I are on the same page with what needs to be done as opposed to "what comes next?"

I'm finding myself using my notebook less and less, too, as I become comfortable and confident in this position. The next big step is learning how to actually brew beer on our 15BBL (BBL = barrel) system! I've got the home-brewing down pat, though. Not gonna lie - brewing beer on such a huge scale is a daunting task and while I have the basics down, there are so many little steps involved that I'm sure I'll need to take another few pages of notes.

It's not an easy job, but it's satisfying and fun in a way that I can't quite put into words. I never leave the brewery feeling like I didn't accomplish anything - because there's always SO MUCH to do to ensure you're getting the best possible beer from our tanks to your table (or can).

This journey is far from over (unlike this year)!

Cheers.

Caution!: Yellow Flashing Lights

Another week gone, another week into winter here in the Wildwoods. And yet our small brewery is just chugging right along. Despite everything going on, we've managed to stay really busy. New canning line, distribution growth, and providing for our in-house pub needs on top of everything else. Never a dull day behind the scenes!

We made it through summer and most of fall, and we've already prepared our winter line-up. Currently on tap still is our fudge porter collab beer, The Beer That Built The House. Stop in to buy a pint and help Habitat for Humanity build a single-family home right here in Cape May County. We also just tapped holiday-delight Hero Boy. And now it's time for show-stealing Yellow Flashing Lights.

Simply gorgeous - our YFL is the perfect wintertime beer to enjoy on tap or out of a can

 

Available in cans just prior to Thanksgiving, the dining room tapping is set for Black Friday. So be sure to look for the yellow Hen in a store near you in early December. We'll have plenty on tap here in the pub, too, if that's more your style.

A robust, exquisite stout both on CO2 and NO2 (our Primary Cut version has a delightful spike of vanilla added), you really can't go wrong with our off-season tribute Yellow Flashing Lights. Come have a pint and make sure you say hello to Tony or myself if you see us.

Cheers!

Canned Delights

The holidays are fast approaching and it feels like it's still September, sometimes. Next week will be our November canning run and we'll be handling two different brands this go-around. Which means two days of canning! It's gonna be a busy week in the brewery.

First up is our Yellow Flashing Lights - a rich and robust imperial stout. It's smooth and chocolatey in taste, the perfect beer for the hops to take a back seat and let the malt be the star of the show. Just around 8% ABV, this beer packs a punch while it warms your heart. We're doing a very limited canning run for wintertime favorite YFL but no worries - we made plenty to have on tap, too!

Look for our black and yellow Hen labels at a package store near you (in December).

Looking for something hoppier? We'll also be canning pub-favorite New England IPA Rambler to Miami. We'll have cans on-hand here in the brewpub, so make sure you get here before we sell out. Soft and citrusy on the tongue, the almost-tart and floral aroma might make you forget how insanely hoppy this beer really is. It will only be available in 16oz 4-packs - until they're gone! Pick some up for an easy gift for that beer drinker who's always looking for the Next Best Thing. Rambler to Miami surely won't disappoint.

These gorgeous foil labels shimmer and shine in the sun, just like Sunset Lake!

                                    

I Need a Hero (Boy)

Winter is nigh - despite the 70F November days and how beautiful it's been down here on the Shore.

Regardless of the temperatures, we're re-releasing our wintertime favorite, a Belgian strong ale, Hero Boy. Set to be on tap at the end of this week, it's a delightfully drinkable, cherry-and-spice-spiked 8.2% ale. Perfect for those nights around a fire or just in good, comfy company. Come on in and grab a growler or crowler (or two - you know, to share!) or have one with a platter of barbeque or your favorite burger. Hero Boy honestly pairs well with anything you might be craving this holiday season.

It even pairs well with our community involvement, this time joining up with Wildwood's own Step Back Foundation.

From founder Maddie McCracken: "When I graduated from my senior year of high school (2019), I started this nonprofit organization called The Step Back Foundation in order to support local athletes who struggle financially. As you may know, the average income in Wildwood is less than $30,000 a year, which is very hard for a family to live off of. Many times kids miss out on opportunities to participate in sports because they simply cannot afford it. The Step Back Foundation provides athletic equipment (such as cleats, socks, gloves, basketballs, etc) to these student-athletes who may not have the means to purchase them on their own. Due to COVID and other reasons, we have also started to provide other necessities such as clothes, gift cards, etc (anything within means) to all of our local communities within Cape May County. 

The purpose of our organization is to help kids who are missing out on athletic opportunities to now be able to join something bigger than themselves by providing a little financial support. Unfortunately, when a student cannot afford athletic equipment, such as basketball shoes, he or she will just opt out of playing and work instead. With this foundation and the loyal support of our local businesses, we are able to provide these things. This allows our students to experience all of the attributes of being a student-athlete: from playing sports to building confidence, friendships, and memories. This is a continuing program, which we would like to grow and expand upon, so we can help as many athletes in the local communities as possible!"

Join us this weekend as we team up (hehe, get it?) with the Step Back Foundation to raise money for local kids and sporting programs right here in Cape May County. We all could use a Hero (Boy).

Racking this year's Hero Boy into its serving vessel! On my birthday!

And have you gotten your Habitat for Humanity raffle ticket, yet?? If not, come by the main bar any day of the week - they're $5/ticket, no limit on purchase amount, and every penny goes to help build a house in Upper Township.

Cheers!

The Beer That Built The House

It's been a really rough year, especially for those of us in the service industry. We're certainly all grateful our loyal patrons have been supporting us as much as they can during these uncertain times. In fact, we're so grateful that we've decided to join up with other local breweries to make a special porter in order to give back to our community.

This year, MudHen Brewing Co is reaching out to lend a helping hand along with all other Cape May County breweries. We've collaborated on a delicious chocolate porter that will make its debut Nov 7th 2020 at... you guessed it! MudHen Brewing Co. The beer in question is a group recipe, made with a variety of chocolate malts and real chocolate fudge, which was supplied by Wildwood's very own Laura's Fudge. It's a limited run, so make sure you're here to enjoy The Beer That Built The House while it's on tap. All proceeds go to CMC's Habitat for Humanity to build a single-family home right here in Cape May County's Upper Township.

It's a one-of-a-kind beer to fund a community project and Tony and I couldn't be more excited for you to join us in raising a glass for a good cause.

 

Tony at the lauter-tun at the beginning of our brew day

 

My job was to break the fudge into meltable chunks, which Tony and I then added to the boil

It was such a fun brew day doing something neither one of us had done before. And I haven't stopped dreaming about the fudge from Laura's Fudge on E Wildwood Ave. 

If you're salivating just thinking of enjoying this beer with a delicious meal, join us November 11th with your favorite Veteran. We're offering 10% off to anyone who's served this country. Hope to see you real soon!

Cheers.