Thompson Island Brewing Announces Second Annual Homebrew Contest

REHOBOTH BEACH, DE  (Aug. 31, 2021) — For the most part, a homebrewers’ audience is limited to family and friends, but Thomson Island Brewing Company wants to change that. The Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, brewpub is holding its Second Annual Homebrew Contest.

The winner will work with brewmaster Jimmy Valm and his team to create the beer for Thompson Island’s guests.

Last year, 19 Delmarva-area homebrewers entered the contest. The judges included Valm and Jimmy Kroon, president of Delmarva United Homebrewers in Sussex County, Delaware.

“We were blown away by the talent and the taste,” Valm said. “The entries ranged from cream ales and coffee ports to maple stouts and IPAs. We’re stoked to see what our local homebrew connoisseurs bring to the table this year!"

Nathan Follmer of Ocean View, Delaware, took first prize for “Bigger on the Inside,” a double dry-hopped session IPA with notes of peach, guava and grapefruit balanced by a crisp, thirst-quenching bitterness. The beer was released in February 2020.

Sean Phipps of Frankford came in second, and Clayton Ruminski of Wilmington came in third.

Submissions to the Second Annual Homebrew Contest must be dropped off at the brewpub Oct. 15-21. For information on the contest, visit https://thompsonislandbrewing.com/homebrewcomp.

Thompson Island Brewing Company is part of SoDel Concepts, which is building a second brewpub, Ocean View Brewing Company. By 2022, the hospitality group will have 14 restaurants. Visit sodelconcepts.com for more information.

About SoDel Concepts

Based in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, SoDel Concepts is a multifaceted, award-winning hospitality group with 18 business operations: 14 coastal restaurants, three sports concessions and a wedding-and-events venue. Restaurants include Fish On and Matt’s Fish Camp in Lewes; The Clubhouse at Baywood in Millsboro; Crust & Craft, Bluecoast Seafood Grill + Raw Bar, Thompson Island Brewing Company and Lupo Italian Kitchen in Rehoboth; Matt’s Fish Camp and Bluecoast Seafood Grill + Raw Bar in Bethany Beach; NorthEast Seafood Kitchen and Ocean View Brewing Company in Ocean View; and Catch 54, Papa Grande’s Coastal Taqueria, and Matt’s Fish Camp in Fenwick Island.

SoDel Concepts’ divisions include Haley/Kammerer, a hospitality consulting firm, SoDel Concessions, a hospitality management company, and Matt’s Homemade Soda Co., a line of artisanal sodas.

Chef Matt Haley, the recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s 2014 Humanitarian of the Year Award, founded SoDel Concepts in 2004. After his death in 2014, Scott Kammerer, president of SoDel Concepts, started the SoDel Cares Foundation in his honor. The nonprofit supports local organizations that assist children, at-risk youth and adults, and the elderly. SoDel Care’s primary mission is to contribute in a positive way to the communities in which SoDel Concepts does business. For additional information, visit sodelconcepts.com.