New Brewhouse Arrives at Cape May Brewery

On 3/19, Cape May Brewery’s new 30-barrel brewhouse came rolling onto the premises, her tanks a-gleaming, after completing a 2,800-mile journey across the country.

“People asked me some strange questions along the way,” said driver David Cook, who transported the 8,000-pound system on a 53-foot trailer. “The weirdest was: ‘What’s a brewery?’ I just walked away from those folks. It ain’t for making popcorn!”

That, it ain’t.

In addition to two support tanks, five 60-barrel fermenting tanks, and two 60-barrel bright tanks already in place, the custom-built system from respected manufacturer Premier Stainless is three vessels – a mash tun (where malted barley is mixed with hot water), a boil kettle (where hops are added for aroma and flavor), and a whirlpool (to help clarify the resulting brew).

The latter is not a necessary piece for the making of beer… just an exciting one. It will allow the CMB team to begin work on a new batch before the previous has finished brewing, which should help maintain the start-up’s trajectory — CMB is on track to become New Jersey’s largest producer of craft beer. The new equipment will produce 15,000 barrels its first year in operation, with room to grow as tanks are added to the arsenal.

“I feel like a kid at Christmas,” said CMB President Ryan Krill, before joking: “We’ll hang on to this system for just a little while.” But, those who’ve been paying attention have reason to take him on his word.

This is the fifth time the operation has upgraded its brewing apparatus in four years; Krill and his business partner/college buddy Chris Henke started in 2011 with a 12-gallon system fashioned from scrap metal, just enough to service their one client.

But now, with 270 accounts throughout Jersey and Pennsylvania, they’ve outgrown their 1,500-square-foot space at the Cape May Airport. While they’re hanging on to it — and the 15-barrel brewhouse that’s been churning out their award-winning recipes – they’ve taken over a warehouse, also at the Cape May Airport. Here they’ve installed a bottling line, a new mill, and now, this impressive brew house. It’s the final piece of CMB’s expansion puzzle.