My love for craft beer has prompted me to visit several breweries across the United States over the past few years to learn more about the brewing process and sample unique varieties. Favorites include Dogfish Head, Philadelphia Brewing Co., Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore; Skagway Brewing Co. in Alaska; and Cape May Brewing Co. in Rio Grande, N.J. I enjoyed touring and sampling brews at each and learning about their origins and operations, but with its laidback beach atmosphere, delicious flavors and unique history, Cape May Brewing Co. has stood out amongst the others. Tucked away in a small business park next to the Cape May County Airport a 15-minute drive from the beach, Cape May Brewing Co. was founded by two beer lovers who wanted to boost the then weak craft beer scene in South Jersey. In just three years, the brewery has grown from a 15-gallon operation to a 15-barrel system that serves up to 20 beers on tap and self-distributes more than 30 varieties of beer throughout the year in bars, restaurants and liquor stores throughout South Jersey. On a sunny Sunday afternoon this summer I visited the small brewery, standing out amid the other businesses with a verdant hop garden near its entrance, for the first time and found inside a quaint taproom bustling with vacationers and locals enjoying brews around a hand-built bar. With a packed house, the friendly staff didn’t seem overwhelmed but instead took the time to chat and drop off each of my samples with a detailed explanation of the content. Standout samples for me included the Smooth Sale Pale Ale, Centennial IPA (winner of the 2012 Atlantic City Beer Festival) and Dan’s Serenity Now! Black IPA, made from a recipe crafted by one of the brewery’s employees (seen below with his brew). Open daily from 12–8 p.m., the taproom is a great spot to visit on your way to Cape May. The relaxed environment and friendly staff alone are worth the visit, but the brewery also offers fun events like “Poses and Pints” in the taproom, including a 60-minute yoga session followed by a craft beer tasting and tour. — Monique Barrett, eFlyer editor/associate editor