Get ready to hop into the madness, CMBC fans! March isn't just about buzz-beaters and upsets - it's about brews and brackets, too, so we're kicking off this week with a battle of the Cape May Brewing Company brews. Grab your favorite Cape May libation, find out more about this year's featured beers below, then fill out your CMBC bracket in the Tasting Room (available now through March 25). 

Can't make it to the Tasting Room? You can still participate! Vote for your favorites and determine the round winners on our Instagram Stories starting Thursday, March 26.

The bracket with the most points will win a Philadelphia sports-themed basket! Winners will be announced Tuesday, April 7.

Let the games begin ang good luck!

The IPAs

CAPE MAY IPA

The American IPA named for America’s Oldest Seaside Resort, Cape May IPA is loaded with floral and citrus notes, well-balanced with a zesty finish. A West Coast-style IPA brewed in the heart of the East Coast, it’s the beer that’s Crafted on the Cape.

FOLLOW THE GULL

Originally brewed to celebrate Cape May County's 325th anniversary, we brew Follow the Gull with a ridiculous amount of Citra and Azacc hops, yielding a juicy and ultra-drinkable hop-bomb bursting with tropical and citrus aromas.

CRUSHIN' IT

Refreshing and great for the beach, Crushin' It is soon to be your summer staple. With Citra, Mosaic, and Azacca hops blending together to accentuate the fresh flavors of orange juice, Crushin' It is dry, approachable, and perfectly balanced. Relax in the sand. Enjoy a no shower happy hour. This beer is best paired with good friends, sunshine, and SPF 30.

COASTAL EVACUATION

Coastal Evacuation — it's a phrase that's everywhere at the Jersey Shore. This West Coast-style Double IPA is as big and bold as hurricane season itself, with a Centennial-forward, brazen blend of hops serving up hints of orange citrus and honeydew melon. It's time to evacuate. Are you prepared?

Staff Picks

ALWAYS READY

Cape May is home to the Coast Guard, so we salute those who are Always Ready with a juicy Hazy Pale Ale. With the addition of wheat and oats for a medium body and with brilliant aromas of tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, and citrus zest, this lush hop-bomb is Always Ready.

CAPE MAY WHITE

Cape May White is brewed with orange and lemon peels, coriander, grains of paradise, and our favorite Belgian Witbier yeast. Fruity esters up-front with an easy-drinking finish yields a traditional Belgian-Style Wheat Ale brewed in the heart of the East Coast.

SIGNAL WATCH IPA

 Signal Watch IPA is a bold and vibrant Double IPA with a burst of tropical character. Bright notes of mango, citrus, and a touch of pine highlight the blend of Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo hops. 

DEVIL'S REACH

A Belgian beast. Fruity and light, the complexity and character of Devil’s Reach comes from a robust Belgian yeast. Deceptively simple, caution is demanded because, before you know it, Devil’s Reach has swallowed you whole.

Tasting Room Faves

SUNNIE TAN

Sunnie Tan leads with citrus, floral, and tropical notes from its heavy Motueka hop bill. The aroma is lively and fresh without tipping into bitterness, keeping the beer clean, crisp, and highly drinkable.

STRAWBUOY

This Strawberry Lemon Sour Ale is brewed with real strawberry, real lemon juice, and wheat to deliver a sweet and sour ale that's as invigorating as a dip in the ocean. Fruit-forward with a refreshing finish, this 5% ABV brew is perfect for any occasion.

BLUEBERRY HARD LEMONADE

 This Hard Lemonade is balanced with mouth-puckeringly tart and delectably sweet flavors in every sip. Crafted with a carbonated, all-natural cane sugar base and lemon juice with a twist of blueberry, it's sure to quench your thirst and bring back fond memories of your time spent in the Garden State. 

MANGO CHILI LIME LAGER

Bursting with bright mango and zesty lime juices, our Mango Chili Lime Lager is crafted for sunshine sipping. A touch of salt and a subtle note of chili lift the tropical and citrus flavors for a perfectly balanced, crisp brew. 

Seasonal Faves

OKTOBERFEST

Rich and complex, this amber-colored lager is smooth due to a cool fifty-degree fermentation, mellowing as it lagers. Well-balanced with a hint of hops presence, Oktoberfest is focused on the grain bill of Vienna, Munich, Caramunich, Pilsen, and Melanoidin malts.

TAN LIMES

Tan Limes is our Mexican-style Lager brewed with a touch of locally-sourced sea salt and a hint of Persian lime juice. Fresh and zesty, Tan Limes would be perfectly at home at your local cantina and is best paired with street tacos, brilliant sunshine, and close friends.

SNAG & DROP

Dank and resinous, Snag & Drop is a lupulin-laden beast. With hints of pine and orange citrus in the background, it's packed to the gills with some of our stickiest and most pungent hops. Snag & Drop is waiting to lure you in and snag you like a trophy fish.

THE GROVE

The Grove drinks like you picked the fruit this morning, squeezed it into a glass, and — poof! — turned it into the most intensely crushable beer you've ever seen. Snappy, super bright, and ridiculously refreshing, The Grove is sweet and tart, with a brilliant aroma reminiscent of walking through a citrus grove at harvest.

Cheers and happy CMBC bracketing!