Nov 9, 2023 • Deep Dive
Top Beers of the Year
Can you believe it’s November already?! We certainly can’t. Before you know it, we’ll be hanging up holiday decorations, shopping for gifts, and over-analyzing our Spotify Wrapped playlists as we prepare for the new year.
Hey, Siri: Can you play “Beer Never Broke My Heart” by Luke Combs on Spotify?
With only two months left in the year, we wanted to take the time to recap some of your favorite Cape May Brewing Company beers from 2023, with answers straight from our annual customer survey. Here’s what you all had to say...
Favorite IPA: Cape May IPA
It’s no surprise that our O.G. is the top IPA this year. It’s not too high in alcohol and it’s not too high in hops, and that’s why it’s an easy choice for someone who wants to get into drinking craft beer. It’s also a tradition: it’s the first beer we ever brewed, the first beer we ever sold, and, in all likelihood, the first beer of ours you ever drank. FYI: Coastal Evacuation was a very close second. We see you, hopheads!
Favorite Lager: Tan Limes
When first released on draft in April 2019 in the Tasting Room, the response to this simple, drinkable lager with lime juice and sea salt was overwhelming. We were flooded with requests to see this brew in a can, so we put another brew on the schedule and scheduled a Tasting Room-only release, and people went crazy for it! It’s been a staple in our summer seasonal lineup ever since. We’re already counting down the days until its re-release next year…
Favorite Fruit-Forward Beer: Orange Crushin’ It
Over the years we’ve been brewing Crushin’ It, one thing is certain: our fans absolutely love this beer! We’ve released a few other varieties of this beer over the years, but the Orange Crushin’ It remains the fan favorite. On that note, stay tuned for a new Crushin’ It flavor next year… any guesses?
Favorite “Misc” Beer: Always Ready
It’s hazy. It’s juicy. It honors the U.S. Coast Guard. With the addition of wheat and oats for a medium body and brilliant aromas of tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, and citrus zest, this lush hop-bomb is a beer fans keep turning to again and again.
Favorite Dark Beer: Honey Porter
This beer was first released on draft in October 2011 in the Tasting Room, became a year-round core product for us shortly after, and then went on to win a bronze award at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival. Twelve years later it is still voted the top dark beer we brew!
Favorite Non-Beer Brew: Hard Lemonade
This brew started as part of our On The Way to Cape May series which celebrated our tenth anniversary with iconic flavors from Cape May. It sold out of our Tasting Room in two days and was so popular we brewed more, which immediately sold out again! It’s been a summer staple for us the past few years, and we hope it brings back fond memories of your time down the shore with every sip.
While some of these brews are sold out for the season (sorry, Tan Limes fans), you can still purchase the other brews near you or stop by the Tasting Room to try them on tap.
Click to see what is available in the Tasting Room on draft and in package to-go, or use the Beer Finder to find our brews near you in NJ, PA, and DE.
Cheers to the Top Beers of the Year!