A Sunday night at Goodnight Irene’s of Wildwood most definitely does not disappoint. While most Cape May County hotspots cool down as Monday morning approaches, Irene’s keeps the live tunes coming and the brew flowing. With 50 ever-changing taps of both local and imported brews, Goodnight Irene’s makes decision-making particularly difficult. But on this particular Sunday, this columnist happened to discover Cape May County’s best-kept secret and this week’s drink of the week. While local specialties such as Flying fish and Dogfish Head remain customer favorites, the exclusive Cape May Brewing Company tap caught my eye. Which New Jersey state-shaped tap should I select? The red “IPA” or the green “Saison”? The choice was too difficult. That’s why this week, our honored drink is more general – all Cape May Brewing Company brews alike. Sip on one and you cannot go wrong.
The Cape May Brewing Company IPA, or Indian Pale Ale, was winner of Best IPA at the 2012 Atlantic City Beer Festival and just one sample explains its supremacy. This intensely hoppy brew remains a very strong pale ale without the usual big maltiness. Strongly hopped and clean, Cape May Brewing Company’s IPA lacks harshness and serves as a true a tribute to historical IPAs.
The Cape May Brewing Company “Saison” sounded foreign and daunting. But one taste later and I was a Saison fanatic. As stated by the Brewing Company, “If an IPA, a Wheat Beer, and a Belgium Double had a baby; it would be called a Saison.” The Saison is a refreshing, medium fruity & spicy ale with a distinctive yellow-orange color, highly carbonated, and dry with a quenching acidity. What gives this Saison its unique kick? Cape May Brewing Company includes their very special ingredient of coriander and brews it with lots of Saaz hops. If you believe in the legend of the “perfect” summer beer, Cape May Brewing Company’s Saison will reaffirm your faith.
By Megan Kummer