Looking for a day away from sunshine and sandy beaches? Or perhaps a night out with friends or a significant other? Maybe you’re looking for something to do on a gray day at the shore? We’ve got the perfect answer: experience Cape May County’s local hops, grapes, and spirits! The Jersey Cape’s local breweries, wineries, and distilleries each have their own unique flare, making for a one-of-a-kind experience at each. Tour the facilities and talk to the experts to learn how beer, wine, and spirits are made. Send your palate on a journey with tastings, and bring your favorite flavor home in a growler or bottle!
COHO Brewing Company was founded in 2018 when two Wildwood High graduates, Karen Buckingham and Mike Johnson, reconnected after 30 years and decided to open a business together. When the two reconnected, they began to hang out and explore local breweries together with their spouses. Karen wasn’t a big beer drinker, but as soon as she sampled Mike’s home-brewed beers, she knew they were unique and needed to be shared with the rest of Cape May County! Karen came up with the idea to open a brewery with Mike as her head brewer, so the two decided to forego their retirements and follow their dreams. They chose the name COHO in reference to its location, in Cape May Court House, and an actual court house, in homage to Mike’s 25 years in law enforcement.
Whether you’re a beer aficionado or a “non-beer drinker,” there truly is a beer for everyone at COHO Brewing Company! All 12 beers on “The Docket” are Mike’s recipes and named to fit the theme, including NGI – Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity and Hazeas Corpus. Not sure which beer to choose? Try them all when you order “The Jury Box,” a unique flight of all 12 beers that resemble jurors sitting in a jury box. If you’re not drinking, make sure to try one of the homemade vanilla or ginger sodas available.
The COHO Brewing Company tasting room, located in Cape May Court House right off of Route 9, is a great place to enjoy a few beers or host a private party. The large, open area provides guests with a relaxing environment and features a NJ bottle cap wall, a chalk outline on the floor (with a beer in hand!), a signing wall, and a visual “docket” of all the beers on tap, with pictures and descriptions of each. Bring your own food to enjoy with your brews or order take-out from one of the local hot spots. The tasting room is family-friendly, so invite the whole family to play board games, darts, cornhole, and more! The COHO staff doesn’t want anyone to leave without a great, one-on-one experience, so take a seat at the bar to learn more about the beers or share your own journey. There’s always something brewing at COHO Brewing Company, so stop in to try The Jury Box, play a few rounds of cornhole, and see if new cases have been added to “The Docket!”
COHO Brewing Company
28 Indian Trail Rd. Suite 103, Cape May Court House
609-264-6480; www.cohobrewing.com