Nestled among several breweries in Cape May is one that is different from the others for one specific reason: it’s a nonprofit.
Inside Historic Cold Spring Village, the largest open-air living history museum in New Jersey, Cold Spring Brewery has been serving locals and tourists alike since 2016.
The Cape May County Herald has a good backstory of the brewery's contribution to the overall village. The village was under significant pressure to find new revenue sources outside of the tourist season and the founders alighted on a brewery. It was a great decision.
Annie Salvatore, founder of the Historic Cold Spring Village, told the Herald: "This brewery saved the Village."
During that time more than a few breweries have opened - and some have even closed. But Cold Spring has survived and thrived since then, throughout the pandemic, and now in 2025.
And, yet, brewery manager Sherry Sheldon says that not a day goes by that a local or someone from a nearby town comes in and says he or she didn’t know this place existed. And then they turn into regulars. One reason? The expansive front and backyards, according to Sheldon.
“We never get a bad review on the ambiance, thanks to the historic building, farm equipment, and the appeal of the barn,” Sheldon says. “People love it, you can really smell the hops and the white cedar.”
Another reason she cites is the adventurous new brewer Shayne Statzell, who is doing “a phenomenal job” putting out new beers, which draw rave reviews from customers. Beers on tap at the time of this article were: a Peppermint Porter, Açaí Blue Sour Ale, and a sarsaparilla soda mixed with Farmhouse Ale along with traditional offerings like Pale Ale and a Hefeweizen.
She says there are some locals that come all the time and some who avoid it during the jammed tourist season, but there's always a good mix of people.
Sheldon says the community built by the local breweries is one of great collaboration. While they haven’t done any beer collabs with any of the breweries - “all we can do is put out our core beers,” they all consider themselves part of the “Cape May County Brewery Family.”
They all came together for a Habitat For Humanity event - The Beer That Built the House - and can sometimes loan or trade ingredients if anyone needs some temporary stock.
She will ask visitors where they’re saying to make recommendations nearby.
In Wildwood, she recommends the MudHen Brewpub - it’s a full brewpub with a full bar/restaurant. Everything they have there is fabulous.
In the immediate North Cape May area, she recommends The 5 West Pub and Red Birch Ale House.
For those staying on the island, The Lobster House or Lucky Bones.
