THE BREWERS GUILD OF NEW JERSEY LAUNCHES MARCH 2018 AND APPOINTS KZG’S ERIC ORLANDO ORGANIZATION’S FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
THE BREWERS GUILD OF NEW JERSEY LAUNCHES MARCH 2018 AND APPOINTS KZG’S ERIC ORLANDO ORGANIZATION’S FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Guild represents the interests of pioneering independent craft breweries & brewpubs in the Garden State
WEST TRENTON, NJ – To better represent the policy interests of New Jersey’s pioneering independent craft breweries and brewpubs in the region’s ultra-competitive alcoholic beverage marketplace, the state’s leading craft breweries and brewpubs announced the launch of the Brewers Guild of New Jersey and the appointment of Kaufman Zita Group (KZG) Vice President Eric Orlando as its first Executive Director. The new state-based trade group, which will initially be comprised of state-licensed craft breweries and brewpubs and making up over 75% of the independent craft beer brewed in the State of New Jersey, will work to ensure that positive trends for local, independent craft beer in the Garden State continue through the promotion of sensible, innovative policies that will help increase purchase opportunities for consumers and the overall visibility of New Jersey craft beer.
“I am thrilled to be able continue to work with the leading craft breweries in the state today,” said Eric Orlando, the new Guild Executive Director and KZG Vice President. “Since 2010, and highlighted in the passage of seminal bi-partisan craft beer reform legislation in 2012, our firm’s representation of the craft beer industry has been rewarding both personally and professionally. Now with the state’s craft beer industry on a more solid footing and having a real presence in the halls of Trenton, the demands of a maturing industry need a renewed focus on what matters not only to these licensed, highly-regulated businesses today, but the challenges to it which could be forthcoming,” said Orlando.
The founding membership of the Brewers Guild of New Jersey includes Flying Fish Brewing Company (Somerdale, NJ), Cape May Brewing Company (Cape May, NJ), Kane Brewing Company (Ocean, NJ), Carton Brewing Company (Atlantic Highlands, NJ), Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant (Voorhees and Maple Shade, NJ), Riverhorse Brewing Company (Ewing, NJ), Cricket Hill Brewing Company (Fairfield, NJ), Beach Haus Brewing Company (Belmar, NJ) and Spellbound Brewing Company (Mt. Holly, NJ). The Guild’s membership is the foundation of today’s flourishing New Jersey craft beer industry which has grown exponentially the last decade, now numbering over 80 licensed breweries and brewpubs statewide. Guild members employ hundreds of employees at their locations, producing millions of gallons of draft and packaged beer predominately sold in retail locations like bars, restaurants and liquor stores throughout New Jersey and neighboring states. Brewers Guild of New Jersey members have won countless Great American Beer Festival ® and World Beer Cup ® medals in recent years, earning recognition nationwide for their award-winning, critically-acclaimed ales and lagers.
Gene Muller, a founding member of the new Guild and owner of Flying Fish Brewing Company since 1995 shared his enthusiasm for the new organization and its mission. “Over my last 20 years or so in the craft beer industry, I have seen many trends and gimmicks come and go, with one question having always persisted: how good is the beer? Producing consistently great quality beer and working tirelessly toward getting it into the hands of consumers in the marketplace are the goals of the new Guild.”
Ryan Krill, CEO and co-founder of Cape May Brewing Company, shared how the new Guild will look to support breweries as they grow and compete for their share of the craft beer dollar. “We have built Cape May Brewing Company from a 1,500 square-foot space with one beer and one account into one of New Jersey’s largest production breweries, brewing more beer daily than in our entire first year of existence. We distribute to hundreds of accounts throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania and employ nearly 70 local residents, expanding our facility three times in the past seven years. This new Guild is planned to support those like-minded breweries who see themselves following much the same trajectory we did: growing our facility to further the cause of New Jersey craft beer.”
In announcing the launch of the new organization this March, the Brewers Guild of New Jersey is also happy to announce its members will be the official New Jersey craft beer sponsors of KZG’s “8th Annual Beer and Wine Reception” at the NJ Chamber of Commerce’s “Walk to Washington” Event on Thursday, March 1st. The reception, which is the official pre-dinner reception of the Chamber’s “Walk to Washington” Event, is taking place at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, NW, from 4:30pm-6:30pm in the Marriott Foyer, 2nd Floor.
