2025--BEER #2: Cape May IPA, Coastal Evacuation, Merry & Brite, or Honey Porter (Cape May Brewing Co.)

12/2/2025

Welcome to day 2 of Bearded Brewstravaganza. Thank you Eric for providing today's advent beer selection! Today's beer is a mixed bag of beers, as all of the options come from Cape May Brewing Company, but you will have one of the four different options in for your enjoyment.

Cape May IPA carries a 6.3% ABV. It is an American IPA and packed with some floral and citrus notes.

Coastal Evacuation is a Double IPA that weighs in with an 8% ABV. Brewed with centennial hops, this beer packs a sweet, but smooth punch.

Honey Porter is a an English Porter with an ABV of 5.4%. This robust brown porter has a hint of honey, but malty finish.

Merry & Brite is a West Coast-style, 7.5% ABC beer that is brewed with centennial, cascade, and chinook hops. The amber colored beer has a piney, yet citrusy flavor profile.

Cape May Brewing Company is located in Cape May, New Jersey in 2011. The brewery has a large area for indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a sour room with active fermenting barrels!

Photo Credit: Jeff

Photo Credit: Jason

Photo Credit: Tyler Baker

Photo Credit: Caleb and Maria @thecasualpageturner

Video Credit: Mark

20 Comments

Eric Nelson

12/2/2025 05:22:18 pm

I'm the guy who provided a variety of beers for your tasting enjoyment. Cape May has been a favorite of mine for a long time.

The honey porter didn't disappoint. I'd give it 3.5 mugs.

Tyler

12/2/2025 05:40:31 pm

After a long day of staring at a computer screen, followed by shoveling snow, Merry & Brite IPA was just what I needed! This beautiful amber colored beer packed the perfect amount pine and bitterness. As my brother Trent will tell ya, piney IPAs are my favorite. Can art was neat as Cape May seems to keep a similar design for their beers. I rate this a 4.5 on the mug scale! I’m thankful that my kids had a snow day to hang out and play today! Cheers all! 🎄🍻

Wayne and Heather

12/2/2025 06:07:27 pm

Happy day two of the Brewstravaganza! Our Cape May IPA checks all of the boxes for a good West Coast IPA. This was an easy drinker and although Wayne prefers a little more "bite" to his IPA's, we both could drink a few of these. Wayne rates 3 mugs and Heather rates 4 mugs. Enjoying the snowy scene outside today. Cheers!!

Char Baker

12/2/2025 06:36:41 pm

I had the Merry and Brite. It tasted hoppy and malty and I liked it! I loved that the can has a hop as a Christmas tree! I’m thankful for the snow day for all of our grandchildren, and our granddog! Loved all the pictures of them today! I give this beer 3 mugs

Nick Morder

12/2/2025 06:39:32 pm

I had the pleasure of drinking the Honey Porter and it lived up to the expectation! I personally am a big fan of honey and was excited to give it a try. It was perfect for after a snowy day! I’d give up 3.5 mugs. Cheers!

Richard

12/2/2025 07:12:17 pm

Coastal Evacuation Double IPA

Smooth IPA with a cool beach brand image and vibe. Can taste (and smell) the subtle hints of orange and honeydew.

2 / 5 Mugs

Maddy & Brandon

12/2/2025 07:51:07 pm

We got lucky enough to enjoy the Coastal Evacuation Double IPA! We’ve had this beer before so we knew what to expect and were excited to taste it again. Both being IPA lovers (& doubles are always a plus) we think this is a solid brew for what it is. The description is spot on and we taste more honeydew in the after taste than orange (even though brandon has apparently never eaten a honeydew before, “is that what I taste?”😂). The can art is fun to pick apart with all the little details and the food pairings suggested on it added a unique touch! Maddy rates this a 3.0 and Brandon rates it a 3.2, a good sturdy double we both enjoyed but nothing spectacular to write home about.

Trey Bake

12/2/2025 07:55:32 pm

I got dealt the Coastal Evacuation DIPA for my Cape May Brewing Co. tasting experience. If I had the choice between the four I’d have taken this one or the west coast style ale so I am pleased. The beers pours more opaque than expected for the western-ish IPA style taste it brings to the table. The description caught my attention because the words ‘honeydew melon’ always sounds delicious yet I don’t quite get that flavor (even though honeydew doesn’t have much taste haha). Compared to other DIPAs this one was slightly underwhelming yet has a unique taste to it that would serve as a nice mixup to the usual suspects of DIPAs I consume. Overall I give this a rating of 2.9 out 5 mugs.

Fun Fact - I had a Louisiana-style Red Snapper in Cape May which is my favorite meal I’ve had to this day

Ron

12/2/2025 08:21:08 pm

Cheers all – serving up Merry & Brite. I’m grateful to receive this west coast IPA as my favorite style of beer, plus Margie is working so I don’t have to share! 🎁
Festive can art, amber color surprised for a beverage with piney profile. Nice taste, somewhat reminiscent of Nugget Nectar, note 7.5 abv. Solid choice and will look to purchase in future. 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺

Nick Filingeri

12/2/2025 08:48:03 pm

Ron,

If West Coast IPA’s are your favorite style, mark your calendar for November 11th. I’m told by an employee at West Connection Beer Vault that Back to Bitter is by far their favorite.

Cheers,

Nick Filingeri

Jason Rice

12/2/2025 08:21:41 pm

Got the Cape May IPA! I’m a big fan of IPAs and this one is always a good go to for me. Classic!

3.25 mugs from me! 🍺

12/2/2025 08:23:06 pm

Tonight I drank the Cape May IPA. This beer has a classic west coast IPA taste to it. It is refreshing and incorporates the proper amount of bitterness, while being accompanied pleasantly by fresh notes of citrus. At 6.3%, the Cape May IPA allows for longevity and would be a great beer for a long day of drinking.

4.0🍺

Poppa bearded Bake

12/2/2025 08:23:26 pm

Today’s snow storm created a “Coastal Evacuation”, a gleeful double IPA, lovely tasting and very smooth and tantalizing to the taste buds! New Jersey proud, scared me a bit, but to no avail, this I could drink many of! Effective can art, with Sea shore colors! A 4.2 mug scale rating! Really enjoying the advent so far!

Ken

12/2/2025 08:37:05 pm

I had the honey porter and it was a good tasting beer. Went down fast and made me want another. I give it 3 mugs.

Becca AND CHRIS

12/2/2025 09:15:26 pm

⭐️⭐️-
Crisp, citrusy, and super drinkable. Cape May IPA delivers grapefruit and pine notes without being overly bitter. Smooth, refreshing, and an easy go-to for anyone who likes a balanced, hop-forward beer.
Gave it 2 stars because it made me sad it’s snowing and not summertime where I could see myself enjoying this beer more.

Caleb & Maria

12/2/2025 09:31:06 pm

What an exhausting day. Thankful for some pre-Christmas snow, but when you and your spouse teach virtually but your kids have a traditional snow day, things get quite hectic. We’re both sitting here sipping this one in a solemn trance. Admittedly, Maria does not enjoy hoppy beers at all, so she gives this one and any one like it 0/5 🍻but I’ll go a solid 2.5/5 🍻 bc I appreciate the quality standards it takes to competently brew an IPA. Cheers!

12/2/2025 09:33:47 pm

Forgot to mention we drank the Merry & Brite West Coast IPA

Jeff

12/2/2025 10:07:35 pm

Ho,Ho,Ho I had the pleasure of drinking the Honey porter. I am not a big fan of porters, so I was very hesitant about trying this one, but to my surprise it was very good and it was very easy to drink. After a great day of teaching eager and happy students wanting to learn watching on their computer , this beer was a 4 mugger and I wish I had more.
Can’t wait for tomorrow.

DaddyCam

12/2/2025 10:21:19 pm

I have the Double IPA Coastal Evacuation 8%
It is pretty good! I like the boldness of this beer!
🍺🍺🍺

Trent

12/2/2025 10:40:51 pm

Merry and Brite more like Piney and Citrus my favorite combination of flavor when it comes to my beer! Great taste and an easy drinker! Love the Hop Christmas tree on the can to top off this west coast IPA! Nothing like a solid 7.5 abv as well! 4 mugs from me!

2025--BEER #2: Cape May IPA, Coastal Evacuation, Merry & Brite, or Honey Porter (Cape May Brewing Co.)

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