On December 4, Ryan Krill of Cape May Brewing Company was reelected president of the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild. Krill’s initial term was one year; his next will be two years, per a new policy.
Under Krill’s leadership, the guild — which provides resources to craft brewers and lobbies for legislative support within the industry – elected its first Executive Director, advocated for job creation legislation at the federal level, developed an economic impact report, increased digital outreach, hosted two beer festivals, and created a Best Practices Document which guides new start-ups. Krill introduced three pieces of legislation for growing the state’s agritourism economies, and has made numerous trips by car and by plane to meet with stakeholders and legislators.
The guild also doubled its membership in 2015, which mirrors the growth of the industry as a whole. Craft beer contributed over $1.2 billion to New Jersey’s economy this year, and is responsible for 9,500 jobs throughout the state.
At the largest meeting in guild history, held at Forgotten Boardwalk Brewery in Cherry Hill on Monday, Krill presented his plans for nourishing this growth in 2016.
“I’m working on developing subcommittees for marketing, government affairs, and events,” he says. “There are some very talented people in our guild who want to be involved. I want to give them an outlet.”
Also on the agenda is reintroducing job creation legislation, modernizing and cleaning up the association’s by-laws, increasing the number of allied trade members, hosting a mini safety conference for fellow guilds, and launching two more beer festivals.
“As president, Ryan brings two key qualities to the guild,” says Executive Director and renowned beer writer Don Russell. “First, he has the vision and energy to lead the guild as New Jersey’s craft brewing industry grows at an unprecedented rate. And secondly, his phone number is on my speed dial.”
Within Jersey’s craft community, sense of humor – like good beer – is never lacking.
For more information on Jersey’s craft beer news and events, visit njbeer.org.
About Ryan Krill Cape May Brewing Company:
Once upon a time, twenty-something Ryan Krill earned a six-figure salary working in finance and real estate development in Manhattan, while his college roommate, Chris Henke, designed satellites. During a summer weekend at the Jersey shore, they brewed a batch of beer with Ryan’s dad that wasn’t half bad. “Should we open a brewery?” Ryan asked, only half-serious. But, by the following year, the three guys had secured a space at Cape May Airport where they concocted a makeshift brew system and honed their beer-making skills. In 2011, they started with one client. Today, there are over 380+ accounts in Jersey and Pennsylvania proudly serving the guys’ award-winning recipes. And CMBC’s fearless leaders have never looked back.
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