Ludlam Island Brewery will be celebrating their first anniversary on Thursday, June 29th starting at 4pm at the Taproom. Owner Bill Topley’s path to opening in Dennis Township was not the easiest, and this milestone is one that everyone at Ludlam Island should be extremely proud of. This is truly a story of dedication, perseverence, and the realization of a dream.

Ludlam Island was formed in 2012 and with the intention to open a brewery in Sea Isle City, which the city ultimately would not allow. Most people would just give up, but Bill was not one of those people. He regrouped, found a great facility, and opened a little more than a year after Sea Isle City dismissed his proposal. Although Sea Isle City did not allow them to open, Bill still pays homage to Sea Isle City by using the name Ludlam Island (the island which Sea Isle city sits on), having the SIC initial featured in their diving helmet logo, and one of their flagship beers is named Fish Alley IPA after that historic section of Sea Isle City that houses the commercial fishing docks, restaurants, and seafood stores that promote the locally caught seafood.

For those of you that have not visited the brewery you need to get there. Head Brewer Joe Laluk, along with his assistant brewer Brad Young, are making some really great beer. We had the opportunity to sit down with these two young brewers last week for an upcoming feature and they really love what they do. They are both thoughtful and have a clear vision as to where they want to go with their brews in the future, yet are grounded enough to make sure that the beer they are producing now is done correctly within the style they are brewing. They are making some great IPA’s, Pale Ale’s, Brown’s, and Stouts that are true to style for any serious beer lover. In addition, Joe has come up with a few interesting beers that you don’t see everywhere like his Reuben Gose, a play on the traditional Reuben Sandwich brewed with flaked rye and caraway seeds that is both salty and sour, and East Koast Kölsch which was perfected after Bill took Joe on a trip to Cologne, Germany (and a few other places) the birthplace of this style.

Join us on Thursday for the celebration with beers on cask, complimentary food provided by Philly Fry, and to buy the limited edition Commemorative Mug which you can buy now for 27$. The mug is a great deal and comes with a few other added bonuses which make this a no-brainer.

Congratulations to Bill, Joe, Brad, Lacey, Kristin, and everyone involved in making this a successful first year! Cheers!