If you haven’t enjoyed a stellar beer from Ship Bottom Brewery yet, you are not alone. Rob Zarko’s small-batch brewery produced only 40 barrels in 2013. His quality beers are in high demand, and limited production means they often appear—and disappear—quickly from taprooms. Although Ship Bottom Brewery is named after a borough on Long Beach Island, the beer is actually brewed in Wallingford, PA, and is sold at only a few locations around the Delaware Valley and at the shore.
As both the head brewer and owner, Rob Zarko is slowly building his roster of superb beers and widening distribution. He started home brewing in 1995, and with the urging of friends and family, started Ship Bottom Brewery in 2012. After working with the state to secure all the applicable licenses and permits, Rob constructed a brewery in the garage of his Wallingford home and has so far churned out 13 different brews with names such as Beach Patrol Hefeweizen, LB IPA and Shoobie Pale Ale.
You’ve heard of garage bands, but this is a garage brewery, and it is awesome. Rob laughed as he described the construction of the space to meet license requirements. Floor drains and proper venting were installed, along with a walk-in refrigerator that stores sixtels and quarter kegs. The space is immaculate, with temperature-controlled fermentation tanks along the inside wall and mash tuns against the opposite wall.
I first met Rob two years ago when he was pouring his Barnacle Stout under the Pinocchio’s tent at the Brandywine Valley Craft Beer Festival. One sip and I was hooked. At that point, he was still waiting on licensing and approvals. Pinocchio’s Beer Garden was his first supporter, giving Rob a home base to hold tasting sessions. Ship Bottom is also offered at 320 Market Cafe in Swarthmore and Capone’s in Norristown, as well as a few beach locations.
“I like seeing the instant feedback on people’s faces; to see their smiles is a good feeling,” Rob said of the tasting sessions and beer festivals. “It’s all about education. I really learned [brewing] by listening to podcasts from craft brewers.” He listed Stone, Dogfish Head and Victory as influences, learning from their beers and methods they’ve fine-tuned over the years. The craft brewing community is very collaborative. Rob told me that Sam Hobbs (owner of Twin Lakes Brewery) visited Rob’s garage brewery and was impressed. Rob now has his kegs cleaned down at Twin Lakes Brewing Company in Greenville. Rob has also chatted with Bill Covaleski about a possible collaboration beer with Victory Brewing.
In mid-June, Rob will be releasing a limited edition Bourbon Aged Stout in Belgian bottles. He’ll only have six cases to deliver to local spots, and it is sure to be one deliciously rare beer. His Barnacle Stout is awesome, and bourbon aging can only make it better.
Ship Bottom Brewery is also expanding this summer in New Jersey. They are supporting the Ship Bottom Firehouse Fundraiser for the second year. “My wife’s family had a place down there,” Rob told me. “That’s where I first started home brewing, back in 1995.”
He has worked tirelessly to produce Beach Patrol Hefeweizen so that it can be on tap at more pubs in Ship Bottom and Long Beach Island. This year, Rob is also involved in baking beer donuts. “We’re making these beer bites, a collaboration with Shore Good Donuts. We gave samples away at the Hop Sauce Fest. “I went down in the spring and we made donuts with stout and an IPA. The one with the IPA, we cracked it open and we could smell the hops.” They will be offering the donut holes in a pint glass with a side of icing for dipping. Rob hopes to create pumpkin ale beer bites in the fall.
If you are not going to Long Beach Island, the best places to find Ship Bottom beers are Pinocchio’s Beer Garden, 320 Market Cafe and Capone’s Restaurant. Their drafts also sometimes show up at Sligo and Broad Axe Tavern.
Keep up with Ship Bottom Brewery, and get tips on where their drafts are pouring, by following them on Twitter or Facebook.
- Photography: Jim Breslin
