Thompson Island expands brewing staff

Jimmy Valm, the brewmaster at Thompson Island Brewing Company in Rehoboth Beach, announced that Charlotte Jump and Nikolas Theopold have joined his team for a total of five brewers.

The crew has been busy this summer handling production for the award-winning brewpub, but they are also preparing for the opening of Ocean View Brewing Company, now under construction in Ocean View.

Valm will oversee production at both brewpubs, which are part of Rehoboth Beach-based SoDel Concepts. The company currently has 18 business operations, including a new Matt’s Fish Camp which will open in Fenwick Island this fall.

“We’ve been working hard to keep up with the demand for our beer,” said Valm. “It’s wonderful to see how much our guests enjoy our products at all of our restaurants. Charlotte and Nik will be a great asset as we continue to take our beers to the next level.”

Jump, who has been at Thompson Island since it opened in 2019, started as a server, but the biochemistry major who graduated from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa., was drawn to the brewing process.

Theopold recently graduated from UCLA with a master’s degree in organic chemistry. He became interested in brewing when he met a brewmaster in California. “He was so happy at work,” said Theopold, “I wanted to try it.”

He picked the right training ground. Thompson Island Brewing Company has won numerous awards, including a gold medal for Thompson Island IPA at the U.S. Open Brewing Beer Championship. Glazed & Confused earned a bronze in the chocolate-cocoa beer category.

All the current SoDel Concepts restaurants are open for dining and carryout. To learn more, go to sodelconcepts.com.