Village Idiot Re-Opens After Founder’s Death

Though it didn’t make a lot of news outside South and Central Jersey, last week’s sudden death of Rich Palmay, the co-owner of Mt. Holly’s storefront brewery, Village Idiot, reverberated hard within the state’s beer community. 56-year-old Palmay, who died of cardiac arrest while brewing on August 19, was one of those guys who always had time for a friendly conversation or advice for an aspiring brewer. As such, lines for his viewing on Monday consistently reached the sidewalk outside the funeral home.

But life must go on, as they say, and Palmay’s partner, Vince Masciandaro, has already re-opened the tasting room to resume the business of the brewery. He opened as usual yesterday and will be open regular hours this weekend, which means today from 5-10 pm and tomorrow noon-10 pm. He’ll be pouring 12 house-brewed beers, including Cucumber Cream Ale, Watermelon Wit, Saison du Idiot and Revolutionary Rye.

If you’d like to acknowledge Palmay in some memorable way, you can make a donation to CHOP in his name. Or, if you’ve been meaning to get over to Village Idiot but haven’t made the time, do it this weekend. Show Masciandaro you support him and raise a pint to his late business partner, a man who liked little more than to welcome friends and raise a pint of his own with them.

Village Idiot Brewing [Official]