SoDel Concepts has announced the hiring of Jimmy Valm as brewmaster of the Thompson Island Brewing Company.

The 250-seat brewpub is currently under construction next to the Bluecoast Seafood Grill + Raw Bar in Rehoboth Beach. It's the 12th restaurant in the hospitality group.

"We're so fortunate to have someone with Jimmy's talent and experience at Thompson Island Brewing Company," said Scott Kammerer, president of SoDel Concepts. "Coastal Delaware is a beer-loving resort area, and the standards are high. Jimmy has what it takes to meet them."

Valm, a Seattle native, received a degree in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Past employers include Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg and Virginia and Cape May Brewing Company in New Jersey.

Valm has specialized in growing capacity through implementing standardized procedures and building data-capture systems.

"At Thompson Island Brewing Company, I'm looking forward to getting back on the brewhouse floor as well as handling my administrative responsibilities," Valm said. "I'm excited about building a brewing program from the ground up, from developing the philosophy to designing recipes."