Saturday, February 15, 2025

Cape Fear Beer Tracker: This week in craft beer Jan. 14 – Jan. 20

Our craft beer tracker is a place to keep up with scheduled beer releases, festivals, special casks, and more for the week ahead.

A pint of BRUTurtle IPA is served at Surf City's Salty Turtle as owner Dan Callender looks on. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)
A pint of BRUTurtle IPA at Surf City’s Salty Turtle as owner Dan Callender looks on. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

WILMINGTON — The Wilmington area continues to grow its reputation as an “Asheville East” of craft breweries — there are now 18 in the region — and we’ll be here to keep you in the loop.

Our craft beer tracker is a place to keep up with scheduled beer releases, festivals, special casks, and more for the week ahead. We’ll publish every week and update throughout as information comes along.

Remember, schedules can fluctuate inside the brewhouse, so check the breweries’ links for updates on their Facebook pages. Brewers, taproom managers, and owners — keep us informed at pcd@localvoicemedia.com.

This week in craft beer Monday, Jan. 14 – Sunday, Jan. 20

Bill’s Brewing Co. | 4238 Market Street in midtown Wilmington

New cans of This is What Space Smells like, a New England-style IPA, will be “orbiting your area” starting Jan. 24. “Packed with a molecular cloud of tropical aromatics and cosmic dust” with Mosaic, Denali, and Mosaic hops.

The label design for the This is What Space Smells Like IPA from Bill's Brewing's. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Bill's Brewing)
The label design for the This is What Space Smells Like IPA from Bill’s Brewing’s. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Bill’s Brewing)
  • Brewing Philosophy: “We strive to create beer that everyone can enjoy, from the craft beer connoisseur to individuals new to the craft beer scene.”
  • Brewers’ Top 3: Dog Haze of Summer NEIPA, Schwarzbier, and Wave Break IPA
  • Founded: June 2016

Broomtail Craft Brewery | 6404 Amsterdam Way, King’s Grant area of Wilmington

Now on tap, the Strawberry Galloping Gose – “Bursting with strawberry flavor and that tangy, salty taste you love, come grab a pint for $6!” They also just tapped Lotta Love Blonde Strong Ale over the weekend.

On Jan. 26 they’ll be releasing the Woofgang Ammadoggus, a memorial beer for one of their best regulars, Woofer.

Woofer was a big and sweet black lab who could tell you his name and put your empty beer cup in the trash … He spent a lot of his days stretched out across the floor of his taproom waiting for his next treat. We commemorate Woofer with this delicious, smooth, chocolately oatmeal stout, hopped with classic American Cascade and Centennial hops. This beer is black and smooth – just like sweet Woofer. Recipe created by Daniel P. (Woofers dad).”

  • Brewing Philosophy: “To enrich the world by using scientific art coupled with the natural resources and living organisms provided by Mother Nature developing unique, high-quality beer for all to enjoy.”
  • Brewers’ Top 3: Galloping Gose’ – series of light sours using natural lactobacillus and brewers yeast in fermentation to develop smooth, refreshing, true to style Gose’; Acerbic Ecstasy – flagship IPA, a hybrid English / West Coast IPA; Moe Beer – signature brown ale, highly crushable and pairs well with almost any dish.
  • Founded: 2014

Keep up with their souring/barrel aging facility and taproom in Ogden, The Sour Barn (7211 Market Street).

Check Six Brewing Co. | 5130 Southport-Supply Road in Southport

Their new releases – Flight School Cocoweed Stout and the Saint James Wright Red Ale.

  • Brewing Philosophy: “Make the finest ales and lagers possible, using local ingredients whenever possible.”
  • Brewers’ Top 3: Harley Pope Vanilla Porter, Aerial Aggression Double IPA, B-17 Bock
  • Founded: June 2016

Edward Teach Brewery | 604 N 4th Street in downtown Wilmington

Their newest releases – Belgian Blonde, Southern Cross Belgian Dubbel, and Winterfest Lager.

  • About:: “Set in a historic firehouse in Wilmington’s Brooklyn Arts District, we craft beers for everyone. Try our German or Black Lagers, Peach Wheat Ale, and IPAs.”
  • Founded: December 2017

Flying Machine Brewing Co. | 3130 Randall Parkway in midtown Wilmington

Look out for the release of a Double New England IPA named Wolf Lord, out this weekend. “It sits at 7.8 percent ABV with notes of strawberry, clementine, and vanilla,” co-founder David Sweigart said.

  • Brewing Philosphy: We want to mix new age ideas with old school techniques to bring a new era of innovation to the marketplace. 
  • Brewers’ Top 3: Vimana (a Kölsch), Hollow Bones (a Roggenbier), and Hollow Wolf Lord (a double New England IPA)
  • Founded: June 2016
Flying Machine's weekend casks: the Açaí Bowl Igo Pilsner (left) and the Fluffer Nutter Sky Lantern Pre-Prohibition Porter. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Flying Machine Brewery)
Flying Machine’s weekend casks: the Açaí Bowl Igo Pilsner (left) and the Fluffer Nutter Sky Lantern Pre-Prohibition Porter. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Flying Machine Brewery)

Flytrap Brewing | Located at 319 Walnut Street in downtown Wilmington

They just released the Rye Pale Ale (6.3 percent ABV), “refreshing and hoppy with subtle hints of rye,” said owner and brewer Mike Barlas. 

  • Brewing Style: A neighborhood brewery specializing in small batch American and Belgian style ales that are guaranteed to be at the peak of freshness.”
  • Brewers’ Top 3: Our Saisons, our Rotating House IPA, and our Kettle Sour Ales
  • Founded: October 2014

Front Street Brewery | 9 N. Front Street in downtown Wilmington

A new small batch beer will go on draft this week called Middle Earth, a “glass of liquid gold [with] subtle hints of lemongrass, clove, white pepper and pear.” Great for Saison lovers.

  • Brewing Style: “Specializing in American and Belgian style ales and small batch brews.”
  • Brewers’ Top 3: Amberjack ESB, Napoleon Rye-namite, Tiny Tim’s Christmas Ale
  • Founded: 1995

Good Hops Brewing | 811 Harper Ave in Carolina Beach

Brave hop Scotch Ale is back on tap with the Black IPA coming soon. 

  • Mission: “To make and drink damn tasty beer, offer a comfortable neighborhood gathering place and support all things local.”
  • Flagships: Donna Golden Ale, Flip Hop IPA, Stanky Yankee Hazy IPA
  • Founded: 2014

Ironclad Brewery | 115 N. 2nd Street in downtown Wilmington

Their brewers decided to release Ironclad’s newest stout, the Pablo Escobier Stout (6.3 percent ABV): “Nice milky start, sweet middle and a dark chocolate hoppy finish…Pablo would be proud!”

  • Brewing Philosophy: We strive to provide each beer enthusiast with a unique experience by infusing traditional styles with unexpected ingredients: Fermentation of the Imagination!”
  • Brewers’ Top 3: Smoked Honey Lager, Cukes of Hazard, and Navigator Double Bock
  • Founded: 2015

Mad Mole Brewing | 6309 Boathouse Road near Bradley Creek in Wilmington

Just released at Mad Mole: Rufus Saves the World-New England IPA and Dank Side of the Mole.

Rufus Saves The World is making its return by the end of next week. The first 12.5 pound dry hop addition was added Jan. 3, follwed by a second over the weekend. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Mad Mole Brewing)
Rufus Saves The World made its return last week. The first 12.5-pound dry hop addition was added Jan. 3, pictured here. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Mad Mole Brewing)
  • About: “Wilmington’s first solar-powered brewery. Spun off from a local software company, Mad Mole combines technology and art to brew better beer.”
  • Founded: June 2018

Makai Brewing Co. | 5850 Ocean Highway W. Unit 1 in Ocean Isle Beach

Nightingale Coffee Porter, Fire Knife Imperial DIPA, and Carolina Tropical IPA are all due to hit the taproom in time for their One-year anniversary party on Jan. 26.

  • Brewing Philosophy: “Extending the reach of North Carolina craft beer ‘toward the sea’ with consistent flagships and diverse small-batches inspired by the Hawaiian Islands, the Carolina Coast, and our local community.”
  • Brewers’ Choice: Carolina Tropical IPA, Nightingale Coffee Porter, Fire Knife DIPA
  • Founded: 2017

New Anthem Beer Project | 116 Dock Street in downtown Wilmington

A “super small limited taproom only release” on Jan. 4: the Long Needle v2. “This beer used to be really resiny dank and weedy. We decided to switch the Eureka hops for a new one that comes across kinda cannabis-y. Well, it kinda is. What it mostly is though is delicious mixed berry/fruit stripe gummish and really good.”

Also a recent can-release of the Clap Back, an all-Citra DIPA “finally with some really nice Citra hops.”

  • Brewing Style: Diverse and recognizable hoppy beers with a sidecar of barrel-aged dark beers and traditional styles from the UK and Belgium.”
  • Brewers’ Choice: Rusty Cage, Five Thieves, Hillbilly Prophet
  • Founded: 2016

Red Hare 34 North Experiment Station 4802 Main St in Shallotte

“We have two coolship beers fermenting right now (a coolship is an open fermentation vessel that we pump the wort into when it is hot, out of the kettle), so stay tuned for news on that too come. We just released Putin’s Paradise Russian Imperial Stout, perfect for the cold nights!”

  • Brewing Style: “Our style is fun, approachable beers. Specialize in lagers and crushable IPA’s to experiment wilds and sours, all usually with a classical and historically accurate base but with our innovative spin.”
  • Brewers’ Top 3
  • Founded: 2012 (Shallotte location opened April 2018)

Salty Turtle Beer Co. | 103 Triton Lane in Surf City

They brewed a new one on Monday, The Old North Stout, with local malts from Durham, featuring coffee, black wheat, roasted barley, and chocolate malt.

Salty Turtle's newest, the Old North Stout, was brewed on Monday, Dec. 14. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Salty Turtle Beer Co.)
Salty Turtle’s newest, the Old North Stout, was brewed on Monday, Dec. 14. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Salty Turtle Beer Co.)
  • About: Veteran-owned brewery located in Surf City, consisting of 10 rotating taps and a family friendly taproom featuring food trucks and live music. “
  • Brewers’ Choice: Coastline Kölsch, Hey Zay NEIPA, Swingbridge Breakfast Stout 
  • Founded: Dec. 2017

Read about the brewery’s plans to expand.

Waterline Brewing Co. | 721 Surry Street in Downtown Wilmington

Their newest, The Urban Chakra, is a 6.7 percent Gruit. This is “an old world style, hopless ale brewed with herbs and spices, packed with spruce, juniper, alehoof, bergamot peel orange peel, lemon peel, yerba mate, matcha, lemongrass, reishi, dandelion root, rosehips, elderflower, grains of paradise, devils claw, black tea, coriander, and cedar,” co-owner Mark Anthony Mueller said.

  • Brewing Philosophy: “Brewed Under the Bridge with a focus on traditional, easy drinking beer styles with the occasional twist.”
  • Brewers’ Choice: Our top-selling Kolsch, awarding-winning Coffee and Cream Pale Ale, and the annual release of our Whiskey Barrel Aged Tennessee Tripel.
  • Founded: 2014

Waterman’s Brewing | 1610 Pavilion Place near the Wrightsville bridge

Nothing new to report here, stay tuned on their Facebook page (link above) for any new releases in the week ahead.

  • Brewing Philosophy: “Love your liquid!”
  • Brewers’ Choice: Abundant Sunshine IPA, Knothead ESB, Makin’ Me Hazy IPA
  • Opened: July 2017

Wilmington Brewing Co. | 824 Kerr Avenue in midtown Wilmington

“Our newest beer and very trendy style Brut IPA is now on draft – the “Brut Willis” Brut IPA, 7.2% ABV” available at the brewery draft, crowler, and growler. 

  • About: “Homegrown from a small home-brew shop to an 11,800 square-foot facility. WBC includes a 3bbl and 25bbl brewery, tasting room, and a home-brew supply store.”
  • Brewers’ Choice: Tropical Lightning IPA, Blair’s Breakfast Stout, Jalapeño Saison
  • Opened brewery/taproom: 2014

Wrightsville Beach Brewery | 6201 Oleander Drive near Bradley Creek, Wilmington

Released this past weekend: the Rosé IPA, a “beautiful rosé-colored IPA with a hint of red berries and lots of bubbles.” And coming this Friday – their anniversary beer, the Ancient Wort Hog Wee Heavy.

  • Brewing Style: “Wide variety perfect for sipping on the beach, including a year-round selection of lagers.”
  • Brewers’ Choice: Carolina Harvest Ale, Raspberry Berlinerweisse, bourbon barrel-aged Masonbarrel Barleywine
  • Founded: 2016

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