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. 21 – Sunday, Jan. 27
Bill’s Brewing Co. | 4238 Market Street in midtown Wilmington
A can-release of This is What Space Smells like, a New England-style IPA, will be “orbiting your area” on Thursday, Jan. 24. “Packed with a molecular cloud of tropical aromatics and cosmic dust” with Mosaic, Denali, and Mosaic hops.
Follow that up with a free can-release party at Fermental Beer & Wine (7250 Market St.), with a tap takeover and a portion of sales going towards The Mocking Bird Foundation. “You will always remember where you were Friday, January 25th, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.”
- 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
On Jan. 26 they’ll be releasing the Woofgang Ammadoggus, a memorial beer for one of their favorite 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
Open on MLK Day with pints of Flightschool Yellow Ale for $3 a pint.
- 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 – and keep your eyes out for a new Belgian Double Wit on tap soon.
- 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
Their latest release: Wolf Lord (a New England Double IPA). “It sits at 7.8 percent ABV with notes of strawberry, clementine, and honeycomb,” 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
Flytrap Brewing | Located at 319 Walnut Street in downtown Wilmington
Their newest releases: the Boysenberry Dubbel and Rye Pale Ale – “refreshing and hoppy with subtle hints of rye,” owner and brewer Mike Barlas said.
- 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
They just released the Sinful Chocolate Stout – “the mocha latte of beers” – while If You’ve Got It, Braggot comes out on Thursday, Jan. 24.
“We’ve gotta brag on this one: a light, golden, easy-drinking hybrid of beer and mead, called braggot. Brewed with an amazing organic rainforest honey from the Amazon jungle, adding fragrant notes of exotic flowers, toffee, and delicate honey sweetness. Finishes dry with a touch of orange blossom and mild hops. Nectar of the gods!”
- 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
Their latest: Rufus Saves the World-New England IPA and Dank Side of the Mole.
- 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 the “long anticipated” Carolina Tropical IPA will all hit the taproom in time for their one-year anniversary party on Saturday, 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
Last Friday they released four-pack cans of Kill the Headlights – “maybe a touch of Calypso in the dry hop this time around” – and Thought Police IPA.
- 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
Putin’s Paradise Russian Imperial Stout is on draft for a limited time and available in 16-ounce cans. “This rich, roasty, toasty stout will warm you to the bones on these cold evenings we have been having,” taproom manager Byron McSweeney said.
- 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
Their latest: the Alligator Bay IPA (7 percent ABV). “West Coast”ish” Hop forward IPA. Citrusy, piney, and floral aromas throughout!” co-owner Dan Callender said.
- 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
Waterline Brewing Co. | 721 Surry Street in Downtown Wilmington
Their newest is the 2019 Waterline Wee Heavy Scotch Ale at a strong 8.7 percent ABV.
- 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
Two stouts are now available in cans: Blair’s Breakfast Stout and Big Ole Stout (Imperial Stout) are out on limited runs.
- 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
The latest is their anniversary beer, Ancient WortHog, a Scottish style wee heavy aged 15 months in Jim Beam bourbon barrels.
- 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
