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 as information comes along.
Schedules can fluctuate inside the brewhouse, so check the breweries’ links for updates on their Facebook pages. Brewers and taproom managers: keep us informed at pcd@localvoicemedia.com.
Coming Up
Cape Fear Beer Fest: Saturday, March 9 (1–5 p.m.) featuring nine regional breweries: Bill’s, Broomtail, Edward Teach, Ironclad, New Anthem, Red Hare, Salty Turtle, Wilmington Brewing Company, and Wrightsville Beach Brewery. Tickets can be purchased here.
Topsail Island St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl: The pub crawl’s organizer expects 300 to 500 participants after last year’s big showing. The route will include at least four bars on Topsail Island while two in Snead’s Ferry consider participation. Read about it here.
This week in craft beer Monday, Feb. 18 – Sunday, Feb. 24
Bill’s Brewing Co. | 4238 Market Street in midtown Wilmington
Can-release (Tuesday, Feb. 19): This is What Space Smells Like NEIPA and Murk Master Flax.
On Sunday, February 17 (2-4 p.m.), Anita Riley, an assistant brewer at Lonerider Brewing, will be discussing education for women in the craft beer industry. And come visit their booth at the Cape Fear Beer Fest on Saturday, March 9.
- 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 New Release (Friday, Feb. 15): Pineapple Galloping Gose (pictured at right). Plus the release of the Nycto dark sour at their souring/barrel aging facility and taproom, The Sour Barn. The Nycto is their first of the Nycto Series — light bodied, non-fruited, and dark. Nycto means “night” from the Latinized form of the Greek nykto.
Keep your eyes on their Facebook page (link above) for a few new releases in the coming weeks: the Enkindled Smoked IPA, Acerbic Wild, and The Ocean NEIPA.
- 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
Southport’s only brewery will be pouring drafts at the March 9 Cape Fear Beer Fest at the Wilmington Convention Center.
- 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 They’ll also be pouring beers at the March 9 Cape Fear Beer Fest.
- 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
Kölsch Week started Saturday (Feb. 16) with a release of a batch of Vimana and two dry-hopped derivatives, Vimana Americana (with the American hop Strata – mango, lychee, grassy) and Vimana Pacifica (with the New Zealand hop Rakau – pineapple, green tea, dank).
Two new casks were dropped on Friday (Feb. 15) for Kölsch Week: the Fruit Loop Vimana and the Raspberry Lemon Thyme Vimana. “It’s like that high-end cocktail you like but cheaper, and even better,” said Quality Assurance Manager Dean Moore of the latter.
- Brewing Philosophy: “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
Release (Saturday, Feb. 16): Gose with yuzu, kaffir lime leaves, and orange zest; available on draft and in bottles. The gose is a top-fermented beer that originated in Goslar, Germany.
Recent releases: Toasted Pecan Nut Brown and Mosaic Red (pictured at right).
- 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
New Release: The Original IPA (also known as the O.G. IPA). “Ever wonder what IPA tasted like when it was first invented? We’ve brewed a beer exactly like the original IPAs shipped from England to India,” sales manager Ellie Craig said. “Authentic 1830s recipe, aged in oak barrels for a whole year, just like when it arrived on the subcontinent. It’s surprisingly bright, dry, and refreshing, with a golden color and a bold bitterness. 8.8 percent ABV.” Recent release: Spring Brew Bière de Mars and Figgie Smalls Barrel Soured Golden Ale.
- 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
Valentine’s Release: Broken Hearted Chocolate Stout.
- 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
Ironclad will be pouring drafts at the March 9 Cape Fear Beer Fest at the Wilmington Convention Center.
- 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
Re-Release (Thursday, Feb. 14): Marilyn Monmole Blonde Ale – Belgian Blonde (6.3 percent ABV).
- 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
Nothing new here, but head brewer Gabe Ashmore has five brew days coming up so expect some releases toward the end of February or the beginning of March.
- 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
New Releases (Saturday, Feb. 15): Neon God IPA (double dry-hopped with mosaic and citra) and Lexington Queen (double dry-hopped with citra, mosaic, and Eldorado – “Leony Candy Citrus with hints of grassy Strawberries,” as described on their Facbook page.
- 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
New Release: Peach Wit. “Brewed with tons of wheat and a funky Belgian yeast, this Peach Wit is slightly spicy but balanced with a nice peach sweetness. Fermented out then aged on local Indigo Farms peaches, it’s like taking a walk through the orchard,” 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: Soft J IPA, SPF 50/50 Tangerine, and Putin’s Paradise Russian Imperial Stout
- Founded: 2012 (Shallotte location opened April 2018)
Salty Turtle Beer Co. | 103 Triton Lane in Surf City
Valentine’s Release: Love Portion Porter.
Special Release: “Muddy Buddy” Peanut Butter Chocolate Stout will return in celebration of Cape Fear Craft Beer Week, Tuesday, March 26.
- 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
Nothing new to report here. Keep up with their Facebook page (link above) for any updates.
- 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. Keep up with their Facebook page (link above) for any updates.
- 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
Can-Release: Secret Lovers IPA cans out now, in collaboration with New Anthem, and on Saturday (Feb. 23) they’ll release the Big Day IPA at Lighthouse Beer and Wine in celebration of their 21st birthday.
Recent Release (Thursday, Feb. 14): Kitten Biscuit New England Style IPA at a hearty 8.5 percent ABV. Four-packs now available at the brewery.
- 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
Release: Mango Man Randy Sour, a tart Belgian IPA fermented with mangoes (6.8 percent ABV).
- 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
