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.
This week in craft beer Monday, April 15 – Sunday, April 21
Bill’s Brewing Co. | 4238 Market Street in midtown Wilmington
Beer Release: The renamed Goodyear ESB; nutty, malty and notes of caramel. Coming in at 6.5 percent ABV.
- 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
Collaboration Release: The Usual (an English bitter). “This beer was brewed in collaboration with our friends at Frothy Beard in Charleston, SC. The Usual is a delicious, highly crushable English Bitter,” owner Barry Owings said.
- 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
And 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
Come celebrate their fourth anniversary on Saturday, April 20, from 2 to 9 p.m, featuring Tasty Tee’s food truck and live music from Lockwood River Band.
- 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
“Who says Easter Egg Hunts are just for kids? Join us on 4/20 at 2 pm for our Adult Easter Egg Hunt. Prizes will include ‘ETB Bucks’ that can be used on beer & merch on 4/20!”
- 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
New Beer Release: Floating Pyre – Smoked Helles. “The goal for this beer was not to make a lager that tastes like it has been roasted over a fire — the target was to make a lager that tastes like it is being drank NEAR a fire,” according to their Facebook page. The majority of the grains were traditional Pilsner malt grown and processed in North Carolina by Carolina Malt House. But a small amount was smoked over a beechwood fire in Bramberg, Germany.
Plus a small batch of the Particle Wave blonde ale, brewed with Loral, mosaic, and palisade cyro hops. “It’s aromatic and refreshing and super drinkable,” says co-founder David Sweigart.
- 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
Beer Re-Release: Rehder’s Red (picture at top) has returned and is officially on draft. This American Red Ale is named after local Venus flytrap preservationist Stanley Rehder.
- 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
Beer Release: Blue Agave Summer Ale brewed at 6.8 percent ABV. “We’ve composed the recipe using pure blue agave as one-half of the ingredients, creating a super-crisp and refreshing golden ale with echoes of tequila: some bright hints of white pepper and citrus,” brewery spokesperson Ellie Craig said.
Beer Release: Condor Pilsner. “We’ve circled back to the world’s original light lager: the Czech pilsner. Brewed in the authentic old-world style with European malts and lots of Saaz hops, this refreshing golden pilsner is bright and punchy with a brisk finish,” Craig said.
- 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
New Release: the Ginger IPA, a “very session tasty IPA,” co-owner Patricia Jones said.
They recently finished a batch of Triple Belgian, so keep an eye for its release in coming weeks.
- 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
Nothing new to report here, keep up with brewery events on their Facebook page (link above).
- 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
Recent Re-Release (April 2): the Molicious IPA is back. “Come see what Version 5.0 is all about.”
- 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
Newest Releases: the Kamanawanaleiya: Peach (a New England Pale Ale). Check out their new summer hours on their Facebook page, link above.
- 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
Can-Release: the double-dry-hopped Perpetual Outrage, a “West-ish IPA” brewed with Simcoe, Amarillo, and Centennial hops from Crosby Hop Farm in Oregon.
Recent Release: Pillar of Smoke, a dry, fruity, “crushable” 6 percent ABV modern saison hopped almost exclusively with New Zealand’s Nelson Sauvin hops. Available only on draft.
- 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
Their one-year anniversary party is Saturday, April 20, featuring a fruited Gose brewed in-house — one version with blackberries and the other with pineapples — plus live music from L Shape Lot.
- 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
New Release: the Summer Sands American Light Lager.
Recent Release: Manila Mango NEIPA, with fresh-riped mango, vanilla, and lactose added for a sweet and full body effect.
- 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
Latest Beer: their spring seasonal Cream Ale, a “light and refreshing lager, cold conditioned for a smooth, mild flavor with the slightest hints of fruit forward hops.”
- 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
Keep up with their latest beer list here.
- 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: the triple-dry-hopped Spring Breakin’ Hazy IPA “bursting with Cashmere hops.”
- 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
Newest Can-Release: the spring seasonal Wilmywood Wit, “a nice and refreshing medium-bodied Belgian style witbier brewed with coriander, grains of paradise, orange peel and cardamom.”
- 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
