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.
In the news
Wednesday, June 19: Mad Mole Brewing crowned America’s favorite solar-powered microbrewery
Friday, June 17: Donations encouraged? Craft beer alliance speaks out, hopes WDI considers local Wilmington brewers
Friday, May 24: Brewery owner: Noise citation at charity concert sets unhealthy precedent for Wilmington music scene
This week in craft beer Monday, June 24 – Sunday, June 30
Bill’s Brewing Co. | 4238 Market Street in midtown Wilmington
Can Release (Thursday, June 20): Two New England IPAs — Legend of Motranotus and Dog Haze of Summer — now available in 16-ounce cans.
- 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
Tap Releases: Double Black Currant Gose (kegging Monday, June 24) and Double Dry Hopped Jus Sayin (kegging Wednesday, June 26).
- 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
Check out their most recent beer list here.
- 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
Can Release (Thursday, June 27): Devil’s Son IPA (6.5% ABV).
- 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
Can Release (Sunday, June 23): Empire of Air New England Pale Ale (5.1% ABV), one of the originals from their inaugural lineup.
Collaboration Release: the Boats! Lime IPA will debut on the Brew Voyage departing downtown Wilmington Saturday, July 13. The beer was brewed with Wilmington Brewing Co., Ancillary Fermentation (Raleigh-Durham), and Wooden Robot Brewery (Charlotte). Eight beers from all four breweries will be pouring for guests to support the Cape Fear River Watch.
- 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
Collaboration Batch (June 20): owner and head brewer Mike Barlas teamed up with his brother-in-law, John Savard of Wilmington Brewing, for the Family Session IPA. Made with tangerines; cans are available exclusively in both taprooms.
- 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
Bash in the Beam Room (Saturday, July 6): Brewmaster Christopher McGarvey and Distiller Daniel Safley of Mother Earth Spirits will be on hand to talk booze as Front Street releases beers aged in Mother Earth’s gin barrels.
Releases: Bourbon Barrel Baltic Porter (8.3% ABV) and Sour Peach Kids, a barrel-aged sour with local peaches.
- 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
Release (Friday, June 21): Georgia on My Mind, a cream ale brewed with Georgia peaches and jalepeños, released for their 5th year anniversary.
- 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
Release: Shipwrecked Tripel, an American spin on a Belgian Tripel. “Beautiful creamy thick head. Pineapple aroma, with a fruity hop flavor that flows into classic Belgian complexities,” head brewer Laren Avery said of the new beer.
- 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
Brews from the Sun: Mad Mole beat Charlotte’s Birdsong Brewing Co. in a tight finish for the title of America’s favorite solar craft brewery.
- 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
Limited Release: the S’moa Stout.
- 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 Beer Release (Friday, June 21): Secret Chord, a double dry hopped IPA.
Release (Friday, June 21): Flossy, a double dry hopped IPA brewed with Amarillo and Eldorado hops.
- Brewers’ Choice: Rusty Cage, Five Thieves, Hillbilly Prophet
- Founded: 2016
Red Hare 34 North Experiment Station | 4802 Main St in Shallotte
Release: the Lemon Lime, their latest in the SPF 50/50 series, with sweet citrus zest mixed with citrusy hop flavors.
- 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
Newest Releases: Summer Sands American Light Lager and Manila Mango NEIPA.
- 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
Keep up with their current beer list.
- 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
Latest Release: Wicked Mojo. “This dank pale ale was brewed with Centennial, Cascade and Amarillo hops, providing a floral aroma,” according to a Facebook post.
- 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
Collaboration Release: the Family Session IPA, brewed with Flying Machine Brewing Company. Cans of the tangerine session IPA are available at WBC and Flytrap.
- 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
Brewhouse Expansion: WBB just acquired two new 40-barrel fermentation tanks, the largest to ever be installed in Wilmington, according to owner Jud Watkins. He said 40 barrels is the equivalent of 80 large kegs or more than 1,200 gallons of beer production.
- 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
