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
Tuesday, July 16: Waterline Brewing Company expands Kölsch production in IPA-dominated market
Saturday, July 20: Southport’s WWI-themed Check Six Brewing Company to close its doors
This week in craft beer Monday, July 22 – Sunday, July 28
Bill’s Brewing Co. | 4238 Market Street in midtown Wilmington
American Palate Awards: their Merganser won Bronze in the Schwarzbier category, Dog Haze won Silver in the New England IPA category, and Wave Break won Gold in the American IPA category.
New Beer Release (July 18) : Lunch Box Session IPA (4.6% ABV) brewed with Simcoe, Amarillo, and El Dorado hops.
Re-Release (July 18): Profusion 3.0, a juicy New England IPA with large additions of Galaxy, Mosaic, Citra, and Lemondrop hops.
- 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: Fruity Loopy Galloping Gose.
- 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
Southport’s WWI-themed brewery has announced it will be closing its doors.
- 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
New Beer Release: Grandma’s Kitchen (5.2% ABV), a German Lager balanced by Munich malt and Nobel hops and aged with Madagascar vanilla beans.
Recent Can-Release (Friday, July 12): Teaches Peaches Peach Wheat (5% ABV) and Devil’s Son IPA (6.5%).
- Brewing Philosophy: We focus on balance within each beer style we make & enjoy brewing everything from Lagers to IPAs.
- Founded: December 2017
Flying Machine Brewing Co. | 3130 Randall Parkway in midtown Wilmington
New Collaboration Release (July 14): Aussie Hop (an “Australian Sparkling Ale), brewed in collaboration with Zillicoah Beer Co. out of Woodfin, NC. The first attempt at the style for both breweries came after they had a good lead on some Australian hops.
- 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
New Release: Sour Passionfruit Saison (6.2% ABV), aged on 42 pounds of passionfruit.
Upcoming Release: Cucumber Berliner (stay tuned on their Facebook page, link above, for the release).
- 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
Gin barrel-aged beer releases (July 6): all aged in Mother Earth gin barrels, Gin Barrel Wheat Hot Lithuanian Summer (6.5% ABV), Gin Barrel Saison (6.3%), Gin Bramble Sour (6.4%), and Gin-dia Pale Ale (7.3%).
- 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
Recent Release (July 12): Tangerine IPA.
- 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
Recent Release: Southern Cross 2019 (7% ABV). “Citra and Motueka hops in the Kettle and Dry Hop, smooth and citrus forward hazy IPA. A beer brewed yearly in honor of those who have or are still serving within Marine Special Operations as Raiders. Never above you, never below you, always beside you,” 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
First Ever Can Release (July 18): 4-packs available of the Boston Mole Party New England IPA.
- 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
Tap Re-Release (July 19): Carolina Tropical IPA, brewed with mango and pineapple (see picture at the top of this article).
- 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
Four New Tap Releases (July 16-18): Stuffed In Your Pocket (IPA(, Strike the Root (American Hazy Pale), Socks with Sandals (Wheat IPA), and Last Caress (New England IPA).
- Brewers’ Choice: Rusty Cage, Five Thieves, Hillbilly Prophet
- Founded: 2016
Red Hare 34 North Experiment Station | 4802 Main St in Shallotte
Can Release (July 13): Rewired IPA 6-packs.
- 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
Latest Releases: Surfizz Cucumber Lime (4.5%), a low-calorie hard seltzer with, the “first locally made hard seltzer in the region! Perfect for the coastal community,” 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
Read about the brewery’s expansion of its Kölsch production in response to growing local demand in a Wilmington market dominated by hoppy ales.
- 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
Recent Release: Tropic Fire (4.6% ABV), a tropical golden ale with flavors of pineapple and dry finish with a lingering serrano spice.
- 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: Beach Time, a session IPA brewed at 5.4% ABV. This adds to their recent can releases: Summer Lure (a double-dry-hopped New England IPA), Rom Com (a passion fruit pale ale), Day’s Work (a session IPA brewed in collaboration with Wrightsville Beach band ASG), and Scott Bot (a double-dry-hopped New England IPA).
- 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
American Palate Awards: their Waterway IPA won Bronze in the American IPA category and their Puppy Drum Pale Ale won Gold in the American Pale Ale category.
New Release (Monday, July 22): Rosè IPA (5.2% ABV), with hints of strawberries and cherries.
- 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
