03 October . 2024
Exploring Wilmington's Craft Breweries: A Local's Guide
Exploring Wilmington’s Craft Breweries: A Local’s Guide
The growth of microbreweries and craft beer is undeniable. Here in Wilmington and the Cape Fear region, we are decidedly on-trend, with a variety of tap rooms, brew yards, cider works and even hard kombucha! Here are 18 scattered throughout our area – explore and enjoy.
Midtown:
Wilmington Brewing Company: WBC’s laid-back family friendly atmosphere in the taproom offers 15 original rotating drafts brewed onsite. Enjoy games for the entire family, monthly events and weekly rotating food trucks.
Panacea Brewing Company: some beer brewing here, but have you tried hard kombucha? A buzz with probiotic benefit! Panacea has solidly landed in the Wilmington brewery culture, so any list must include them, with or without beer. Their indoor/outdoor scene welcomes live music and a great place to enjoy an omnivore and vegan menu.
Flying Machine Brewing Company: FMBC’s contemporary production facility, belies their old-world techniques. The mid-town taproom features over 30 kinds of beer, wine and cider, with rotating food trucks, and indoor and outdoor seating.
By the Beach Brewing: Not exactly by the beach, but on Old Eastwood Rd (not far from Home Depot). Served along with their craft beer is live music and pool tables, dart boards, corn hole and board games. You get the picture.
Bills Brewing Co.: Part of the Capt’n Bill’s Backyard Grill and Volleyball complex, Bill’s Brewing produces small, specialty craft beers, and the company’s signature brews. Plus the beach volleyball offers fun entertainment while you sip.
In Wrightsville Beach:
Wrightsville Beach Brewery: Outstanding craft beers pair nicely with the locally sourced oysters and seafood, a better-than-typical pub-style menu and those beautiful live oaks!
Watermans: Enjoy lagers, kölsch, sours, IPAs and stouts while listening to live music. Waterman’s offers a full menu with indoor and outdoor dining/sipping areas.
Mad Mole: Mad Mole’s beer is brewed by the sun, with the entire brewing process powered by solar energy. Select from a variety of Belgians, IPAs and more.
Downtown:
Flytrap Brewing: A neighborhood brewery located in the Brooklyn Arts District of historic downtown Wilmington. Flytrap specializes in American and Belgian style ales with small-batch brews.
Front Street Brewery, smack in the middle of historic downtown Wilmington, opened in 1995, the 7th craft brewery in North Carolina. With 14 beers on tap and over 500 bourbons and whiskeys available, FSB offers a great beer, bar and full menu line up.
Waterline Brewing: often the site for fundraisers and community gatherings, Waterline is located beneath the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. The taproom and outdoor beer garden are often complemented by food trucks and live music.
Edward Teach: easily the best architecture of any brewery on this list, Edward Teach is named for the infamous Blackbeard and the bar is designed to replicate a pirate ship, with curved lines, high varnished wood and plenty of natural light. ET also reserves plenty of space to brew, generally offering 8 draft beers on tap.
Ironclad is a brewery and event space housed in a 100 yr old building. Proud of its ingredients, sourcing and process, Ironclad offers a full bar and always more than a dozen brews on tap.
Cargo District
Bull City Ciderworks: If including kombucha, seems a cidery might also rate inclusion here. BCCW offers cider flights, pints, cocktails and local beer. Their ciders are made with 100 percent apple juice, without all that extra sweet goop, so often added. Wilmington is one of five locations throughout the state.
Alcove Beer Garden: Again no brewery per se, but a great place to enjoy a cold one right in the heart of Wilmington’s Cargo District. Alcove shares space with Blue Post Coffee, includes a cocktail bar, and always offers a rich menu of entertainment or just people watching.
Soda Pop District:
Bow Strings Burgers and Brewyard has the full picture: an extensive menu of beers and, as the name suggests, great burgers, but also a full food and drink menu for those who want more. Games, often live music and outdoor play – even a full size, regulation pickle-ball court. Right next door to Bow Strings is…
Hi-Wire Brewing, a community-gathering spot and taproom, offering a great variety of flagships, seasonals, specialties and sours. Many a dog and kid have had fun here too. Great vibe and on campus with Bow Strings (above) and Cucino Forno Pizzaria.
Carolina Beach:
Good Hops Brewing is a women-owned, women-brewed biz where beer is brewed daily and dogs are welcome. Of course, they are! Also offer an 18-hole disc golf course.