Wilmington primed for fifth annual celebration
Thirteen of New Castle County’s top craft beer destinations will be tapping the “good stuff” during the fifth annual Wilmington Beer Week, Nov. 7–14.
The weeklong celebration will showcase a WBW-record 61 craft breweries while featuring dinners, tap takeovers, meet the brewers and more. Delaware breweries will be prominent in that lineup, so look for the latest creations from 16 Mile, 2SP, Dogfish Head, Evolution, Fordham, Mispillion, Third Wave and Twin Lakes. Top regional breweries represented include Flying Fish, Heavy Seas, Lancaster, Stoudts, Troegs, Victory and Yards.
Participating venues are BBC Tavern and Grill, Buckley’s Tavern, Chelsea Tavern, Columbus Inn, Dead Presidents Pub, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Kid Shelleen’s Charcoal House, Piccolina Toscana, Pizza By Elizabeths, Trolley Tap House, Two Stones Pub, World Café Live at The Queen and Washington Street Ale House.
In addition to featuring events specific to their restaurant, the venues will offer a Beer Week Flight Special, entitling guests to sample three different craft beers for a set price.
Costs are determined by the venue and reservations are required for some special events.
Events run the gamut. Pizza By Elizabeths will host a special WBW Kick-Off Beer Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 5, featuring its own Frozen Toes Brewing as well Fordham-Old Dominion Brewery. Chelsea Tavern is featuring Dogfish Head’s Ancient Beer Series on Nov. 10 with a special book signing by beer historian John Medkeff, Jr. And Iron Hill is spicing things up with a Hops and Hot Wings on Friday, Nov. 13.
“We’re pairing four awesome IPAs from our head brewer Justin Sproul’s favorite breweries and four styles of hot wings from Chef Dave Foster,” says Brian Finn, senior head brewer at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant.
Kid Shelleen’s Charcoal House will be doing a Brooklyn Tap Attack featuring seven of the famous New York brewery’s creations on tap. World Café Live is offering flight specials highlighting Raven Brewery’s The Cask, 2SP’s Belgian Amber, Dogfish’s Midas Touch and Mispillion’s Not Today Satin IPA. And look for 2SP brewer Bob Barrar’s award-winning Russian Stout to be featured at Two Stones Pub.
“Unfortunately we can all get caught up in the day-to-day ways of life,” says Dead Presidents’ owner Brian Raughley. “It’s nice to have a week just for trying some rare or new beers you might not have the chance or inclination to otherwise.”
We agree.
For a complete list of brews, special events and more, visit wilmingtonbeerweek.com.