Last week I wrote a fun post about our state’s wineries by spotlighting the vineyards and varieties from New Castle to Kent to Sussex Counties. I was struck by the impact of our agricultural heritage and the entrepreneurial spirit of the locals who have created this burgeoning, clean industry. After some additional research I realized readers with different tastes might enjoy learning about our equally vibrant brewing scene. Next week I’ll spotlight spots in southern Delaware, including those near the beaches. This week I’m zeroing in favorites in the northern and central regions.
In New Castle County
Argilla Brewing Company at Pietro’s Pizza is a fine place for folks who love to combine everyone’s favorite Italian cuisine with ice cold homemade beer. It’s located at 2667 Kirkwood highway in Newark, with a nanobrewery and ever-changing offerings. Learn more about the beers, the food and the entertainment at https://www.argillabrewing.com/.
Also located in Newark, the Autumn Arch Beer Project and Midnight Oil breweries also offer small-batch brews coupled with a fitness and social scene. Located at 810 Pencader Drive, Autumn Arch has a tap room where you can enjoy yoga sessions and a weekly running club, along with food trucks on weekends. Less than a mile away, at 674 Pencader Drive, Midnight Oil also has food trucks and hosts farmers market offerings alongside a menu of lagers, IPAS, stouts and more.
Newark’s other beloved brewery is Iron Hill, located at 147 East Main Street, with a festive atmosphere in our favorite college town and a second location at the Wilmington waterfront at 620 Justison Street. There are many different options offered at both locations, and many have won awards from the Great American Beer Festival or the World Beer Cup. They’re both great spots for pub style cuisine. Visit https://ironhillbrewery.com/ for details.
Bellefonte Brewing is a relative newcomer, with locations at 3605 Old Capitol Trail and 1851 Marsh Road in Wilmington. Both sites offer a vibrant array of special events and beers with many creative ingredients. Learn more at https://bellefontebrewingcompany.com/.
I love to write about Delaware’s historic and scenic places so am glad to spotlight Dew Point Brewing Company, which is located the Garrett Snuff Mill at 2878 Creek Road in Yorklyn. Its tap room has limited seating, so visit its Web site at https://www.dewpointbrewing.com/ to learn about tasting room hours and signature brews that include a West Coast IPA and a traditional Belgium witbier.
You’ll find a family-friendly atmosphere and great food along with great brews at Middletown’s Crooked Hammock, located at 316 Auto Park Drive. Like its sibling in Lewes, it features backyard-style cuisine and a real backyard with a playground, bocce ball court and corn hole games. Get the details at https://www.crookedhammockbrewery.com/location/crooked-hammock-brewery-middletown/.
Another Middletown favorite is First State Brewing Co, located at 109 Patriot Drive and featuring a variety of craft beers alongside a diverse menu that spotlights local flavors and ingredients. Visit https://www.firststatebrewing.com/ to learn about weekly food specials, diverse brews and its 2023 honor as Best New Brewery by USA Today.
Middletown’s other hot spot for craft beer in a historic setting is Volunteer Brewing Co., located at 120 W. Main Street. It’s a wonderful neighborhood gathering spot with small-batch ales and a backyard beer garden offering games and special events. Learn more at https://www.volunteerbrewing.com/.
Back in Wilmington, city folks love Stitch House Brewery, located at 829 N. Market Street, for German style house brewed beers, live music and creative cuisine. Another local fave is Wilmington Brew Works, located in a former laboratory where the crafters experiment with various types of fermentation and offer lagers, IPAs and tart beers among others. Learn more at https://www.stitchhousebrewery.com/ and https://wilmingtonbrewworks.com/.
And in Bear, Stewart’s Brewing Company reigns as New Castle county’s oldest brewpub, with a large restaurant and bar featuring a diverse menu of sandwiches, appetizers, wild game and continental cuisine along with six mainstay ales and 40 rotating seasonal brews. Among the mix are American, German, English and Belgian style ales and lagers. Sports fans will love the televisions tuned to major games and matches and dart boards. It’s located at 219 Governors Place and has been recently renovated. Learn more at https://www.stewartsbrewingcompany.com/.
In Kent County
Living up to its motto, “Made from Scratch from Plate to Glass,” Brick Works Brewing and Eats specializes in flavorful comfort foods, with some lovely exotic offerings alongside stouts and fruit-based brews. It’s located at 230 S. Dupont Boulevard in Smyrna. Check out the menu and beer selection at https://brickworkssmyrna.com/.
In Milford, in what the Delaware Tourism Office dubs as “a spot for the curious and the creative,” Mispillion River Brewing offers “out of the ordinary brews, like those brewed with electrolytes” in a setting filled with Star Wars memorabilia. It’s located at 255 Mullet Run Street and frequently features food trucks, although it’s not too far from historic downtown Milford with many wonderful restaurants https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g34037-Milford_Delaware.html. Learn more at https://www.mispillionriverbrewing.com/.