by Jeremy | Sep 19, 2019 | Blog, Breweries, Community, Local Beer
Halfway There is a celebration of reaching the halfway point to Cape Fear Craft Beer Week. ( March 20-29th) 18 local breweries are partnered with local downtown venues to all release a brand new beer for 2019. Some will release seasonal favorites like their Oktoberfest and others will release beers for the very first time.
Check in begins at noon on Saturday, September 21st, at Bomber’s Beverage Company. Here you will receive your “passport” which tells you the participating venues and has spaces for stamps from each venue. 10 stamps gets you a $15 off code for Cape Fear Craft & Cuisine. Get all 18 stamps and receive a 2020 Cape Fear Craft Beer Week t-shirt. Check in ends at 6pm.
New for this year, are the Instagram Scavenger Hunt and Costumed Keg Hunt. The Instagram Scavenger Hunt gives you tasks to be performed during the day and post them to Instagram using special hashtags. Those that perform the tasks will be entered to win various prize packs from local venues and breweries.
The Costumed Keg Hunt hides 6 kegs around Downtown Wilmington and will release clues to their whereabouts throughout the day. When a keg is found, the keg cap can be redeemed for a gift certificate for the value of that keg at Waterline Brewing between 6 and 9pm.
There will also be a roving “prize patrol” that will be looking for those playing both games to award on the spot prizes.
Also new this year, registration will include a BBQ plate at Waterline Brewing prepared by the guys at Rebellion with help from Cheney Brothers Inc and Heritage Farms. You can turn in your passport and receive your BBQ plate between 6pm and 9pm.
Early registration is $10 and day of registration is $15. To register and for more information go to https://capefearcraftbeerweek.com/halfway-there
by Joan Wilkerson Hoffmann | Sep 17, 2019 | Blog, Breweries, Local Beer
A weekly roundup of local and craft beer that can be found around the area on tap, in bottles, or in cans. These are not beer reviews and should be used for entertainment purposes only.
Black Forest Oktoberfest: 6.2% This traditional Festbier hails from the south western region of Germany. A Marzen lager with a medium-full body, it presents notes of carmelized sugar and woodsy aromatics.
Wet Hopped IPA: 6% It’s the most wonderful time of the year–wet hop season! Waterline’s seasonal Wet Hopped IPA is a well-balanced and easy drinking IPA full of Canadian Red Vine and Michigan Copper hops fresh out of the field, from their friends Papa’s Hops in Greensboro.
Dano’s Amber Ale: 5.7% This brew has a clean, malty backbone with subtle spice and a splash of fruity aromas.
Above the Clouds: 6.6% This Sour Melon MIlkshake IPA is a collaboration with Bhramari Brewing from Asheville, NC.
Black Cherry Colonel Flanders: 7.1% A traditional Flanders sour with black cherries added for an extra tart & fruity zip!
Midtown Swank: 8.8% The hop-bomb DIPA is now available in 16oz cans! Find it at the brewery or your favorite bottle shop.
by Jeremy | Sep 9, 2019 | Blog, Breweries, Local Beer
The Wilmington Ale Trail Passport is an opportunity for visitors and locals to receive vouchers at participating local breweries, bottle shops, and craft beer-focused bars and restaurants. Our weekly Passport Picks blog post will focus on the “best bang for your buck” at one of our participating venues.
Waterline Brewing
721 Surry St
Brewery
Voucher: $5 off beverage, food, or merchandise
Waterline Brewing, located under the Cape Fear Memorial bridge, is a great spot to listen to live music on the weekends while sipping on some of the area’s best locally made beer. As the weather gets a little cooler, their outdoor beer garden is an ideal location to bring friends or family to enjoy the outdoors. Don’t forget to checkout their Oktoberfest and many other events.
If you need a little more “culture” in your life, the other half of the building houses the Art Factory which showcases local artist. Wander around and look at paintings, sculptures, photographs, furniture , and other art available for purchase.
Your Wilmington Ale Trail passport includes a $5 voucher and I think the best time to use would be on “Thirsty Thursdays”. Select drafts are just $3. All day. Get the Black IPA. It’s a local favorite.
Purchase a passport, and receive a $5 voucher to Waterline and additional vouchers at over 20 area locations.
https://passport.wilmingtonaletrail.com
by Joan Wilkerson Hoffmann | Sep 8, 2019 | Blog, Breweries, Local Beer
A weekly roundup of local and craft beer that can be found around the area on tap, in bottles, or in cans. These are not beer reviews and should be used for entertainment purposes only.
Pretty Witty: 5.7% Traditional, but with a culinary twist! Inspired by Chef Stephen’s signature ice cream flavor- Lemon & Rosemary, this wit is zesty, crisp and flavorful with real lemon peel and rosemary from their garden!
Raspberry Blackcurrant Saison: 6% Tart, earthy blackcurrants marry with tangy sweet raspberries to give Flytrap’s house Saison a fruity twist to celebrate the end of summer.
Staghorn: 6.6% This witbier features Staghorn sumac, red clover flower, Seville orange peel, and toasted coriander. Fermented in gin barrels.
Mobocracy: 6.9% Part of the Barrel Aged Sour Series, this beer was aged in Pinot Noir barrels with Cherries and Mango.
Strawberry Basil Sour: 4.3% Yet another refreshing addition to the Sandglass Sour Series! Notes of basil on the nose will entice you into this drinking sour ale. This clean, crisp ale is tart, yet balanced with sweet summer strawberries and a herbal finish.
Strawberry Blonde: 4% This light and refreshing ale combined with fresh strawberries. The strawberries contribute an aroma of perfectly ripened fresh summer fruit and a beautiful pink hue. It is complemented by a hint of Damiana, an herbal remedy native to Mexico. Strawberry Fields forever!
by Joan Wilkerson Hoffmann | Sep 5, 2019 | Blog, Breweries, Local Beer
Hurricanes come in all shapes and sizes, as do the snacks we buy to prepare for them. From impulse buys like four different kinds of Doritos, to staples like PB&J, most people end up with a wide array. Hopefully you prepared your best coolers with plenty of else to keep food fresh and also your stash of hurricane brews.
Check out our recommended hurricane snack & beer pairings to try while you’re stuck inside.
Pairing: Hefeweizen (or Witbier) & Moon Pie
Banana notes from hefeweizen, as well as citrus and clove notes will make that silky chocolate and creamy marshmallow sing. Plus the crisp finish of the brew will cut through the sweetness.
Local love: Pretty Witty from Skytown Beer Company, Hefeweizen from Waterline, U-352 from Waterman’s Brewing Company
Pairing: Stout & Chili fritos (or just chili!)
If you’re like me, you’ve either started buying stouts in hopes 
of cooler temperatures, or you have a couple still sitting in the back of your fridge from last winter. Roasty coffee and bitter dark chocolate notes are perfect for the zip and spice of chili and chili Fritos. If you’ve got them both check here for a recipe for a Walking Taco.
Local love: Oysterman Stout from Wrightsville Beach Brewery, The Illest from New Anthem Beer Project, Rappe from Broomtail Craft Brewery, Pablo Escobier from Ironclad Brewery
Pairing: Pale Ale/IPL & Dried Fruit
Got some dried apricots laying around? Maybe some raisins? Trader Joe’s Unsweetened Dried Mango Slices? These babies are begging for a dry, mellow pale ale. Delicate hop bitterness is exactly the finish to balance out fruity sweetness.
Local love: Falconer’s Flight Pale Ale from Flytrap Brewing, Planetary Winds from Flying Machine Brewing Company, Citra Pale Ale from Bill’s Brewing, Wailele SMASH Pale Ale from Makai Brewing
Pairing: Amber lager & Beef Jerky
No hurricane party is complete without beef jerky! A malty, crisp amber lager pairs perfectly with the sweetness, salt, and spice of all kinds of beef jerky–from a laid-back BBQ flavor all the way to Carolina Reaper.
Local love: Warrior Monk from Salty Turtle Beer Company, German Lager form Edward Teach Brewing
Pairing: IPA & Chef Boyardee
Who doesn’t love the creamy tomatoey goodness of a can of Spaghetti-Os? Well, probably someone who’s been eating them for days on end cold. But, give them some new life with a bold, tropical IPA. The bright fruity flavors won’t clash with the tomatoes–I promise! I just wouldn’t pick something brewed with actual fruit.
Local Love: Tropical Lightning IPA from Wilmington Brewing Company, Port City IPA from Front Street Brewery, Boston Mole Party from Mad Mole Brewing
BONUS PAIRING!
And at the end of the day, when it’s too hot to sleep and ya just need a little extra buzz, round up your (of age) family and friends and try pairing booze with other booze! Make it a contest and whoever wins gets to pair your breakfast with a beer! Some of my favorite booze-on-booze pairings are:
Rye IPA with Rye Whiskey (thanks to Front Street Brewery for introducing me to that!)
Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout with Red Wine (Chill that red if you’ve still got ice)
Fruited Wheat Beer with Aperol or Campari Sprits
by Joan Wilkerson Hoffmann | Sep 5, 2019 | Blog, Breweries, Local Beer
Photo Courtesy Mad Mole Brewing
Axel- Photo Courtesy Salty Turtle
Dog owners REJOICE! SB 290, signed into NC law by Governor Cooper and effective September 1, officially allows animals in taprooms that are “not engaged in the preparation of food on the premises.” It’s still up to the breweries to decide if they want your furry friends to hang out, but legally speaking, they will be in compliance with health codes if they do.
You may be surprised to hear that dogs were not previously allowed in NC brewery taprooms, and that’s because the law was very loosely enforced.
Boone- Photo Courtesy Flytrap Brewing
Most taprooms in Wilmington already have policy in place to ensure that patrons who bring in their four-legged companions remain safe and happy (and the pups do too). “Pet friendly to friendly pets” is a sign you might see at spots around town, and leashes are always a must. Some dogs (including my own) don’t do so well with other puppers on-leash, which is important to determine before you’ve got a pint in your hand.
Local breweries are thrilled that the new bill has passed.
Flying Machine Brewing Company celebrated the passing of the bill with their Who Let the Dogs In event on the first. It featured live music from Hank Barbee, Poor Piggy’s food truck, and free 10-minute dog washes from K9000 as well as “dog beer” made from bone broth and a cask ale benefitting local nonprofit paws4people.
So leash up Fido and go grab a pint at your favorite Wilmington brewery!
