In addition to its picturesque locales and historic charm, Wilmington is a hotspot for craft beverages and brews. Whether you're a dedicated beer connoisseur or a casual drinker, you’ll find 31 unforgettable brews all along the Wilmington Ale Trail. Continue reading for a guide through all the vibrant breweries, bottle shops and local watering holes the city has to offer and follow along with this interactive map.
Local Heritage and Flavor
Taste the flavors of local heritage at Front Street Brewery, Wilmington's longest-operating brewery. This spot is renowned for its expertly crafted flagship beers such as the Original Pilsner and Port City IPA. Bowstring Burgers & Brewyard, located in Wilmington's historic Soda Pop district, features a variety of ales on tap along with the Bowstring Electric Seltzer, a unique dark cherry creation brewed to honor the location’s history. Sip to the live tunes or challenge friends on their public pickleball court. Nearby, Flytrap Brewing is named after the Venus flytrap, a species indigenous to the area, and specializes in American and Belgian-style ales. Gather your group and enjoy a pint or two in the beer garden while enjoying live music.
Sustainable brews
Harnessing solar energy since 2018, Mad Mole Brewing is Wilmington's first solar-powered brewery. You can sample a diverse selection of beers, including Moles in the Sun Light Lager and Molesonboro Island Grapefruit Pilsner. Broomtail Brewery and Taproom offers beers made from naturally harvested raw materials and organisms, like their signature 910 Pale Ale. Head to the Broomtail Pub and Arcade for 12 rotating taps, an arcade space and outdoor beer garden with special events, food trucks and live music.
Hoppin’ Spots
Waterline Brewing Co. is located in a spacious refurbished 1940s warehouse with the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge as the scenc backdrop for their outdoor beer garden. Sample their six tasty flagship brews, and visit in the fall for their annual Oktoberfest Under the Bridge celebration. To taste seasonal small-batch craftsmanship, visit DrumTrout Brewery Company, where fresh brews are created using a three-barrel system to produce batches on a smaller scale. This system is perfect for crafting and experimenting with seasonal beers while also maintaining core offerings like Hold Fast Porter, Maiden Voyage Brown Ale and Dapper Dude Hazy IPA.
Hi-Wire Brewing Wilmington features a pet-friendly taproom that also ecourages friendly competition with games such as soccer pool, table tennis, foosball and shuffleboard. The two beer gardens are perfect to lounge in while savoring year-round favorites such as Mountain Water and Lo-Pitch Hazy IPA, or seasonal sips. In the Cargo District, Bull City Ciderworks offers award-winning, gluten-free ciders, including the refreshing Oyah, an orange hibiscus cider.
Nearby Beach Brews
Good Hops Brewing, in Carolina Beach, is a family-owned and operated, brewing small-batch, fresh beer on-site daily. You can enjoy a refreshing drink in the dog-friendly beer garden or challenge yourself on the Professional Disc Golf Course Association (PDGCA) course located just behind the brewery.
Stop by Waterman’s Brewing Company, just before the Wrightsville Beach bridge, to enjoy a rotating selection of craft beers from its microbrewery, including its flagship Abundant Sunshine IPA. Nearby, Wrightsville Beach Brewery combines local brews with coastal charm. The brewery hosts special events, including beer garden yoga, Oystoberfest and cask tapping events, giving visitors a glimpse into the brewing process.
Visit the two-story tap room at Flying Machine Brewing Company in Wilmington or their second location, Flying Machine Oyster Bar in Wrightsville Beach, to enjoy the Sun Days Pale Ale alongside fresh seafood. By the Beach Brewing emphasizes quality ingredients and bold flavors to deliver original brews like their Sunrise Stout and Hoppy Wife Hoppy Life Hazy IPA.
Bottle Shops and Bars
In the heart of historic downtown, Cape Fear Spirits and Beer offers more than 300 different selections and certified cicerones to help you find the perfect drink. Housed in a 1920s-era bank vault, Pour Taproom and Bar offers a diverse range of beers and fine wines by the ounce.
Fermental Beer and Wine, a former gas station turned trendy bottle shop, is known for its niche beer selection and fine wine. Palate Bottle Shop and Garden, in the vibrant Brooklyn Arts District, offers a meticulously curated selection of beer and wine and Alcove Beer Garden, in the heart of the Cargo District, offers an ideal setting with a laid-back atmosphere.
Wrightsville Beach’s Lighthouse Beer and Wine, offering an extensive selection of over 800 international beers and more than 600 wines, makes it easy to find the perfect blend.
From brews with views to unique small-batch creations and beyond, Wilmington is the perfect hop spot for craft beer enthusiasts. Use this map to guide your journey and sip your way through our coastal community.
