As the colder months of the holiday season approach, our innate desire for comfort will manifest—and what better way to satisfy it than by enjoying a delicious beer? Luckily for those in southern Delaware, two new breweries have pledged to be that source of community, warmth and, of course, expansive menus of exciting drinks to try.
Lewes Brewing Company
If athletes or outdoor adventurers traveling along the Georgetown-Lewes trail ever wished for a place to rest and quench their thirst, they need look no further. Lewes Brewing Company, located directly off the winding path, has opened its doors to all customers. Dave Jones, who has been brewing at home for 20 years, collaborated with his wife Christine to execute their creative vision of a pleasurable place for patrons to enjoy their menu.
“The beers that we’re producing right now are all recipes I’ve created in the past 20 years,” Dave explains. “We have some sours and stouts, any of our IPAs have been going out the door, and we’re also trying to create some different things.”
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The couple will focus in on their business while in the starting stages, but not without hosting holiday-themed evenings and eventually joining events held in the community. A rotation of food trucks reserve spots on their spacious balcony, so patrons can purchase a meal of their choice to complement the drinks.
Popular menu items include the Blueberry Sour, Hefeweizen Wheat, and Jester Lager. Dave, as head brewmaster, recognizes the need for base beers that people recognize, but plans to continue experimenting—even allowing Christine to learn by brewing fresh drinks herself.
“We’re small enough to be creative, so we can reinvent different beers and make it fun for everyone,” Dave says. “And then to see people enjoy it, it’s fulfilling.”
1145 Savannah Road, Lewes; 302-303-BREW
Bear Cult Brewing Co.
Breweries succeed in part from their reliable menus, but for some, traveling outside of that box is a natural step. Jon Talkington, head mead-maker and brewer of Brimming Horn Meadery, recently founded a subset of the business called Bear Cult Brewing Company.
At the age of 16, Talkington sourced a Scandinavian cookbook and developed a Finnish drink called sima, or a sparkling lemonade with a kick of alcohol. Having two grandfathers from opposite sides of his family who produced wine and beer pioneered his exposure to brewing, a passion that only developed as he further explored European mythology and mead.
“Even though it’s a more traditional style, it’s something different to see in a tap room. These are more obscure styles brewed thousands of years ago, so we’re trying to keep that primitive mindset with our beers.”
Bear Cult Brewing Co., with two locations in Seaford and Milton, was inspired by Talkington’s now-established fascination with primitive culture and drinks from different centuries. Events range from seasonal parties and Yule markets to performances from metal bands and a 793 party, which commemorates the Vikings’ raid on Lindisfarne. For patrons to purchase at these gatherings, various conventional beers are available, including farmhouse ales, German-style beers, and other hybrid drinks.
However, Talkington emphasizes the uniqueness of his brand. “Even though it’s a more traditional style, it’s something different to see in a taproom. These are more obscure styles brewed thousands of years ago, so we’re trying to keep that primitive mindset with our beers.”
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Core menu items include an Irish stout and Belgian golden ale, titled in Norwegian Nattbjorn, for night bear, and Solbjorn, for sun bear, respectively. Other creations will include English dark mild ales, and graf, or a hybrid of beer and cider, which will be fermented with a Norwegian farmhouse yeast called Kveik. Talkington plans for the names to be intertwined with the historical creatures.
“People, so far, have liked the beers because they’re not normal beers that you get in the breweries around here. I do a lot of research, usually with older books and recipes that date back to the 1400s, to make good-tasting drinks,” he says.
Whether patrons want to explore home-brewed creations or beverages made by the Vikings, these breweries guarantee an enjoyable and flavorful experience.
28615 Lewes Georgetown Highway, Milton; 302-664-1188
106 Spring Street, Seaford; 302-536-7555
Related: 5 Fall Beers From Delaware Breweries to Sip This Season
