The moment I shared with Professor Schorr that I intended to explore breweries for my blog, he enthusiastically endorsed the idea. Ever since, he's been a fervent advocate for checking out Dewey Beer Co., especially praising their incredible chicken sandwiches. Finally finding the time, I set off for the beach to uncover the truth behind the hype.
Dewey Beer Co.'s origin story mirrors many other breweries, with Mike Reilly fostering a passion for craft beer through home brewing in his garage. The owners – Brandon Smith, Scot Kaufman, and Mike Reilly – took the bold step of leaving their jobs to establish the brewery near the beach, and in 2015, Dewey Beer Co. became a reality.
Situated on Coastal Highway, the brewery strategically benefits from the constant flow of traffic, thriving throughout the year but experiencing a surge in foot traffic during the summer months. Initially, Dewey Beer Co. only offered dinner hours to manage the crowd. Over time, they extended their hours, transforming into a 110-seat brewery with a restaurant.
For a weekend rendezvous with our friends Nick and Brit, Christian and I decided on Dewey Beer Co. for lunch. Unsure of the crowd during off-season lunch hours, we were pleasantly surprised to find ample parking space in their small lot, indicating a relaxed atmosphere.
The brewery's exterior seamlessly blends with its beachside location. Stepping inside, the spaciousness exceeded my expectations, with glass panels that likely open to welcome fresh air and sunlight on warmer days. The brewing process unfolds behind the bar, adding to the overall ambiance.
Perusing the menu, I discovered a diverse selection of sours among other beers. Opting for an all-sour flight with Christian, we joined Nick, who explored a range from IPAs to sours, while Brit chose wine. Wings were ordered (apologies to Glen, who swears by their chicken sandwich). As we waited for our food, the friendly bartender engaged us in conversation, proving to be knowledgeable about Dewey Beer Co. and other local breweries in Delaware.
Now, about that all-sour flight – it was a delight! The "secret machine" sour series, featuring flavors like tangerine & apricot, raspberry, cranberry, blueberry & chocolate, cherry vanilla, and cranberry & pink guava, left a lasting impression with their vibrant colors. Even Brit, initially not a beer enthusiast, favored the cherry vanilla sour over her wine.
Anyways, back to my all sour flight --- delicious!! The brewery offers a series of "secret machine" sour beers. They range from tangerine & apricot to raspberry, cranberry, blueberry & chocolate; one of my favorites was the cherry vanilla and cranberry & pink guava. Each beer had a distinct color that was bright and vibrant.
**side note*** I had a goal to make this article into a vlog but it was a very sad, failed attempt.
Overall, I think it's save to say we all enjoyed our beersperience!
Atmosphere - ★★★★★ - The atmosphere at Dewey was relaxing and chill. I'm really glad it wasn't crowded when we were there because it allowed us to sit at the bar and get the full experience.
Beer - ★★★★★ - The beer was really good. Not every brewery has enough sours on tap to get an all sour flight. They even had a beer that Brittany liked! I was looking forward to maybe taking home a few cans but unfortunately, the brewery was really busy over the weekend and they didn't have much to offer.
Employees - ★★★★★ - The bartender that we had interactions with was absolutely amazing! She was very talkative and knowledge about Dewey Beer Co. and other breweries around the area. She really helped shape our overall experience at the brewery.
Location - ★★★★ - The location for the brewery is awesome. It's located right on the main strip in Dewey causing everyone in town to see it whenever they come or go. However, the parking is extremely limited which causes problems on their busiest days.
Social Media - ★★★★ - Dewey Beer Co. does a good job monitoring their social media platforms. However, they should start differentiating between Facebook and Instagram. I think they have a great website as well.
Total: 4.6 STARS!
Cheers!
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