The heat index is rising, the skies are sunny, and the birdies are chirping, so exchange big-malty-boozy-brews for our favorite Cape Fear crafted spring beers. Here are our Top 6 picks to sip along to your favorite tunes overlooking the Intercoastal, picnics on the beach and cookouts with friends.
Cape Fear Living Staff
The Spring Beer: Burn the Fleet Mexican Lager with Lime
What Makes This Beer Special?
A recipe to treasure - this clean, crisp and refreshing Mexican lager with Pilsner malt, corn and a pinch of lime, makes this beer crushable.
Pairs Perfectly With?
Tacos
Song to Sip To?
Things to Look Forward To?
Every Monday starting May 22nd at 6:00:Minute to Win It Mondays which is a series of fun unordinary games winner has the chance to win $100 cash & Free Sandwiches.
Tuesday’s $3 drafts, Music Trivia w/ local business gift cards for prizes.
Wednesday’s $10 Flights, Live Music 7:00-10:00
Thursday’s Free Chicken Wings at 6:00 & Live music from 4:30-6:00 & 7:00-10:00
Friday’s Live music 8:00-11:00
Saturday’s Live music 8:00-11:00
Sunday’s Live music 4:00-7:00
Food trucks on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, Friday’s & Weekends & free food Monday’s & Thursday’s each week. Check the website or social media for Band & Food Truck Line up.
The Spring Beer: TOMB ROCKER Heather Ale
What Makes This Beer Special?
This Scotch Ale is brewed with a special raw and organic wildflower honey from Magnolia House Honey and Scottish heather tips. These two ingredients impart subtly sweet and floral components that are approachable, with a refined complexity that leaves your palate craving another sip. Notes of strawberry candy are present with a dry finish. The beer is brewed each year for Orthodox Easter. Brewmaster Christopher McGarvey created this recipe while in Seminary school and has been perfecting it ever since. The beer will be featured at the 2023 Wilmington Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.
Pairs Perfectly With?
Grilled Lamb Tikka Masala
Song to Sip To?
Flowers by Miley Cyrus (A reference to the use of heather tips in the beer recipe and the floral notes on the nose and palette).
Things to Look Forward To?
Front Street Brewery will offer craft beer and food under the Airlie Oak at Airlie Gardens Summer Concert Series beginning June 2nd, 2023.
Spring Beer: Summerland
What Makes This Beer Special?
A watermelon gose with sea salt, coriander, and real watermelon. The subtle watermelon on the back builds as you sip. The gose base tartness and the fruit addition make this beer absolutely refreshing for those hot Wilmington Spring and Summer days!
Pairs Perfectly With?
For a casual meal, pair it with The Flying Machine house burger or step it up a notch and pair with Flying Machine's Jumbo Lump Crab Cake.
Song to Sip To?
The Spring Beer: Leisure Time Lager
What makes this beer special?
Introducing The Official Beer of Relaxation. Brewed patiently with 100% barley, this smooth, crisp and refreshing American lager is your new go-to when only a suuuppppeerrr chill beer will do. Leisure Time Lager (5% ABV), the newest addition to Hi-Wire Brewing's year-round lineup and the best deal in craft beer, is available now in 6-packs of 16oz cans everywhere.
Pairs Perfectly With?
A big ol’ pizza or a groovy outdoor barbecue.
Song to sip to?
Things to Look Forward To?
Pride Silent Disco | Saturday, June 3 | 7-11PM | $10 online, $15 door
Hi-Wire Pride Fest | Sunday, June 4 | 12PM-10PM | FREE
The Spring Beer: Summer Squeeze Kölsch
What makes this beer special?
This freshly created Kölsch is perfect to have with the Wilmington Summer heat. It has a light mouthfeel, easy to smash, and sharp lime and mango flavors.
Pairs Perfectly With?
Seafood, grouper, swordfish, and tuna
Song to sip to?
Things to Look Forward To?
Ironclad is transitioning into a Live Music venue, still staying as a brewery! Ironclad is under new Ownership & Management, coming up on a year under the new helm and they are changing the past perception of the brewery into something greater in the years to come.
The Spring Beer: Fire in the Mole
What Makes This Beer Special?
Fire in the Mole is cool collaboration between ILM small shops, Benny's Big Time Pizzeria and Mad Mole Brewing. Benny's is known for wood fired Neapolitan Pizza, house made pastas and an updated take on the traditional Italian American family restaurant. The idea of partnering with Mad Mole was to create a custom beer to pair with Benny's Big Time pizzas was brought to life by the creative team at Mad Mole and a Benny's Bartender / Artist, Hali Connor, who created the label.
Pairs Perfectly With?
Fire in the Mole pilsner pairs well with a variety of foods - but as they like to say at Benny's, "beer and pizza makes people happy." Fire in the Mole is a perfect pizza beer, crisp, refreshing, with a long, smooth light hoppy finish.
Song to Sip To?
Things to Look Forward To?
Benny's we will be slinging pizzas all summer long - 7 days a week and for lunch on Saturdays & Sundays.
Salty Turtle Beer Co
The Spring Beer: La Surfeza Mexican Lager
What Makes This Beer Special?
La Surfeza is clean, crisp, and refreshing. This zippy Mexican lager is the perfect boat beer with a touch of lime zest added for citrusy brightness.
Pairs Perfectly With?
Local fish tacos!
Song to Sip To?
Things to Look Forward To?
The warmer temps = enjoying our beautiful Topsail Island. Salty Turtle Beer Company is open 7 days a week and the perfect stop before or after a relaxing day on the beach. For those visiting Raleigh, check out their new taproom at 13100 Falls of Neuse, STE 130, Raleigh NC 27614.
The Spring Beer: Near Shore IPL (India pale lager)
What Makes This Beer Special?
This beer marries the crisp finish of a Lager with the hop presence of an IPA! It's hopped with Sultana, Motueka, Citra, and Simcoe, so you can expect hints of pineapple, pine, and citrus with some floral notes on the back end.
Pairs Perfectly With?
WBB Shrimp Tacos or a Spinach & Strawberry Salad.
Song to Sip To?
Call Off Your Dogs by Lake Street Dive is heavy in our rotation here at WBB.
Things to Look Forward To?
Live music on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons. We've also started a bi-weekly rotation of Reggae and Jam bands on Sundays. Our spring family festival, Kidstock, is coming up on Saturday, May 27th. Be on the lookout for changes coming to the beer garden as well.