On April 7, grab some family members and friends, and head to a local brewery for a cold, refreshing craft beer. Enjoy live music and brewery tours at many locations. (If you’re going on a tour, remember to wear closed-toe shoes!)
Breweries offering tours
16 Mile Brewing Company, Georgetown
Join Friday or Saturday, on the hour, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. During the tour you will learn the ins and outs of the beer-making process, why 16 Mile is an English Ale House, and what makes the beer company awesome. Come to the brewery 15-20 minutes early to take the tour with a beer pint in hand. Public tours are free and given at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The tavern is open on Friday’s from noon-10 p.m.
413 S. Bedford St., Georgetown, 253-8816, www.16milebrewery.com
3rd Wave Brewery, Delmar
The tasting room is open on Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. The comfortable surf-style lounge is the perfect place to gather with friends for Hoppy Hour or anytime, especially National Beer Day. From the tasting room you can see directly into the brewery, where you can take your guided tour on Saturdays.
Brewery Tours are only given on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. The tour will include a brief description of the history of the building, equipment, and how the beer is made using the current system. All beer on tap will be available for purchase and a small souvenir will be included.
501 N. Bi State Blvd., Delmar, 907-0423, www.3rdwavebrewingco.com
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton
On National Beer Day, Bella’s Bartok will perform at Dogfish Head Brewing’s and Eats in Rehoboth Beach. The punk rock group has been lighting up the crowds for the past year or two with its fun stage show. The show starts at 10 p.m. and there is no cover charge.
Friday tours are every hour from 11 a.m-5 p.m. During the tour you will walk through the brewery, so make sure you wear closed-toed shoes. You will learn about the history of the brewery, technique and how they come to the final product. The tour lasts about 60 minutes, and each guest with valid ID will get four free samples.
If you do not want to take a tour and simply just want to drink, the tasting room will be open from 11 a.m-7 p.m, where you can taste the different beers on tap. When you go, you can bring some form of art, craft, crayon, letter, label, sticker, etc. to hang on the Off-Centered Wall, and, make your mark in the Tasting Room.
6 Cannery Village Center, Milton, 684-1000, www.dogfish.com
Fordham and Dominion Brewing Company, Dover
Tours and a tasting event will happen from 5-8 p.m. During the tour you will receive your tasting glass and sample tickets that you can use to sample the beer. The tour costs $5 per person, and includes four samples of beer. Typical tours last about 30-45 minutes. After the tour enjoy the tasting room and try a variety of different beers on tap.
1284 McD Drive, Dover, 678-4810, www.fordhamanddominion.com
Mispillion River Brewing, Milford
Join the brewery on Saturday between 1-5 p.m. and take a free tour. After the tour you can enjoy a drink in the tasting room from noon-12 a.m. Pints, samplers, and 32-ounce and 64-ounce growlers are available.
On April 8, a day after National Beer Day, join the brewery and celebrate Meatball Con, Delaware’s only meatball convention. The event is from noon-4 p.m. and it is a celebration of all forms of balled up meat.
255 Mullet Run St, Milford, 491-6623, www.mispillionriverbrewing.com
Blue Earl Brewing Company, Smyrna
Tours are given on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. Reservations are recommended. During the tour you will receive a cool Blue Earl sample glass that you can take home, along with several samples of Blue Earl. Witness Delaware’s 7th microbrewery first hand. To reserve your spot, call the brewery at 302-653-BEER. After the tour you can enjoy even more beer, live music and food trucks in the taproom from noon-11p.m. on Friday and Saturdays.
210 Artisan Drive, Smyrna, 653-2337, www.blueearlbrewing.com
Other breweries
Revelation Craft Brewing Company, Rehoboth Beach
Grab some beer on Friday from noon-10 p.m. at Revelation. You can enjoy more than 11 beers on tap.
19841 Central St., Rehoboth Beach, 212-5674, www.revbeer.com
Argilla Brewing, Newark
Every Friday, After Work Happy Hour is from 3-7 p.m. You can enjoy six beers on tap, $1 off house drafts, $4 house wines and $4 rail drinks. At 9 p.m. Friday, the Tommy Alderson Band will be performing at Argilla Brewing. Enjoy live music and craft beer.
2667 Kirkwood Hwy., Newark, 731-8200, www.argillabrewing.com
