Breweries and craft beer are so popular in Wilmington, NC! Find out where and what to drink at in The Complete Guide To Breweries In Wilmington, North Carolina, put together by a local. All 16 Wilmington breweries are included.
If you’re planning a trip to the area, check out all of our Wilmington, NC posts.
Before moving to North Carolina, we had no idea that a craft beer revolution had hit the state. I mean, gosh, people call this state North Craftolina for a reason.
Where we live, there are so many breweries. It seems like every year there’s an addition to the list of the best breweries in Wilmington, NC.
Last year alone, I think the area added three. Some of them will be here in ten years, and, realistically, some won’t.
When craft beers really got started here in the 90’s, there were three big breweries in Wilmington. And now, only one of those remains. But, in place of the two that left are over a dozen new breweries. It remains to be seen which of those will be here in two decades.
But for now, they’re here. And we can enjoy them.
Originally, when we posted this in 2019, we narrowed this list down to the 10 best breweries in Wilmington, NC. And trust me, it was really difficult to narrow it down. And really, not all of the best breweries in Wilmington made the cut. That’s crazy, right?
So, we felt like this list was sort of lacking. Literally and figuratively.
So we redid it.
And now, it’s The Complete Guide To Breweries In Wilmington, North Carolina. Each brewery in Wilmington is represented here.
Unless you live here or if you’re here for a week long vacation, you’re not going to hit every brewery. That’s a lot of drinking. It’s unsafe and we don’t recommend it.
We do recommend a designated driver for your pub crawl (and please remember, drinks are only for those who are 21 and older). Be safe out there.
Planning a trip to Wilmington?
There’s more to do than drink at the local Wilmington, NC breweries. Figure out what else the Cape Fear has to offer in this Wilmington, North Carolina Travel Guide.
The Complete Guide To Breweries In Wilmington, North Carolina
We don’t have any association with any of these breweries, and our information on hours is based on the most up to date information we can find online.
Hours can change, so be sure to call the brewery to double check that it’s open before heading over.
Bill’s Brewing Company
Address: 4238 Market Street; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 762-6333
Hours: Friday: 4 pm to 9 pm; Saturday: noon to 9 pm
Bill’s has a long history in the Wilmington area. It started as The Backyard Grill, which was a hotdog trailer with a deck, plus volleyball courts. There was a building in the front of the lot, which was rented out.
The Backyard Grill eventually grew into Captain Bill’s Backyard Grill. The owners then stopped renting out the front building and, after a few name changes, it became Bill’s Front Porch and was used as a catering and event space.
It changed again. The story we’ve heard is the kids took over the front to turn it into a modern brewery space, now known as Bill’s Brewing Company, and the parents kept running the back half with the volleyball courts.
Bill’s Brewing Company is open as a taproom, which serves food, and also cans beers that are sold all over the area.
What to drink at Bill’s Brewing Co.: Odelay (Mexican Lager)
Broomtail Brewing
Address: 6404 Amsterdam Way; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 264-1369
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 4 pm to 9 pm; Friday 4 om to 10 pm; Saturday 2 pm to 10 pm; Sunday 1 pm to 8 pm. Closed Monday.
Broomtail Craft Brewery is located off the beaten path, in a small building surrounded by warehouse and office space. It’s actually really close to the mechanic where we bought our new car and where the area’s alt weekly, Encore, had its office.
Broomtail has a pretty small location, but pretty amazing beers to choose from. Broomtail Craft Brewery has a coffee shop inside, which is good for me because I don’t drink beer but I do drink coffee.
It also opened a homebrew supply store inside, which is great because once Wilmington Brewing Company (formerly Wilmington Homebrew) stopped selling grains and mash, there was a void locally.
Broomtail isn’t a location you’ll stumble over in your travels. You have to be planning on going there in order to actually get there. Good thing the beers are worth the trip.
What to drink at Broomtail Craft Brewery: Jus’ Sayin’ IPA
By The Beach Brewing
Address: 104 Old Eastwood Rd; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 769-0118
Hours: Wednesday and Thursday: 4 pm to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday: 2 pm to 9 pm; Sunday 2 pm to 8 pm
By The Beach Brewing opened quietly in October 2023 and has stayed kind of quiet this whole time. Like, it’s so quiet, it’s website hasn’t been updated with its Frankenstein Friday releases since July 2024.
We haven’t ever been here and, honestly, I didn’t even know it existed until I was updating this list in 2026. So, three years and not even a whisper about this.
What to drink at By The Beach Brewing: We have no idea
DrumTrout Brewing Company
Address: 3710 College Rd Suite 143; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 399-1633
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 4 pm to 9 pm; Friday: 4 pm to 10 pm; Saturday: 1 pm to 10 pm; Sunday: 1 pm to 8 pm; Closed Monday
DrumTrout started out with three barrels and a few years later upgraded to five to fit the demand the small brewery was getting.
It’s located at the end of a strip mall, rather than it’s own stand alone building like most of the other breweries on this list. But, what it does have is a large outdoor seating area. Sure, it’s near a cut through for a parking lot, but still. It’s nice to be outside.
What to drink at DrumTrout.: We only went once, so we don’t have a favorite.
Edward Teach Brewing – Closed February 2026
Address: 604 N. 4th Street; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 523-5401
Hours: N/A
Edward Teach Brewing was located in the Brooklyn Arts District of Wilmington until it closed in February 2026 after some controversy.
The brewery was shaped similarly to boat because Edward Teach is the real name of the famous pirate Blackbeard, and the décor is a play off that.
Before it housed a brewery, the building was a fire engine house. The building was also used as a boxing gym, police station, and housed a special effects film company.
We’ll have to wait and see what it holds next.
Flytrap Brewing
Address: 319 Walnut Street; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 769-2881
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 3 pm to 10 pm; Friday: 3 pm to 11 pm; Saturday: noon to 11 pm; Sunday: 1 pm to 8 pm.
Flytrap Brewing is very cool. It has an unfinished look, which I originally thought was because it was unfinished but later realized that’s just the brewery’s aesthetic.
Flytrap Brewing has a taproom that had Shuffle Puck Bowling, which I always wanted to play despite it being incredibly loud. I guess it was too loud though because that game is gone now. Too bad for me. But much better for the bands that play in Flytrap’s taproom. You can only imagine how loud bands had to be to compete with the sound of bowling.
There’s an outdoor seating area at Flytrap, which is perfect on a nice night. That’s also great when food trucks come. You can sit outside with a beer and a bite. It’s also a couple blocks up from downtown, which means there’s free street parking. And you can leave your car there, then walk downtown.
What to drink at Flytrap Brewing: Hoppy Tripel
Flying Machine Brewing Co.
Address: 3130 Randall Parkway; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 769-8173
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 4 pm to 10 pm; Friday: 2 pm to 11 pm; Saturday: 11 am to 11 pm; Sunday: 11 am to 9 pm.
I like coffee. I really like a good cup of coffee. And I especially love when a brewery serves coffee because it gives an option for people who either don’t drink, don’t want to drink, or are the designated driver and can’t drink. So part of the appeal of Flying Machine Brewing Co. is that it sells a good cup of coffee (from Luna Cafe).
But that’s not the only thing the steampunk-designed brewery does. Flying Machine Brewing Co. brews really old, traditional English beers that you can’t often find. The process is something most breweries don’t undertake. It’s easier to just brew an IPA and be done with it. So definitely support that effort.
The brewery has a large outdoor space, and often has food trucks (which is good because it’s not located near any restaurants that are safe to walk to).
My only complaint is that the parking lot is really small, so you have to get lucky to get a spot. Flying Machine is between a park and a main road, so there’s not any on street parking available either. But, that’s a small price to pay to hang out somewhere so cool.
What to drink at Flying Machine Brewing Co.: Stringfellow English Table Beer
Front Street Brewery
Address: 9 N Front Street
Phone: (910) 251-1935
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30 am to 10 pm. Closed Monday.
Front Street Brewery is the OG Wilmington brewery. It has been around for over 20 years and is the spot we always take guests the first time they come to visit.
What’s really unique about Front Street Brewery is, for a long time, it was the only brewery in the area with a full kitchen. So you could stop in for one of the beers on tap, then grab a bite to eat.
If you do decide to eat there, we recommend the Pulled Chicken Nachos. Honestly, everyone in Wilmington would recommend those.
Before 2020, there are free daily brewery tours. You could learn about the beer making process and get samples of some of the brews as well. Hopefully that comes back.
Post 2020, the upstairs event space, known as The Beam Room, has been transformed into a taproom to offer more space for patrons.
The brewery, which also serves over 450 bourbons and whiskeys, is on Front Street, right in the heart of downtown Wilmington, so it’s the perfect spot to soak in the city.
What to drink at Front Street Brewery: Single Hop (That’s a winter seasonal beer, so definitely look for it in the winter.)
Hi Wire Brewing – Wilmington
Address: 1020 Princess Street; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 933-5500
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 3 pm to 10 pm; Friday and Saturday: noon to 12 am; Sunday: noon to 10 pm.
Hi Wire Brewing is an exception to this list because, although Hi Wire is a brewery, the beer is brewed outside of Wilmington and then transported to Wilmington. So the location here is merely a taproom and retail space.
It’s a really cool space, though, and one of our favorite places to spend the afternoon.
Hi Wire Brewing’s concept is a big top circus, and all the locations are decked out accordingly. This one has artwork on its walls depicting a bearded lady, circus animals, and more. There are games — ping pong tables, soccer-sized pool, foosball — spread throughout the space.
Plus, there’s a small biergarten in the back and a large outdoor patio in the front, which I appreciate so much. I would choose a bar with an outdoor space over one where we are confined to the indoors (almost) every time.
The taproom has over 20 taps, with beers and ciders, and even more that you can purchase for at home consumption.
Find out more in our full Hi Wire Brewing – Wilmington review.
What to drink at Hi Wire Brewing – Wilmington: Lager
Ironclad Brewery
Address: 115 N 2nd St; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 769-0290
Hours: Thursday and Friday: 2 pm to 8 pm; Saturday: noon to 8 pm; Sunday: noon to 6 pm; Monday: 2 pm to 8 pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
The space that is Ironclad Brewery is so cool. It’s an old car dealership, and the wood that was used on the second floor when it was a dealership is placed throughout the current bar. It was also a funeral home, auto repair shop, and general store. The building dates back almost 100 years, so there’s a lot of history there.
But other than the actual space itself, we’re not crazy about Ironclad. Which is a shame because it’s so conveniently located across the street from one of the public parking lots downtown.
We know the story, from the builder, about how the bar was rushed to be completed and how the beer was brewed off premises just to get the brewery opened. Which is fine. Things happen, money runs out, and you have to open.
But it just feels like the brewery never got its footing, even six years after opening. And the beer isn’t that great. Not to mention the CEO works outside of Wilmington in a field outside of brewing, beer, and restaurants.
As much as we want to root for Ironclad to succeed and do well, it’s not our favorite.
What to drink at Ironclad Brewing: ?
Mad Mole Brewing
Address: 6309 Boathouse Rd Unit C; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 859-8115
Hours: Monday to Wednesday: 4 pm to 9 pm; Thursday: noon to 10 pm; Friday and Saturday: noon to 11 pm; Sunday: noon to 8 pm.
I like the concept behind Mad Mole Brewing a lot. If you know me, you know I love the Earth and recycling and sustainability. So of course I would love Mad Mole’s commitment to this.
The entire brewing process at Mad Mole Brewing is powered by solar energy. It’s completely powered by 63 SunPower solar panels, which are visible from the taproom.
Oddly enough (at least to me), it’s not the only solar powered brewery in North Carolina. But, it was voted America’s favorite solar-powered microbrewery in a competition run by Solar United Neighbors. So there’s that.
The brewery has a nice outdoor space, as well as indoor space, to hang out.
The beers all incorporate the word “mole” or the concept of a mole into the names, like
Molesonboro Island and Tunnel Digger, so it’s just a really fun concept.
What to drink at Mad Mole Brewing: Moledemort Stout (if only to say the name)
New Anthem Beer Project – Closed 2024
Downtown location:
Address: 116 Dock Street; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 399-4683
Greenfield location:
Address: 110 Greenfield Street; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 399-3100
New Anthem actually abruptly closed both its locations in 2024, which is a bummer because the Little Star rice lager was one of Pete’s favorite beers in town.
Oden Brewing Company opened at the Dock Street location in March 2025. The Greenfield location is still vacant.
Oden Brewing Company
Address: 116 Dock Street; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 228-5324
Oden Brewing Company opened in New Anthem’s Dock Street location in March 2025. It’s the second location for the brand. The flagship location is in Greensboro, NC.
The Wilmington location features 16 rotating taps, plus wine and cocktails.
Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Address: 214 Market St; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 660-4996
Hours: Monday to Thursday: noon to 10 pm; Friday: noon to 11 pm; Saturday: 11 am to 11 pm; Sunday: 11 am to 9 pm.
Ponysaurus Brewing Co. is a taproom, not a brewery. It has a full brewery in Durham, and that’s where the beer for the Wilmington location comes from.
The space is really cool with the inside filled with dinosaurs and horses. Which makes no sense at all. But, it’s unique.
There’s a large biergarten outside and a full menu of food. It’s known for its pizza, so of course, try that if you’re looking for something to eat.
Don’t forget to check out our Ponysaurus Brewery Wilmington review for more details.
What to drink at Ponysaurus: Don’t Be Mean To People: A Golden Rule Saison
Savard Beer & Board
Address: 121 S Front St; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 399-4300
Hours: Wednesday and Thursday: 3 pm to 10 pm; Friday: 1 pm to 1 am; Saturday: 11 am to 1 am; Sunday: 11 am to 10 pm; Closed Monday and Tuesday
Savard Beer & Board is the brainchild of Wilmington Brewing Company. It opened in June 2025 and usually, we wait a full year for something to remain open before adding it to one of our lists, but with Wilmington Brewing’s reputation, it made the cut early.
Pete actually went on opening weekend last year and it was packed. And it remains that way.
It’s mostly a brewery (selling Savard Beer, not Wilmington Brewery beer), but it also makes surfboards and you can watch them shape the boards in house.
It also has an Airbnb called Above Board above it, so if you’re looking for a uniquely Wilmington experience, this is it.
What to drink at Savard Beer & Board: We don’t have a favorite yet.
TRU Colors Brewing – Closed September 2022
TRU Colors Brewing‘s first beer, TRU Light, was brewed thanks to a strategic partnership with Molson Coors (according to a Facebook post from June). Despite the beer being well received, there was too much turmoil within the brewery to overcome and it’s closing its doors in September 2022.
Waterline Brewing Co.
Address: 721 Surray Avenue; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 777-5599
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 3 pm to 9 pm; Friday: 3 pm to 11 pm; Saturday: noon to 11 pm; Sunday: noon to 8 pm. Closed Monday.
The location of Waterline Brewing Co. is part of its appeal. Waterline is located under the Cape Fear bridge, near a boat slip. If you’re heading that way, you’re most likely either heading to Waterline or heading out on your boat (or, this last year, to the Riverfront Farmers’ Market since the market was temporarily moved to the private parking lot next to Waterline).
You can spend a full afternoon at Waterline. Outside, there are corn hole boards and a basketball game. Plus, there’s a full stage in the biergarten and musicians are there often. Inside, there are a ton of board games and a stage for bands. That actually makes it really kid friendly too.
Attached to the brewery is an art gallery too, so when it’s open, you have something to look at.
If you plan it right, plan to be there for the brewery’s annual Oktoberfest. They bring in German bands, serve beer in steins, and really make it a good time for everyone.
What to drink at Waterline Brewing Co.: Waterline Kolsch
Waterman’s Brewing Company
Address: 1610 Pavilion Pl; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 839-3103
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11:30 am to 9 pm; Friday: 11:30 am to 10 pm; Saturday: 10 am to 10 pm; Sunday: 10 am to 9 pm.
Waterman’s Brewing Company is another new brewery that makes food on premises. Seriously, this is a big deal here. And the brewery offers lots of daily specials on food too, like $6 burgers and half off wings.
Waterman’s has a huge party room, which is really great if you need to host a party or a baby shower. The taproom is huge too with a big bar and a ton of tables for sit down dining. And there’s a large outdoor area with seating too.
What to drink at Waterman’s Brewing Company: Shark Repellant (mostly because it’s just fun to order)
Wilmington Brewing Company
Address: 824 S. Kerr Avenue; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 392-3315
Hours: Daily from noon to 9 pm.
This list is in alphabetical order, but Wilmington Brewing Company would be on the top of Pete’s list if he was writing it in order of his favorites.
Wilmington Brewing Company started as Wilmington Homebrew Supply in 2010 (the photo above it actually from back then). It was a small bottle shop that brewed a couple beers but was mostly known for selling homebrew needs (hops, grains, carboys, etc.). The operation took off, so Wilmington Brewing Company expanded into a larger location down the block.
Now, there’s a huge taproom, a store for homebrew supplies (which is way larger than you would expect!), an event space with games, an outdoor biergarten, and, of course, the brewing area.
The best part, honestly, are the owners John and Michelle, are so nice. If you want to get started with brewing your own beer, they’re so knowledgeable and will make the process seem super easy and accessible.
Wilmington Brewing Company’s family expanded (literally, they have two adorable daughters) and so is the business. Wilmington Brewing Comany bought the empty lot next door (which is about three acres) to expand the parking lot, add a playground, and open the Venue (Pete’s favorite space in all of Wilmington).
What to drink at Wilmington Brewing Company: Tropical Lightning
Wrightsville Beach Brewery
Address: 6201 Oleander Dr; Wilmington, NC
Phone: (910) 256-4938
Hours: Daily from 11 am to 10 pm.
Despite its name, Wrightsville Beach Brewery is actually located in Wilmington. So it makes the list. Breweries near Wilmington, NC but not actually in the city proper didn’t make the list.
It also makes the list because it serves food. For a long time, Front Street Brewery was the only brewery serving food. So it’s great to have more options to drink and eat. The brewery is known for the pizza it serves. The menu changes seasonally, but if you can catch the Tempura Cauliflower appetizer, definitely order it as a side for your beer. You won’t be disappointed.
What’s very exciting is that Wrightsville Beach Brewery announced it is opening its second location one town over, in Leland, North Carolina. It’ll be called Brunswick Beer and Cider and will serve beer, food, and have an event space.
What to drink at Wrightsville Beach Brewery: Piping Plover Pilsner
Wilmington, NC Breweries: Frequently Asked Questions
As of 2026, there are 16 breweries and taprooms in Wilmington, NC.
All but two of them are local breweries, started in Wilmington.
The other two are North Carolina-based breweries that expanded into Wilmington.
Front Street Brewery is the oldest brewery in Wilmington, NC. It opened in 1995.
More Breweries In New Hanover County:
There are a couple breweries that are not in Wilmington proper, but people consider them Wilmington because visitors don’t exactly know where the town border is. They’re in the same county as Wilmington (New Hanover) but not in the same town.
So, I’m including those here in order to make this list feel complete.
Good Hops Brewing
811 Harper Ave (Carolina Beach)
Outer Dunes Brewing
7976 Market Street (Porters Neck)
More breweries in North Carolina:
North Carolina has been dubbed North Craftolina because all of the local beer made in the state.
If you want to check out more of the breweries at taprooms in the state, we love Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom in Hope Mills, NC. It has an amazing outdoor space, which they use for farmers’ markets and Napkins, an incredible restaurant, on site.
There’s also Sierra Nevada in Mills River, NC, which is the East Coast distribution for the California brand. The entire space is substantiable, which is cool, but the truffle fries are really what’s the most impressive thing about the brewery.
And, if you find yourself in Bull City, check out all of the Breweries in Durham, NC. There are a ton to visit.
Have you been to any of the Wilmington breweries in The Complete Guide To Breweries In Wilmington, North Carolina? Let us know in the comments.
Nicole
Tuesday 16th of April 2019
I'm not a big brewery person, but all of these places look great! I'll have to keep them in mind while vacationing this summer. Thanks for sharing!
Monique
Sunday 14th of April 2019
I don't drink, but I would probably take my dad to some breweries. I think he'd really enjoy it. Hmmm, his birthday is coming up too so this could be a great gift....going on a brewery tour. Thanks for the idea!!
HolyVeggies
Sunday 14th of April 2019
I wish we had more breweries where I live. It looks like you had such a good time!
Rachel Lavern
Saturday 13th of April 2019
Well, we do not drink beer and never want to visit a brewery; however, we are definitely foodies.
drugstore diva lisa
Monday 15th of April 2019
Luckily so many breweries have incredible kitchens and great food. So even if you don't drink, there's a reason to go!
Brittany Charnley
Friday 12th of April 2019
Ooooh we love going to local breweries wherever we go! Thanks for this roundup! It's right up my alley!!