Coastal Delaware has quietly built one of the most interesting craft beer scenes in the region, with many breweries spread across towns. 

There are plenty of great places to check out, whether you like bold IPAs, smooth lagers, creative seasonal releases, or just want to relax for a few hours.

This guide pulls together some of the top breweries across the area, check it out: 

Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats

Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats is where the whole Dogfish story started back in 1995, and you can still feel that creative, experimental energy when you are there. 

What started out as the smallest commercial brewery in the country quickly became a place where founder Sam Calagione could experiment with ingredients in ways that most breweries weren't doing, like adding raisins, maple syrup, and roasted chicory straight from the kitchen to his beers. 

That same way of thinking carried over to spirits, where small-batch vodkas, gins, and rums became part of the experience. 

When you go, you are not just getting beer, you are getting a full lineup of original drinks, wood-grilled food, and live music on the weekends.

• Address: 320 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach
• Hours: Sunday-Tuesday (11:30am-9pm), Wednesday-Saturday (11:30am-10pm)
• Contact: 302-226-BREW, [email protected]

Image courtesy of Dogfish Head

Thompson Island Brewing Company 

Thompson Island Brewing Company has a lot of what you probably want in a brewery stop, especially if you want to feel like you're having a full experience. 

Everything is brewed right in Rehoboth Beach, and their tap list has a lot of different types of beer, from IPAs to lighter beers and fruited sours, so you can easily find one that you like. 

The food side is just as good, with choices like crispy fried chicken, wood-grilled salmon, and a classic double cheeseburger.

There is usually something going on at the space, like live music in the beer garden, seasonal events, and beer dinners. 

The space is also set up for events, with a large outdoor area, a fire pit, games, and seating that works for both small and large groups.

• Address: 30133 Veterans Way, Rehoboth Beach
• Hours: Daily 11:30am-9pm
• Contact: 302-226-4677

Image courtesy of First State Brewing Company

First State Brewing Company

First State Brewing Company in Rehoboth Beach gives you a mix of solid core beers and a full brewpub experience, so you are not just stopping in for a drink, you are getting options across the board.

Their year-round lineup includes a few main styles, such as a hazy IPA with tropical fruit and citrus notes, a more classic West Coast IPA with pine and resin notes, and a clean and crisp American pilsner that is easy to drink and simple. 

There is always something going on besides the beer, like trivia nights or live music, that keeps the space busy all week. 

There is always something going on at this place, so you can come for one thing and stay longer.

• Address: 19266 Coastal Highway #1, Rehoboth Beach
• Hours: Monday-Thursday (3pm-10pm), Friday & Saturday (12pm-11pm), Sunday (12pm-10pm)
• Contact: 302-386-2337, [email protected] 

Crooked Hammock Brewery

Crooked Hammock Brewery in Lewes was built around a simple idea: creating the kind of place where you can actually relax and enjoy yourself. 

That backyard escape feeling shows up in everything here, from the craft beer brewed on-site in the 7-barrel brewhouse to the grilling food, hammocks, cornhole, and ping pong. 

It has a fun, laid-back atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. 

If you want a brewery that feels casual, social, and made for hanging out with family and friends, Crooked Hammock really leans into that.

• Address: 36707 Crooked Hammock Way, Lewes
• Hours: Monday-Thursday (11am-9pm), Friday-Saturday (11am-10pm), Sunday (10am-9pm)
• Contact: 302-644-7837

Image courtesy of Dog Pirate Beer Company

Dog Pirate Beer Company

Dog Pirate Beer Company is one of those spots that feels personal the second you hear the story behind it, and that is because it truly is. 

This small, family-owned nanobrewery is led by Greg Christmas, who spent more than 25 years homebrewing before working at Dogfish Head and later launching Beach Time Distilling, and you can feel that depth of experience in what is being poured.  

Everything here is brewed on a two-barrel system, so you are getting small-batch beers with a clear focus on Belgian and English-inspired styles that reflect Greg’s own taste and approach.  

The name comes from a rescue dog named Porter, whose personality inspired the "Dog Pirate" identity. 

You can bring your own dog, grab a beer, and keep things simple with light snacks like peanuts and pretzels while you settle in and enjoy something that feels a little more personal and handmade.

• Address: 32191 Nassau Road #5, Lewes
• Hours: Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday (12pm-6pm), Friday & Saturday (12pm-7pm)
• Contact: 302-644-2850, [email protected]

Lewes Brewing Company

Lewes Brewing Company keeps things simple and local, which is great if you want to stop by for a drink while you're out and about. 

Located along the Lewes to Georgetown Trail, it is the kind of place you can easily work into your day, whether you are walking, biking, or just nearby and want to grab a drink. 

The focus is on fresh craft beer served in a fun, relaxed setting, and it seems like a place is set on keeping that small, community-driven feel. 

You can also bring your dog with you as long as you stay on the patio areas, which makes it even easier to turn a quick stop into something you really enjoy.

• Address: 1145 Savannah Road, Lewes
• Hours: Daily 12pm to 9pm
• Contact: 302-303-BREW, [email protected] 

Bethany Brewing Company

Bethany Brewing Company focuses on offering a wide variety of fresh craft beers brewed on-site that you can enjoy in both indoor and outdoor spaces. 

The team behind it is made up of longtime craft beer fans, including brewers who spent years honing their skills before making the jump into a full-scale operation, and you can feel that passion in the way the menu is put together. 

Along with their beers, you will also find Delaware wines, hard ciders, and even homemade root beer, so there is something for everyone in your group. 

A lot of their beers are named after the area and nearby beaches, which gives the whole experience a nice local touch and makes you feel like you're really there.

• Address: 38450 Hickman Road, Ocean View
• Hours: Monday-Wednesday  (3pm-7pm), Thursday (1pm-9pm), Friday-Saturday (12pm-9pm), Sunday (12pm-6pm)
• Contact: 302-616-2691, [email protected] 

Image courtesy of Ocean View Brewing Company

Ocean View Brewing Company

Ocean View Brewing Company is one of those easy, go-to spots when you want a little bit of everything in one place. 

Tucked in the coastal town of Ocean View, just a short ride from Bethany Beach, it gives you a lively atmosphere paired with a full restaurant experience.

There is a big bar, a beer garden, and places to eat both inside and outside, so you can choose what you want to do depending on your mood or the weather. 

You can just show up, find your spot, and enjoy good food, good service, and a selection of house beers without having to plan too much ahead.

• Address: 85 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean View
• Hours: Daily 11:30am-9pm
• Contact: 302-829-1530

Dogfish Head Milton Brewery

Dogfish Head Milton Brewery is one of those places where there is genuinely a lot to explore, and you notice it right away when you pull up and see things like the Steampunk Treehouse and the outdoor fermenters. 

Inside the Tasting Room, you are looking at more than 40 beer and cocktail taps, including some of the freshest off-centered ales they have, plus options to take your favorites home with growler or crowler fills. 

If you like trying something you cannot get anywhere else, the Tasting Room Exclusives made on their R&D system are worth it, and you can also mix it up with scratch-made cocktails from the distillery. 

You can take a quick tour or go all in with a longer deep dive, then grab food from the kitchen or check out the merch shop, which makes it easy to turn this into more than just a quick stop.

• Address: 6 Cannery Village Center, Milton
• Hours: Sunday-Thursday (11am-8pm), Friday-Saturday (11am-9pm) 
• Contact: 1-888-8dogfish, [email protected] 

Dewey Beer Company

Dewey Beer Co. keeps things simple in the best way, focusing on what they do well and doing it consistently. 

This is their original location, just steps from the Atlantic Ocean, so you get that beach energy paired with a solid lineup of hop-forward ales and unique fruited beers. 

Everything is brewed on their seven-barrel system, and the food side matches the same level of care with an open kitchen where everything is made from scratch. 

It is the kind of spot you can easily work into your beach day, whether you are stopping in for a drink after being outside or sitting down for a full meal that actually lives up to the beer.

• Address: 2100 Coastal Highway, Dewey Beach
• Hours: Monday-Thursday (4pm-9pm), Friday (12pm-10pm), Saturday (11am-10pm), Sunday (12pm-9pm)

Brick Works Brewing & Eats

The idea behind Brick Works Brewing & Eats is to do everything with purpose, and you can tell that right away when you look at the menu. 

It started in Smyrna in 2016 and focuses on using locally sourced ingredients in everything, so what you get is unique to the area rather than something generic. 

The beers are all made on-site, and there is a wide range of drafts to choose from. 

The food is also made from scratch and is meant to go well with the beers on tap. 

When you go, it seems like a place that wants to show off the best of Delaware through its food and beer, all in a cozy, laid-back setting that makes you want to stay for a while.

• Address: 36932 Silicato Drive #1, Long Neck
• Hours: Monday-Thursday (11am-9pm), Friday-Saturday (11am-10pm), Sunday (10pm-9pm)
• Contact: 302-287-0077, [email protected] 

Image courtesy of Big Oyster Brewery

Big Oyster Brewery

Big Oyster Brewery in Milford has a coastal feel, but it also gives you a full brewery experience that works for both people who are really into craft beer and people who are just starting to explore it. 

They have been making their lineup since 2015 with a wide range of locally made beers, from ales and lagers to IPAs and sours, so you won't be stuck with just one style when you go. 

The Milford location is calm and friendly, making it easy to come with a group, order a few different beers, and take your time trying them. 

It's the kind of place where you can relax, enjoy the variety, and eat good food while soaking up the laid-back coastal vibe they are known for.

• Address: 6152 South Rehoboth Boulevard, Milford
• Hours: Sunday-Thursday (11am-8pm), Friday & Saturday (11am-8:30pm)
• Contact: 302-459-2739

Revelation Craft Brewing

Revelation Craft Brewing wants to show that brewing has no limits, and you can see this in the beer and the whole experience when you visit their Georgetown location. 

The focus here is on quality and process, with beers made with carefully chosen ingredients and a clear attention to craftsmanship that you can taste. 

It feels like a place that wants you to try something new and leave with a new view on craft beer, whether that's because of the variety on tap or the way everything is set up.

It's not so much about sticking to the rules as it is about giving you a chance to explore and connect with the creativity behind each pour.

• Address: 413 South Bedford Street, Georgetown
• Hours: Sunday (11am-8pm), Monday & Tuesday (4pm-8pm), Wednesday & Thursday (22pm-9pm), Friday & Saturday (12pm-10pm)
• Contact: 302-515-1100

Be sure to keep following the blog to stay updated on everything happening in Coastal Delaware, from new places to try and local favorites to events, developments, and more.

Have any questions about our blog(s), the Coastal Delaware real estate market, or local life in our beautiful beach towns? Do you think there is something we should write about? Did you see an event coming up that we should know about? Shoot us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at (302) 212-0074. We would love to hear from you!