Historical past and wonder. The Brandywine Valley is steeped in each.
Situated roughly 45 minutes outdoors of Philadelphia, it’s the place northern Delaware meets southeastern Pennsylvania. Right here, Revolutionary Battle battles had been waged, nation estates belonging to industrial magnates had been constructed, and world-renowned gardens had been grown.
Over the past 20 to 30 years, it’s been a spot the place foodies and wine lovers alike have flocked to impeccable eating places and rolling vineyards. However just lately, there’s one other feather within the Brandywine Valley’s tourism cap: beer journey.
And with the crisp fall climate, there’s no higher time to go on a brewery highway journey to the Brandywine Valley.
Wilmington, Del. Space
We’ll begin within the largest metropolis of the First State, the unofficial Company Capital of America. Smack dab in the midst of city is Sew Home Brewery, opened in 2018. Frequented by a wholesome combine of presidency employees, company staff, and locals alike, Sew Home is as identified for its meals menu as it’s for its beer.
Head brewer Andrew Rutherford says it’s onerous for him to select his favourite dishes, however extremely recommends the entire wings with harissa garlic sauce, cheesesteak eggrolls with smoked ketchup, or breaded hen cutlet with pesto aioli and mozzarella.
So far as the go-to beer, Sew Home has a pleasant selection, however Rutherford factors out Huge Sew Nick, a pale ale with a nice steadiness of hops and malt that’s named after former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, an area hero round these elements.
Heading north out of the downtown space, the highway journey takes us subsequent to Wilmington Brew Works on the north finish of town. Situated in a 100-year-old former laboratory, Wilmington Brew Works, or WBW as proven on its emblem, doesn’t shrink back from experimental brews.
Whereas their popularity for New England IPAs precedes them on this space, they’re additionally identified for his or her tasty line of Duvette sours, tinkering with flavors like Blackberry Vanilla, Strawberry Cookies & Cream, Cherry Vanilla Limeade, and plenty of extra. In addition they have a preferred piña colada bitter referred to as Trip Shock that transports you to summers on the boat.
When the climate will get cooler, WBW is aware of that the native contingent begins to look to the thicker beers. Umlaut is WBW’s scrumptious Märzen providing, whereas the general public additionally heads to the brewery for Gravitational Confection, a considerable Danish pastry quad that warms the insides.
After WBW, it’s time to go west out of city through the Brandywine Scenic Byway and traverse via a few of the most pristine vistas this aspect of the Mississippi. When you navigate the nation roads and hairpin curves of DuPont Nation, you’ll end up at Dew Level Brewing Firm in Yorklyn.
After restoring a dilapidated previous constructing previously housing the Garrett Snuff Mill, Dew Level is an efficient, old style household enterprise. John Hoffman runs the place alongside his spouse, Georgiana, whereas son Cody brews the beer and daughter Alexa coordinates particular occasions.
Whereas the beer is definitely a draw to Dew Level, the outside area is arguably probably the most eye-catching facet of the placement. Surrounded by nature on over an acre, the area attracts suds lovers from close to and much in heat climate, the place it turns into a veritable get-together of Delawareans and Pennsylvanians.
“Selecting my favourite Dew Level beers is like selecting my favourite youngster,” says Hoffman. “However the Black Powder, an imperial double black IPA, and Nit Wit, a standard Belgian witbier, are positively my go-tos.”
Kennett Sq., Pa.
From Dew Level, your Brandywine Valley travels take you thru the bucolic nation roads throughout the Pennsylvania state line, into the city of Kennett Sq., often known as the unofficial Mushroom Capital of the World.
Right here, you’ll discover Braeloch Brewing immediately on the banks of Pink Clay Creek. Based by Kent and Amy Steeves, Braeloch makes use of an previous trolley barn for his or her outpost, full with a patio overlooking the creek. Braeloch didn’t waste any time becoming into the material of Kennett Sq., a tight-knit group with a burgeoning eating and leisure scene.
Braeloch’s beer menu runs the gamut from IPAs to lager, sours, and a few enjoyable stouts, like their S’moregasm, garnished with a toasted marshmallow. Locals and vacationers alike have come to like Braeloch’s flagships, however the Blue Hen Gold IPA specifically is a go-to for a lot of.
Braeloch’s meals has additionally made a reputation for itself, partnering with the TBG hospitality group, which runs the favored Tonic Steak & Seafood in Wilmington. Even when you come to Braeloch and don’t have a drop of beer, the meals is definitely worth the journey in itself.
West Chester, Pa.
Heading northeast out of Kennett Sq.— passing the world-famous Longwood Gardens—and up Route 52 brings you into West Chester.
The primary cease is an ode to the historical past of the area and the well-known Battle of Brandywine, the most important and longest of the American Revolution. Opened in 2019, Artillery Brewing Firm fully immerses you in a Revolutionary Battle theme.
Co-owner and founder Mike Loveless grew up going to Colonial Williamsburg and dove headfirst into the wealthy historical past of the Philadelphia area. After beginning out as a homebrewer, he joined forces with Paul Zippel, and Artillery was born.
The historical past motif extends to the beer, too. One of many many examples is Artillery’s Battlefield Sequence of beers, every named after a Revolutionary Battle battle with recipes capturing the essence of the battle’s location, and a portion of proceeds from the beer going to that specific battlefield’s preservation.
“There’s a lot historical past on this space, and my imaginative and prescient for Artillery is to shine a lightweight on it and make good beer whereas we’re at it,” stated Loveless.
When requested to select his favourite beers, Loveless factors to The Valley, a Czech Pilsner, and The Traitor, an English pale ale, as these he’d suggest when you may solely drink one or two.
On the opposite aspect of the constructing from Artillery sits Fallacious Crowd Beer Firm. As you would possibly anticipate, each companies profit from being so shut to 1 one other. When you go to 1, would possibly as effectively hit the opposite, proper?
Dan Shaw, head brewer for Fallacious Crowd, selected West Chester due to its vibrant bar scene and instantly felt the brotherhood amongst different brewers on the town. With its distinct neon inexperienced design, Fallacious Crowd’s constructing opened its doorways within the midst of the pandemic in November 2020.
Nonetheless, its persevered and survived because of reliable brews like their hazy IPAs and a inventive meals menu. Shaw stated Fallacious Crowd is arguably greatest identified for its Pilsner, The Borough, which is a nod to the city it’s arrange store in. He additionally talked about Drink Deeper, a West Coast IPA, and West Chester Lager as different big sellers in Fallacious Crowd’s repertoire.
Fallacious Crowd additionally has a noteworthy contingent of bitter beers brewed with an eclectic line of flavors, like key lime pie and orange zest. Come fall, Fallacious Crowd will as soon as once more launch its common Strawberry Milkshake IPA, brewed with vanilla beans and a large quantity of strawberries.
Heading towards the outskirts of city for the ultimate cease of your Brandywine Valley brewery tour, you’ll make your technique to Levante Brewing Firm.
Levante shortly made a reputation for itself within the tri-state space and past after its opening in 2015, and manufacturing supervisor Matt Gilberg says that the brewery has a contingent of reliable, “bang in your buck” beers which are loved by many.
Whenever you ask an area beer lover what their favourite go-to Levante beer is, Cloudy & Cumbersome is a well-liked alternative. The New England IPA is distributed to a lot of space bars and shops, and will be loved on a sizzling summer time day at Residents Financial institution Park, residence of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Levante additionally has a dependable steady of Pilsners, lagers, West Coast IPAs, and extra, however guests listed here are handled to a different distinctive concoction: the Granita. Utilizing considered one of their beers or seltzers as a base, they add enjoyable flavors to the combo, throw them collectively, and freeze them. A number of examples are Blueberry Cheesecake, Cinnamon Bun, Electrical Lemonade, and Screwdriver.
Come autumn, Levante’s Märzen, referred to as Drachenstadt, hits the faucets on the brewery, offering the proper mix of breadiness and taste that you just come to anticipate from this signature fall beer. Their stouts and porters even have reputations that precede them, like Infinite Obsidian, which, as Gilberg places it, is their model of Guinness.
“Each pint is an expertise,” he stated. “Our purpose is, and all the time might be, to permit our clients to get good beer at worth, and simply take pleasure in themselves.”
So, the following time you end up driving up or down Interstate 95 and trying to go off the crushed observe of the Philadelphia space for a beer, head towards the Brandywine Valley. This checklist of breweries merely scratches the floor of what you may anticipate right here going ahead, and also you’ll encounter some strong surroundings and historical past on the best way.
Contact Data
CraftBeer.com is totally devoted to small and unbiased U.S. breweries. We’re printed by the Brewers Affiliation, the not-for-profit commerce group devoted to selling and defending America’s small and unbiased craft brewers. Tales and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com don’t indicate endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Affiliation or its members.
