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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BREW WORKS NORTH OPENS AFTER LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS
Wilmington Brew Works opened their second location in late June.
July 10th, 2025
Wilmington, Delaware – At a time when many microbreweries, here in Delaware, and across the country, are closing, Wilmington Brew Works (WBW) has found an opportunity to expand, though not without jumping a few hurdles. Brew Works North, their ‘modern take on a retro pub’ opened on June 27th, after a social media announcement that morning. The new taproom, at 1851 Marsh Road (in the Plaza III shopping center), is adorned in bright, bold colors with a large mural and features two pool tables, five darts lanes, and regulation cornhole courts, in addition to a TouchTunes jukebox, foosball tables, skee-ball, pinball and lounge areas.
The decor is a marked departure from the arched windows and revitalized architecture of the original location’s beer-hall concept. “We realized we needed to offer a different experience, just based on the proximity to our taproom on Miller Rd. This gives us the ability to expand our customer base in our home market, and offer our current patrons an alternate Brew Works experience.” stated Craig Wensell, CEO of Wilmington Brew Works.
While the WBW Miller Road taproom remains a family-friendly destination, with live music on the weekends, dog-friendly outdoor seating, and popular events in the Alamo Room, Brew Works North shifts the vibe in a different direction. Ryan Rice, the Chief Operating Officer for both locations explains “This is a decidedly 21-plus, adult space, with a traditional bar, bar games, and bar leagues. But the link between the taprooms is great beer and cider, and both are great places to meet friends.”
Brew Works North primarily serves Wilmington Brew Works beer and cider, but hand selects beer from other top Delaware breweries to feature on their guest taps. The new location features cocktails crafted with Delaware-made spirits and a snack menu. Patrons are also welcome to bring in outside food from nearby businesses such as the neighboring 322 BBQ.
The brewhouse, where Wensell and his team produce their award winning beer, will remain at the original location. However, WBW’s hard cider production, which was recently voted best in Delaware, is relocating to the Brew Works North location, enabling better streamlining of product lines, and growth of the cider program.
The expansion was not without its challenges. When Wilmington Brew Works set out to open a second location, they didn’t anticipate they would need to make multiple trips to Dover and work with legislators to ensure their operation was permitted. Quirks in Delaware statutes dictated that while a brewery could have up to three Brewpubs, it could only have one production brewery. The Alcohol Commissioner’s staff initially directed Brew Works North to operate as a farm winery to produce hard cider, as cider can be produced by both wineries or breweries in Delaware.
Once they received federal licensure from the Tax and Trade Bureau, which itself was delayed significantly after the government layoffs in Washington, their state licensure final review hit a snag. The DE Alcohol Commissioner wasn’t keen on granting the farm winery license, to protect the farm designation, nor could she grant a brewery license due to current restrictions. Representative Debra Heffernan drafted a commonsense change to Title IV to enable WBW,
and any other Delaware Breweries, to operate a second location. House Bill 170 was co-sponsored in the Senate by Senator Dan Cruce and passed both chambers unanimously. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on June 24th.
The legislative change allowed the Alcohol Commissioner to grant Brew Works North a microbrewery license on the afternoon of June 26th. By that evening, they had a soft opening for members of their ‘Cellarman’s Circle’ and a full opening the next day. John Fusco, WBW’s Creative & Marketing VP, was just happy to get open. “That last week was a whirlwind. We had been working so hard, and the space was ready. We just needed everything to fall into place. All we were able to do was let people know on social media.”
Despite the last-minute announcement, the opening was a success, with word spreading across town that the new spot was open. That evening, the beer was flowing and the darts were flying. Fusco reflected, “We’ve gone to brewing and cider conferences across the country, and have visited some really cool spots – always wishing we had something similar back home. I don’t think we realized it until halfway through opening night, but maybe we just built Wilmington’s cool spot.”
About Wilmington Brew Works and Brew Works North
Wilmington Brew Works, established in 2018, stands as the sole production brewery in Delaware’s largest city. Renowned for our innovative and award-winning Ales, Lagers, Sours, and Ciders, we self-distribute to great bars and restaurants throughout Delaware. Connect with friends at one of our two Wilmington taprooms, where each location offers a unique vibe and each visit offers memorable moments.
Wilmington Brew Works (Flagship Taproom)
3129 Miller Rd, Wilmington DE 19802; wilmingtonbrewworks.com
Brew Works North
1851 Marsh Rd, Wilmington, DE 19810; brewworksnorth.com
Media Contacts
John Fusco, VP, Creative and Brand Marketing, Wilmington Brew Works john@wilmingtonbrewworks.com
