Dewey Beer Company opens new Harbeson brewery

As more people are vaccinated against COVID-19 and outdoor restrictions are lifted, it will definitely be a good time to go outside and drink a beer. 

With fortuitous timing, Dewey Beer Company is ready for people to do just that, with the opening of its new brewery and tasting room on Route 5 in Harbeson. 

Located near the intersection of Route 9 and Route 5, the new Dewey Beer Company facility was nearly two years from concept to completion. Co-owner Brandon Smith said the brewery had been looking to expand its production capacity for some time, but was looking for the right site. 

They found it with the facility in Harbeson, which allows Dewey Beer Company to brew up to 5,000 barrels a year, with the capacity to expand up to 15,000 in the future. The new facility also includes a canning line and a tasting room with 45 indoor and 45 outdoor seats. 

“We always had our eye on making modern and fun beer,” Smith said. “That kept us growing in our spot; we always could find a little room for another tank, but we were running out of room. We were running into the back walls and had no more areas to grow.” 

So in Fall 2019, they began looking for a second location. The new Harbeson brewery opened May 10. 

Smith said the intention is to run two locations, with the flagship brewery in Dewey Beach serving as a place where they will do more experimental beers and have a full-service restaurant. He said Harbeson will be the place to find their favorites and brand new beers at a higher volume. 

Smith said the company picked Harbeson because the location offered two things: it was close to Dewey, so it minimized travel, and because of the facility’s larger square footage. 

“If we had to go to Maryland or Wilmington, I’m not sure we would have done it,” he said.

As far as the square footage goes, Smith said it will allow the brewery to meet increased demand.

“It’s just great to meet demand. Forever we were running out of beer in Dewey. Our fridges were always empty of cans. It’s nice to be able to stock a fridge. We have 20 beers on tap in Dewey and 20 beers on tap here. So the variety and volume is something we’ve never had, and it’s exciting to have,” he said. 

With the hotter weather coming, Dewey Beer Company is currently leaning heavily on its sours, IPAs and lagers. While sweet sours have become a summer staple, lagers have begun seeing a resurgence in the craft beer world. 

“In the industry, we all love and crave a lager. It’s simplicity. It’s deliciousness. It’s usually lower in ABV (alcohol by volume). All the fruited sours and the IPAs we try to make gushing with flavors. A lager isn’t really like that. We kind of think of it as, ‘What would you want your refrigerator full with?’ You always want a good lager in there,” Smith said. 

Right now, the Harbeson brewery does not offer food, but Smith said eventually there will be food trucks and other options as summer moves on. 

While Smith said he tends not to look at how far Dewey Beer Company has come, he believes the Coastal Delaware’s beer scene is in a great place.

“It’s fantastic. It’s growing and people are visiting here for those reasons. We love it,” he said.

The Harbeson brewery is open on weekdays from 3 to 9 p.m., and noon to 9 p.m. on weekends. For more information, visit www.deweybeerco.com.