What’s your pleasure? Delaware’s DIY beverages!
So what good is food without something to wash it down with? In spite of that precariously dangling preposition, it’s sometimes fun to top off a day at the beach with a refreshing beverage. And this season, there’s no shortage of things going on in the beverage department!
Contrary to what you might think, people have been known to sip a beer or two in Dewey Beach. And now there’s even more reason to pull a frosty brew as The Dewey Beer and Food Company prepares to fire up the mash tuns at the corner of Saulsbury Street and Coastal Highway. Owners Clinton Bunting, Brandon Smith and Mike Reilly (the brewmeister himself) plan to stay open year-round.
In celebration of the opening of the 16-room Dogfish Inn in Lewes, Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione and his 16-year-old son Sammy will embark on a 600-mile boat journey to raise money for The Nature Conservancy, one of his favorite causes. There will be 5 stops – Atlantic City, Manhattan, Block Island, Boston and Portland – where Calagione will host multi-course beer dinners at selected eateries.
Last week’s wildly successful Top Chef of the Culinary Coast event at the Rehoboth Convention Center saw 16 Mile Brewery co-owner Chad Campbell pouring glasses of Tiller Brown Ale for somewhere around 500 attendees. Chad arrived with a truck full of kegs to help benefit our own Meals on Wheels Lewes/Rehoboth. He poured elbow to elbow with Rehoboth’s favorite moonshiner, Zack King from Delaware Distilling Company. King’s house-made vodkas and that great spiced rum were the stars of the “hard stuff” department.
What? Your tastes lie more toward the grape? Not to worry. Vince Moro’s brand new Cultured Cellar is now open at the Shops at The Pearl. The complex at the corner of Lake and Rehoboth avenues includes a Starbucks, Cultured Pearl restaurant and some unique shops. Tom Poor’s Bin 66 originally occupied that space, and they’re just north of the canal bridge on Coastal Highway. If you find yourself hankerin’ for a bellicose cabernet, a flinty pinot or an impertinent Zin in Lewes, Teller Wines on Savannah Road is there to help. Kevin and Catherine Hester roll out the cheese board and tasting glasses every Saturday.
Of course that’s just the tip of the ice bucket, so order up a pile o’steamed crabs or a mess o’oysters, pour yourself something tasty and enjoy your time at the beach.
