Lewes Brewing Company

An afternoon spent at Lewes Brewing Company will quickly remind anyone who stops by why breweries and beach towns are a perfect pairing. On fair-weather days, the large glass windows and doors are opened, welcoming any and all passersby to partake in the come-as-you-are atmosphere owners Dave and Christine Jones have cultivated. 

A hint of bay air is in the breeze, mingling with the delicious smells of whatever tasty selection you’ve made from the week’s visiting food truck. Whether you’re at the bar or out on the patio, easy conversation abounds between guests enjoying a late lunch with friends, folks finishing up a morning on the beach or those looking for a place to refresh after spending hours on the neighboring bike trail. Its location on Savannah Road makes it easily accessible whether you’re headed in or out of town, and Christine says many customers have made it a routine stop in their weekly schedule.

“We see a lot of regulars who come in,” says Christine. “We’ve got a really good, casual, comfortable clientele.” 

In the 11 months since its official opening, Lewes Brewing has garnered a devoted following of craft beer enthusiasts. Dave remembers one customer who was proud to announce that the brewery made the 500th he had visited. Another, who was leaving for vacation, made sure to grab a T-shirt before he left the country, telling Dave and Christine, “I want to represent you guys in Aruba.”

It was Dave’s own love for the craft beer scene that eventually sparked the idea for Lewes Brewing Company. Following the sale of their auto collision repair business, the couple considered the possibility of turning his 20-year home-brewing hobby into a full-time career.

“I used to travel around and hit the craft breweries before they were fashionable, way back in the day,” Dave says. “I always liked the taste of craft beers better than the run-of-the-mill types.”

Today, the brewery offers 12 standard beers on tap — several of which are also available in cans — as well as two hard seltzers. From the beginning, Christine says they decided to produce what Dave calls “crushable” beers.

“He really just wanted to do mostly drinkable beers. We are on the bike path, so we didn’t want to make anything with a really high alcohol content,” Christine says.

The brewery also produces flavors on a seasonal basis. This summer, they released an Orange Crush IPA as part of the Cancer Support Community, Delaware’s “Crush Out Cancer” event, and a Lemon Drop IPA. 

With plans to expand their product into local restaurants and retailers, as well as host more community events, Lewes Brewing Company is a new favorite destination for tourists and locals alike. You may arrive a stranger, but odds are high you will leave a member of the Lewes Brewing family.