3rd Wave Brewing Company

This is a nice stop on the way to or back from the beach. Selection is based on what they have made at that time, but normally you can find something. Staff is very helpful and beer is pretty good. Overall, worth the stop.

 

 

 

Gotta say, not my style, and I don't get the hype. I've been there 7-8 times now, and really love the staff, but I think the beer is only average. If you like IPA's or Stouts there are much better local selections. I'm not that fond of fruit or sour beers but that seems to be the draw. I've taken 5 out of town visitors there on brew crawls, and none of them really thought much of it either. I intentionally didn't say much before hand, about any of the breweries we visited. So not just me. I wish them only the best, but not my thing. Try it you might think much differently.

 

 

 

First stop on day two of a four day brewery discovery around Delaware and Maryland. I was with two friends of mine and none of us have had anything by them. Loved the decor which set you immediately into the surf theme. The bartender was very nice and was able to explain each beer as we had a sample of all 14 which were on tap. As for quality and taste of the beer we were all impressed and we each found a favorite among others that were excellent. We even got a tour of the back room where all the magic happens. Definitely give it a try if you are in the area.

 

 

 

 

Great selection of very good beers. The stouts were excellent! Great, friendly staff. The food truck was sooo good!

 

 

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Quality of beer is excellent as are the prices. My favorites are the SunDancer White IPA, the DawnPatrol Coffee Cream Stout, and the Belgian Tripel. Very fair and reasonable pricing for tasters, pints and even growler fills. Love the growler reward program, where you get your 10th growler fill for only $3. Can't beat that! I have always loved the beach so the Hawaiian, surf style decor and atmosphere is right up my alley!

 

 

3rd Wave Brewing Company located in Delmar, Delaware in a building that I have been into many time, long before it was 3rd Wave. The building they use once housed the original Evolution Brewery, before they moved to Salisbury, Maryland.

We were the only people at 3rd Wave when this past Friday afternoon but then a few people came in and out as we sat, chatted and enjoyed the samples of their beers. We got to talk with one of the owner’s / brewers, who get this, is a woman! I do believe both owners of 3rd Wave are women (couldn’t confirm this via their website or Facebook, but I am almost positive) and it is great to see women in the craft beer industry. They also hired a head brewer, John Panasiewicz who was formerly working at Iron Hill Brewery. We talked with the owner for a bit, asked a few questions, but she was running around taking care of things, so we didn’t get too much time to talk to her. She did explain that they are doing some Bourbon barrel beers and also some sours! I am really excited for the sours and I hope I can the in laws (or sister) to bring me a growler of them when they are done.

The building itself is the same as it was when Evolution was there except with an exciting new paint job and some surfing decor to go with the 3rd Wave Theme. I really love their use of Orange and Blue in their logo and interior design. The atmosphere seems like it could be a good place to hang out and have a beer. The five of us were able to sit and talk and just enjoy each others company, as well as having a drink. They have outdoor seating as well as some small bites of food available for purchase. I thought the beers ranged from standard to pretty good. There wasn’t a beer on tap that I felt was sub-par. I was bummed we just missed the Sunset Peach Wheat, which my sister actually went to try on Saturday. The Ever After Pilsner was actually brewed for a friends wedding, where the friends came in and actually brewed the beer. They plan on doing another one for other friends, which is a really neat concept of letting friends come in and brew beer for their event.

Overall, 3rd Wave looks like being on the right path to becoming a fun addition to Delmar and I for one can’t wait to try their sours and barrel aged beers. I really hope they consider hand bottling them and putting them in 22′s or 750′s for sale. I only say that because I live so far away!

Located in the original Evolution Brewing building in Delmar DE. A fresh paint job, new bar stools and surfing decor around. Folks all very friendly and doing a nice business on a Friday afternoon. Have been open a week-3 beers on tap for now-a plae, IPA and a porter. I know there is a pumpkin coming as well.

Offering tastings, pints and growlers of all 3. All reasonably priced. No food but snacks on the bar which is always a plus in my book. Just some goldfish, etc to munch on.

Beers were only fair in my opinion. Pale was ok, IPA a bit better, and I honestly thought the porter was a bit of a stretch to call it a porter. Found all 3 to be a bit "soapy" for lack of a better word. I think some tweaking and the pale and IPA could be some nice beers.

Still, a welcome addition so close to home I wish them well. Hopefully just some "out of the gate" problems and the beers come around. I'd stop and form your own opinion.

Update 2/15/13...

Stopped in again and things are greatly improved. Had a great double IPA and a very well done milk stout. The chocolate cherry stout was decent with the sweet cherries really coming thru at the end. People were also really enjoying a Belgian triple. Did not retry any of their core beers. The quality of the new offerings and selection have brought the place up a notch or 2 for sure.