TIPSY TOURIST: Mispillion River Brewing

From anywhere in Mispillion River Brewing’s tasting room, you can get a good look at all the future beers fermenting away.

Samples arrive on a cheat sheet to remind you what you ordered with a few facts about the beer.

Mispillion River Brewing, housed in an industrial park in Milford Delaware, hardly looks like it just opened. The comfortable tasting room had a good crowd the Saturday afternoon when we arrived. There were groups of friends, a few couples and lots of people ready to try Mispillion’s wares. And yet it is brand new, opened in November 2013.

The menu of beers is extensive, from a light golden lager to a deep, dark porter. Try four samples for $10 or get a glass for $5. At Mispillion, not all glasses are equal, however.

Some beers — expecially those lower in alcohol — are served in pint glasses. Others come in a slightly smaller tulip and still others are served in a snifter. These are highest in alcohol by volume (ABV) and are usually made with the most expensive ingredients. (This is probably a more common practice than I was aware of…but you learn something new every day, even in craft breweries.)

The staff has to rush to keep up with the orders.

So I chose my samples by what kind of glass they came in. The dark, flavorful Z.J. imperial IPA with a surprising citrus note, is served in a snifter and packs a wallop at 10% ABV. Citron, their Saison with 7% ABV, comes in a tulip glass — and the name, bright and slightly lemony, is appropriate. So close to the beach, I had to try Beach Bum Joe, their Belgian pale ale. It’s a classic crisp ale, the kind I’d like by the beach. I found the beers to be assertive — nothing weak in these flavors.

Some of the beers are available only at the brewery, like the Z.J. I tasted. And some of those are seasonal or “once and done.” Always a good reason to stop by.

When you find something you like — and you’re lucky enough to live in or near Delaware — you can get your growler filled at several Wilmington liquor stores or order it at a number of Delaware bars and restaurants. Plans to can their wares are in the works.

Tours are offered but you can see the brewery from your bar stool.

Mispillion River (named for the river that runs through Milford) is open Thursday to Saturday 4-11 p.m. and pretty easy to find, not far off Route 1 or Route 113.

Mispillion River Brewing is part of the Good Libations Tour, a spirits-filled promotion of Kent County’s tourism office. You can start here or at the other brewery, distillery or one of the two wineries.  (More on the tour in a future post.)

Look for the orange flag that signals the brewery is part of the Good Libations Tour.

© Text and photos Mary K. Tilghman

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