Brewing industry boom sparks a new business idea

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Asheville is called Beer City USA, but here in the Port City we are making name for ourselves too. 

 

Breweries have been growing over the last few years all over the Wilmington area, but one new business will be able to connect all the dots.

 

"Oh my gosh, everybody needs to do this!" Amy Dresky said. "This is so awesome!"

 

What has folks buzzing? A tour that takes you behind the scenes of the brewing industry here in Wilmington. You start and end this four-hour tour in downtown Wilmington, so for beer lovers, listen up!

 

"First start at Bombers Beverage Company. Gather everybody in," Jeremy Tomlinson, co-owner of Port City Brew Bus said. "Bombers is going to run you through a little tasting. Take you from a light beer to a dark a beer and what to expect."

 

From there, you go to Good Hops down in Carolina Beach, where you sample most of their beers, even tour their facility showing you how they make their beers. 

 

Then it's on to Wilmington Brewing Company. You'll get a walk through and sample several of their products. 

 

Fly Trap is where you'll end the tour, but after sampling several more home brewed beers of course. 

 

"By bringing a whole bunch of breweries into the community, that creates a whole new industry," Port City Brew Bus Co-owner Mark Mueller said. "We have the film industry, we have a tourism industry, we have the beach towns, and now we will have a brewing industry."

 

Price of admission is $49, but it's not all you can drink, although Port City Brew Bus owners say, by the end you will be satisfied. 

 

"It's not about drinking. It's not about pounding a 12-pack of Schlitz or one of those other beers. It's about sitting down with a good craft beer and having a conversation," Mueller said. 

 

A good conversation in just one 12 oz. bottle. 

 

"I think it's going to be a big hit in the Port City, especially with all the breweries popping up," Dresky said. "They are definitely starting a new adventure, and I think people of Wilmington will really like it."

 

The first tour opened to the public will be next Friday at noon. Click here for information and tickets.