Road Trip! Front Street Brewery

Wilmington, North Carolina, is one of our favorite places to visit. Just two hours from home, Wilmington offers the perfect blend of craft beer culture, coastal charm, and historic character. Nestled along the Cape Fear River and just minutes from the beach, the city welcomes visitors with a vibrant riverfront lined with restaurants, shops, and scenic views, all anchored by one of the South’s most beautiful historic downtowns. Wilmington has also become a standout destination for beer lovers, with an impressive collection of breweries ranging from longtime staples to innovative newcomers.

The Basics

Location: 9 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Parking: street and lots

Website: frontstreetbrewery.com

Social media: facebook.com/FrontStreetBrewery, instagram.com/frontstreetbrewery

Vibe/Atmosphere: historic landmark, bustling pub, family-friendly gathering space

Beers We Tried: Amberjack ESB, Azaleafest Lager, Black Razz House Blend, Funky Fusco Sour Lager, Original Pilsner, Rye on Cue

Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends! Follow these simple tips for safer consumption.

The Battleship North Carolina is one of the many interesting attractions in Wilmington— we snagged this gorgeous image at sunset.

Culture and Charm to Spare

Among Wilmingtons craft beer lineup, Front Street Brewery holds a special place as the oldest operating craft brewery in Wilmington. We’ve visited Front Street several times over the years, and on this trip we were especially excited to sit down with Head Brewer Van Morris, whom we previously met at the NC Craft Brewers Conference. The only thing better than enjoying delicious craft beer and good food is talking with one of the people responsible for creating it and learning more about their process.

Vantastick Beers!

We caught up with Van late on a Friday afternoon just as the crowd was beginning to build. Front Street Brewery enjoys a prime location in the heart of Wilmington’s historic downtown district, only a block from the riverfront. The brewery itself is housed in a remarkable building dating back to the 1860s. Originally home to a bank and later a hardware store, the structure still retains many of its historic features, including exposed brick, heavy timber beams, and portions of old vault spaces. The setting gives Front Street a distinctive atmosphere that blends craft beer culture with Wilmington’s rich maritime and commercial history. Beyond that, Van says the building is even home to a ghost — but more on that later.

Van rose from Assistant Brewer to Head Brewer in just four years by immersing himself in every aspect of the brewing process. Front Street is known as much — perhaps even more — for its food as its beer, so Van constantly works to keep his flagship and seasonal brews in sync with both the menu and the seasons. We especially enjoyed several of his seasonals, including Azaleafest Lager, Rye On Cue Honey Lager, and Funky Fusco Sour Lager (see tasting notes below). In fact, we were so impressed with Funky Fusco and Rye On Cue that we revisited both of them once we made our way to the bar.

Poetry in Motion

After talking with Van and sampling a few beers, we headed over to the bar to check out the updated menu he’d mentioned and, naturally, enjoy another round. There we found ourselves hypnotized by the smooth, almost rhythmic performance of TJ, the Bar Manager. Every movement — from shaking cocktails to pouring beers to serving guests — seemed effortlessly choreographed. When he stopped to take our order, we learned he has worked as a bartender and manager at Front Street Brewery for 11 years. No wonder he knows his way around the bar.

When we asked TJ for a food recommendation, he answered without hesitation: “Wings!” He knew exactly what he was talking about. Before long, we were digging into a steaming pile of crispy buffalo wings dripping with tangy sauce and served with zesty blue cheese dressing and celery. They instantly earned a place among our regular Front Street favorites.

We took plenty of notes on the beer at Front Street Brewery - it's a labor of love.

The bar was busy on a Friday night but TJ handled it in stride.

Now, about that ghost...

It is a historical fact that in 1895, a 35-year-old painter named Henry Wenzel suffered a tragic fall while the building was occupied by a department store. He had been painting inside a third-floor light well when he lost his footing and plunged to the ground floor, fatally breaking his neck on a cash register below. Wenzel left behind a wife who was reportedly ill at the time, and his death left her destitute. Over the years, stories of Henry’s ghost have persisted, with many interpreting his appearances as attempts to return to his lost love.

Late-night bartenders and staff members have reported a variety of strange occurrences on the third floor, where Front Street stores its malt. In fact, Van told us that only weeks earlier, a female employee repeatedly noticed a third-floor door opening on its own. The staff has decided this was Henry — ever the gentleman — simply trying to lend a helpful hand.

No matter how many times we visit Front Street Brewery, we always leave having enjoyed terrific seasonal beers, delicious food, and service from an efficient, fun-loving staff. And now we know the brewery comes with a ghost story, too. As lovers of beer, food, history, and a good story, Front Street Brewery presses all our buttons in the very best way.

This is what we imagine it looks like when Henry shows up after hours for a little "unscheduled maintenance."

NCBE's Beer Notes - Front Street Brewing

• Amberjack ESB

  • Style: English Ale/ESB

  • ABV: 5.7%

  • Color: Amber with white head

  • Aroma: Bread crust

  • Taste: Sour bread crust, a little roasty/toasty, slightly bitter

  • Mouthfeel: Light-med body, medium carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Long, dry finish

• Azaleafest

  • Style: Fest Lager

  • ABV: 5.6%

  • Color: Straw

  • Aroma: Light bready malt

  • Taste: Like the nose and slightly sweet. Old world version of American lager

  • Mouthfeel: Light, crisp

  • Aftertaste: Mild hop finis

• Black Razz House Blend

  • Style: Scottish Ale/Raspberry Wheat Blend

  • ABV: 6.2%

  • Color: Gold, hazy

  • Aroma: Light Fruit, floral, sweet/sour

  • Taste: Tart berry, lemon, juicy, tangy

  • Mouthfeel: Bright, light body

  • Aftertaste: Lingering fruit tartness

• Funky Fusco*

  • Style: Sour Lager – Blend of Kolsch/Mexican Lager and Cellar Aged

  • ABV: 5.4%

  • Color: Light amber

  • Aroma: Cocoa nibs, café au lait, toasted bread

  • Taste: Fruity, caramel, dark chocolate, bitter w/candy sugar balance

  • Mouthfeel: Light body, low carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Dark chocolate, funky sour

  • Overall: This was one of our favorites. Complex and refreshing.

• Original Pilsner

  • Style: Czech Pilsner

  • ABV: 5.1%

  • Color: Light straw, clear

  • Aroma: Cracker and yeasty rolls

  • Taste: Sourdough bready, clementine, slightly herbal (meadow)

  • Mouthfeel: Crisp, light body

  • Aftertaste: Sourdough/malt

• Rye On Cue*

  • Style: Honey Lager w/Rye malt

  • ABV: 6.7%

  • Color: Straw color, light foam

  • Aroma: Rye bread, subtle black peppercorn

  • Taste: Same as nose, a little fruity and smoky

  • Mouthfeel: Light-med body, medium carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Sweet,herbal

  • Overall: Also one of our favorites. The flavor notes had us searching for descriptors.

*NCBE Two mugs up!

What do you think about Front Street Brewery?