These are 8 must-try Delaware beers. Says who? The state's biggest beer nerds, that's who.
Ryan Cormier
If you want to start a fight, just ask a bunch of First State beer nerds, "What's the best Delaware-made beer?"
We did. Five big-time Delaware beer buffs gave us a list of their 15 favorite Delaware-made brews and then we (soberly, we swear!) crunched the numbers.
In the end, one beer rose to the top like a stout's thick, creamy head and seven others tied as runners-up in our "Best Beers of Delaware" poll.
Delaware's king of all beers is Honeysuckle Rose, a Belgian blonde ale made by Smyrna's Blue Earl Brewing Co.
Blue Earl owner Ronnie Price first made the moderate-strength golden ale as a homebrewer 10 years ago. His wife, Rosemary, had just returned home from a California business trip where she tried a Belgian blonde for the first time and fell in love with it.
After making the first batch in his garage, he went away for a weekend and returned to find the quarter keg was already killed. Rosemary had hosted a party for neighbors and they drank it all.
By the time Price opened Blue Earl, Rosemary pushed for her husband to include the 7.1 percent ABV Belgian blonde. After a small, 50-gallon test batch sold out in two days at the brewery, they made 500 gallons more, sent it out to restaurants and watched as the sales figures climbed.
"It just took off and we can't keep it in stock. I've run short on it many, many times because we can't make it fast enough," Price says.
When it came time to name the beer, he made sure the name Rose was in the title, a nod to his wife and her persistent support of the brew.
Since Price is a musician — many of his beers have musical names and his brewery boasts a big stage for live bands — he chose to name the beer Honeysuckle Rose. The name comes from a song of the same name from 1929 by jazz composer and pianist Fats Waller.
"It's a great tune — really sexy and romantic, just like the beer," he says.
As for having one of his brews singled out as the best by some of the state's best-known beer-lovers, Price is taking the honor in stride.
"I'm very humbled, but I'm also not very surprised," he says. "When we go to beer fests, people run to us for it. If we have two taps, we always have to have Honeysuckle Rose on one of them."
Here is the complete list of our poll's winning beers, including the individual ballots from our judges.
WINNER
Honeysuckle Rose
Brewery: Blue Earl Brewing Co., Smyrna
Beer type: Belgian Blonde Ale
Alcohol by volume: 7.1 percent
Why they like it: Lindsey Timberman, who publishes the Delaware-based beer blog Delaware Hop Scene with her boyfriend, Eric Roberts, says, "As two people who typically lean IPA heavy, the Belgian profile of this beer is great for the warm summer months. It's a little higher in ABV, but you'd never know it as you sip on it!"
When it's available: Year-round
Fun fact: Honeysuckle Rose is Blue Earl's best-selling beer by a 2-to-1 margin. It's available at the brewery, as well as at both Delaware restaurants, bars and package stores.
RUNNERS-UP
60 Minute
Brewery:Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton
Beer type: IPA
Alcohol by volume: 6 percent
Why they like it: Anthony Russo, author of "Delaware Beer: The Story of Brewing in the First State" (American Palate, $21.99) and host of the “Beer with Strangers” podcast, says, "When I included it on my list, I worried that it was too obvious a pick. But it isn’t one of the most popular beers in the country because it’s trendy. It’s popular because it is a solid beer. Every time I have one I’m surprised to be reminded how genuinely good it is. 60 Minute is popular because it’s great, not the other way around."
When it's available: Year-round
Fun fact: This Dogfish staple since 2003 is made with Northwest hops and boiled for a full hour.
Berliner Weisse
Brewery: Revelation Craft Brewing Co., Rehoboth Beach
Beer type: Sour
Alcohol by volume: 3.7 percent
Why they like it: John Medkeff Jr., Delaware beer historian and author of "Brewing in Delaware" ($21.99, Arcadia Publishing), says, "Revelation’s Berliner Weisse is the closest to the traditional style that I’ve had in Delaware. It’s also the best. Brewmaster Patrick Staggs turns out several terrific beers, but this is always my favorite. The perfect amount of sourness. Truly a light, thirst-quenching drink appropriate for those warm Rehoboth months."
When it's available: Year-round
Fun fact: The Berliner Weisse, Revelation's lowest ABV beer at 3.7%, won a silver medal at last year's World Beer Cup in the Berliner-Style Weisse category. The peach version was the award-winner, although they have also made strawberry and pear versions. (An apricot Berliner Weisse is coming soon, says co-owner Patrick Staggs.) For this beer, brewers naturally introduce the lactobacillus bacteria, the same probiotic found in yogurt. The addition lowers the pH of the sour beer, giving a "tart taste with a slight malt aroma."
Blue Train
Brewery: Blue Earl Brewing Co., Smyrna
Beer type: Imperial IPA
Alcohol by volume: 8 percent
Why they like it: Ed Morgan, one of the writers behind the Delaware-based Dogs of Beer blog, says Blue Train "has a little more malt 'heft' under all the hops than most Double IPAs. Not your typical hop bomb. There’s lots of good stuff going on in this glass." Medkeff calls Blue Train a "quintessential American double IPA," adding that it has "beautiful orange color with citrus and pine hops notes that are well balanced with the caramel malt body."
When it's available: Year-round
Fun fact: What started as a draft and growler-only release got its own bottle early last year.
Bombora
Brewery:3rd Wave Brewing Co., Delmar
Beer type: Double IPA
Alcohol by volume: 8.5 percent
Why they like it: Says Russo, "When 3rd Wave first released Bombora, double IPAs that made it impossible to taste anything but hops for the rest of the day were a rising trend. What 3rd Wave did with this beer, and what they continue to do with it, is make an accessible DIPA where you can taste the malt still, but appreciate the hop flavor. It’s a complementary beer that can stand alone as well." Adds Timberman: "As much as we like something a bit lighter during the warmer months, we are quickly drawn to a great Double IPA and 3rd Wave Bombora DIPA fits that bill nicely. We have a thing for West Coast style IPAs and the citrus notes of Bombora give us that hoppy vibe. It's a big beer with big flavor."
When it's available: Year-round
Fun fact: Bombora is a draft-only release available in the brewery and for distribution throughout Delaware, Maryland and Eastern Shore of Virginia. They did offer a triple dry-hopped version last year via a limited brewery-only release of 16-ounce cans, but there are no plans for it this year.
Candi Belgian Tripel
Brewery: Fordham & Dominion Brewing Co., Dover
Beer type: Belgian Tripel
Alcohol by volume: 10 percent
Why they like it: Medkeff notes, "Don’t be fooled by the sweet lass on the label, this 10% ABV Belgian-style tripel also packs quite a punch. The beer pours golden to orange with an adequate white lace. The Belgian candy sugar is really highlighted and is more forward than the banana-clove spiciness. A great beer to have any time of year." Morgan adds, "Maybe brewed light to style, but it still has a lot of characteristics people would associate with a tripel. Doesn't drink like a 10% ABV beer, which has caused her to sneak up on me on more than one occasion."
When it's available: Year-round
Fun fact: This brew won the 2014 World Beer Cup Gold Medal for best Belgian-style Tripel, beating 58 other breweries from around the world. It's made with Belgian candi sugar, as you may have guessed.
Rosie Parks Oyster Stout
Brewery: Fordham & Dominion Brewing Co., Dover
Beer type: Stout
Alcohol by volume: 5 percent
Why they like it: Says Brian Light, president of First State Brewers, a Delaware-based home brewing association: "For many years I attended the annual release in September and have had many glasses. I haven’t seen a release party for this in several years, but I’ve enjoyed this beer for many years." Adds Morgan: "Rosie is one of my favorite — if not my favorite — beers brewed in Delaware. Many people shy away from this style due to the oysters, which is a shame as they impart a mineral-like 'hint of the sea' quality that elevates this style this above normal stouts."
When it's available: It's not being brewed now and Fordham & Dominion have no plans to release it any time soon. However, brewery vice president of sales Giuseppe Desilvio says, "It doesn't mean it's gone forever."
Fun fact: If Rosie Parks ever comes back, you'll find a beer containing Chesapeake Bay oysters and shells, giving a "slight briny taste," according to the brewery. The stout is made with pale, torrified wheat, Caramunich, roasted barley and chocolate malt. Bravo and Glacier hops are also in there.
Stumblin’ Monk
Brewery: Stewart's Brewing Co., Bear
Beer type: Belgian Abbey Tripel
Alcohol by volume: 9.2 percent
Why they like it: Medkeff says, "Stumblin' Monk is the granddaddy of Delaware big beers. It’s been around for years and it’s the brewery’s most decorated beer, having captured numerous medals. The beer’s fruity notes and light golden color belie its 9%+ ABV. The monks were stumblin’ for good reason."
When it's available: It's brewed twice a year: Christmastime and the brewery's anniversary, July 27. (Yes, there is still some on tap right now.)
Fun Fact: The brewery warns that "the fruity sweetness of this golden gem is only masking the alcohol content." Stumblin' packs such a punch that there's a limit of three per customer per day.
INDIVIDUAL BALLOTS
John Medkeff Jr., Delaware beer historian and author of "Brewing in Delaware" ($21.99, Arcadia Publishing).
3rd Wave Brewing Co.'s BeachBreak Apricot Wheat
Argilla Brewing Co.'s Blonde on Belgian
Bellefonte Brewing Company's Orange Street Ale
Big Oyster Brewery's Isabelle
Blue Earl's Blue Train
Dew Point Brewing Co.'s Spring Hill Porter
Dogfish Head's 61 Minute IPA
Fordham & Dominion's Candi Belgian Tripel
Iron Hill Brewery's Grodziskie
Midnight Oil Brewery's Serenity
Mispillion River Brewing's Not Today Satan
Revelation's Berliner Weisse
Stewart’s Stumblin’ Monk
Stitch House Brewery's Shipley Saison
Volunteer Brewing Co.'s Chocolate Stout
Ed Morgan, one of the writers behind the Delaware-based Dogs of Beer blog.
Big Oyster's Horus and Seth
16 Mile Brewing Co.'s Oyster Stout
Blue Earl's Blue Train Imperial IPA
Crooked Hammock Brewery's Hand of Buddha
Dogfish Head's 75 Minute IPA (On cask please!)
Dogfish Head's Burton Baton
Dogfish Head's Hell Hound on My Ale
Dogfish Head's Theobroma
Fordham & Dominion's Rosie Parks Oyster Stout
Fordham & Dominion's Candi Belgian Tripel
Iron Hill's Pig Iron Porter
Mispillion River Brewing's Miss Betty
Mispillion River Brewing's Black Tie
Stewart's Stumblin' Monk
Twin Lakes Brewing Co.'s Greenville Pale Ale
Anthony Russo, author of "Delaware Beer: The Story of Brewing in the First State" and host of the “Beer with Strangers” podcast.
3rd Wave's Sandstorm
3rd Wave's Bombora
3rd Wave's Big Reef
3rd Wave's Shore Break
Blue Earl's Honeysuckle Rose
Blue Earl's Walkin Blues
Dogfish Head's 60 Minute
Dogfish Head's Indian Brown
Dogfish Head's Midas Touch
Dogfish Head's Saison du Buff
Dogfish Head's Siracusa Nera
Mispillion River Brewing's Lightning Bug
Mispillion River Brewing's Space Otter
Revelation's Mamajuana Brown Ale
Revelation's Sussex County Mule
Lindsey Timberman, publisher of Delaware-based beer blog Delaware Hop Scene.
16 Mile's Seed Free & Joy
3rd Wave's Bombora
Argilla's ESB
Big Oyster's Noir et Bleu
Blue Earl's Honey Suckle Rose
Dew Point's Welcome Home Joe Wit
Dewey Beer Co.'s Batch #14 IPA
Dogfish Head's Bitches Brew
Dogfish Head's 90 Minute
Fordham & Dominion's Cherry Blossom
Fordham & Dominion's Double D
Iron Hill's Winter Warmer (with the cinnamon and sugar rim)
Mispillion River Brewing's Golden Sword
Revelation's Dunkel Vader
Stewart's Maibock
Brian Light, president of First State Brewers, a Delaware-based home brewing association.
Bellefonte's Wild Strawberry Tarte Saison
Bellefonte's The Way She Gose Watermelon
Bellefonte's Gimme Some Sugah
Bellefonte's Purple Haze Porter
Blue Earl's Clockwork Orange
Blue Earl's Honeysuckle Rose
Dogfish Head's 60 Minute
Dogfish Head's 120 Minute
Fordham & Dominion's Rosie Parks Oyster Stout
Mispillion River Brewing's Beach Bum Joe
Mispillion River Brewing's Key Lime Pie
Mispillion River Brewing's Miami Weisse
Mispillion River Brewing's WoloWitz
Revelation's Berliner Weisse
Aston Abby Brewing's Saison De L’Abbey (While in Pennsylvania, it’s just over the state line and the owner Chuck McKenna was a longtime Delaware resident and home brewer in First State Brewers.)
DELAWARE BEER
Downtown Brewfest coincides with opening of Wilmington's newest brewery
Dogfish Head's new Jolly Trolley shuttle allows on-board beer-drinking at the beach
Twin Lakes Brewing Co. preparing release of debut IPA, its first new beer in a decade
New rules mean Delaware booze-makers can offer wider variety, including wine in breweries
Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).