Rob Kalesse , inWilmDE.com

Most Wilmingtonians know that once they leave The Triangle neighborhood on the city’s northwest side and head across Concord Avenue, there is little to see or do. Outside of a stop by the Home Depot for hardware or The Music School of Delaware or Wilmington Drama League for a show, the 9th Ward feels like a bit of a no-man’s land that’s not quite city, but not quite suburbs either.

But some mad scientists that have assembled in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style building at 3129 Miller Road plan to change that perception. And what better way than a brand new, 4,000-square-foot brewery with a cavernous beer hall interior, 107 parking spots, and food trucks to feed the masses?

Enter Wilmington Brew Works, the city’s first production brewery since the Diamond State Brewery closed its doors at 5th and Adams more than 60 years ago. Set in the former Harper-Thiel Electroplating Company building, which had been vacant since 2000, the new tenants plan to produce about 500 barrels of ales, lagers, ciders and possibly even mead.

Head Brewer Craig Wensell, whose varied resume includes tenure as a professor at Florida State University and a tour of duty as a Blackhawk crew chief in Afghanistan, is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. He’s joined by a crew of home brewers and craft beer aficionados, including Keith Hughes (CFO), John Fusco (creative director), Dan Yopp (cellarman) and Derek Berkeley (COO).

“I think we have a tremendous responsibility to the city of Wilmington not only in regard to producing quality beer that people will love, but also doing what we can to help revitalize the area,” says Wensell. “We want this to have the vibe of a community hangout, with food trucks and games and eventually live entertainment. We’ve already heard from the neighbors that they’re happy to have us in the ’hood.”

Fusco, a Wilmington resident, says the group knew that renovating the old building would be an enormous undertaking, considering its history as an industrial site that required a complete soil remediation before they could begin actual brewery work. But he says the options for the space, had WBW not entered into its lease, were less than appealing.

“They wanted to put some sort of public storage facility here instead. I mean, this is a gorgeous building, even from the outside when the place was dormant for all those years,” he says. “I think we can do great things for the 9th Ward, and once we get rolling next month, look out.”

Leading up to the official grand opening to the public (scheduled for Aug. 9), WBW has already been hosting their “Flights of Discovery” program. A pre-ticketed event for groups of 30, the series usually focuses on one or more styles of beer, includes a complete tour of the facility and a five-course tasting. And there’s a bonus for designated drivers, who will cruise away safely with a 32-ounce “crowler” for home consumption, as well as a logo and beer koozie, and enjoy complimentary Italian sodas (made in-house) during your visit.

WBW has 16 taps ready to go and will focus on a rotation of seasonal beers, as well as some house IPAs and Belgians, sours, and a monthly menu of beer cocktails. Wensell says one idea is to mix a farmhouse saison with grapefruit, apples and limes.

“It will basically be a sort of beer sangria. We know that there will be groups that want to come here wanting options outside of what we have on tap,” says Wensell. “So we want to cater to that crowd as well, which is why we plan to serve cider, eventually mead, and maybe even wine, since our license allows for it.”

Wensell says he currently holds three federal licenses that allow him to switch things up on a daily basis, if so inclined: they can operate as a brewery, winery, or as an alternative premise, which allows for WBW to function as a winery one day, and a brewery the next. His state license, however, would require him to get permission to do so, but winemaking, Wensell says, is something that’s very much 2019.

Inside, guests will find seating for 76 in a German-style beer hall filled with tables and chairs built by the Challenge Program, which provides vocational training in the construction trade for at-risk youths. As for the food, there will be plenty of goodies to pair with the suds on tap, including a variety of local food trucks on the premises each day.

Once open, WBW will be offering tours, tastings, and hosting large crowds hanging out and enjoying a multitude of beers, including three flagships: the Lupulin Enlightenment, a lactose Northeast IPA with added milk sugar to emphasize the fruitiness of the hops, the Superfluous Nomenclature, a lighter style pale ale with “hop forward sensibilities,” and the Nocturnal Indiscretion, a Belgian rye stout with notes of coffee and chocolate.

After Aug. 9, WBW will be open for business on Thursdays from 5-9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 12-9 p.m., and Sundays from 12-6 p.m. Learn more about upcoming events at the brewery and locally at www.wilmingtonbrewworks.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.