USA, OK & DE: New Anthem Brewing to launch in downtown Wilmington by the beginning of 2016

Downtown Wilmington could welcome its latest brewery by the end of 2015 as New Anthem Brewing is beginning to remodel a location on Dock Street, Greater Wilmington Business Journal reported on July 28.

New Anthem Brewing is co-owned by Aaron Skiles and his business partner William Hunter.

Skiles, a longtime homebrewer, said that the timing kind of just worked out for the two beer lovers to open New Anthem Brewing, and that it will allow them to work at a skill they are both passionate about and had a good feel for.

“Downtown was kind of scary for us in terms of rent,” Skiles said, “but our broker found a place that worked for us.”

The now-gutted space, located on 116 Dock St. in Wilmington, is a circa-1920s construction with high ceilings and enough space for the large equipment necessary for brewing. When finished the location it will also include a taproom.

“Though there isn’t a tight deadline for completion of the space, New Anthem Brewing could open by the end of 2015 or the beginning of 2016,” Skiles said.

Although downtown Wilmington has seen a number of microbreweries open in recent years, Skiles wants New Anthem Brewing to be another attractive brewing location there.

“We think having a lot of microbreweries downtown would bring even more people down there,” Skiles said. “I don’t know if Wilmington can turn into the beach version of Asheville, but I think we could support a similar number of breweries that they do.”

Skiles said he is interested in experimenting with a lot of different styles at New Anthem Brewing.

28 July, 2015