The PubScout once again announces his favorite places to hoist a beer in the greater Wilmington area.

After my choices of 2023’s top five places to hoist a brew in the Wilmington area, my publisher decided to use me as cannon fodder again.

Which, truth be told, I don’t mind at all. Lots of folks, most notably the proprietors of the places I selected, were happy with my choices. And some were not. But that’s the way it is. “Best of” lists in anything are bound to create controversy. And places to enjoy a beer are very subjective, depending on the preferences of the quaffer.

The mission, for me, is where, in the ILM catchment area, do I most enjoy hoisting a pint? And ILM is ready to accommodate me with not only great beer bars, but also great restaurants that serve good beer.

That poses a conundrum, though, as restaurants are — and should be — a separate category. Their bailiwick is food. The places I suggest MAY have food available, either on premises or via food trucks. But they are not restaurants, per se.

And, as I set forward last year, there are certain criteria that must be met. The places on my list have a few definitive “ingredients” that make me want to hoist a pint. The main ingredient is, of course, very subjective and elusive. It must have the right vibe. In decor/ambiance, beer selection, bartender and in the caliber of its clientele.

That last does not mean the patrons have to be high-falutin’, pretentious, celebrities or even well off. In fact, the best clientele (in my estimation, anyway) is comprised of average, regular folks, the hoi polloi, if you will, of which I consider myself a charter member.

Oh, and my pet peeve: If they have a high ABV DIPA or Imperial Stout available, they don’t serve it in one of those small capacity snifters; they serve a full pint. I understand that no place wants to overserve. But cheaping out just to get somebody to buy two $9/$10 snifters isn’t ethical, either. And it’s got nothing to do with ALE laws, either. It’s totally an establishment policy. If the principle is to limit the consumption of high octane beers, then restrict the number of pints to one or maybe two. But putting a limit on the vessel capacity without restricting the number of vessels someone can buy is disingenuous. And expensive.

Finally, if the place serves good pub food, that’s even better, but the food is not a requirement.

Last year’s winners were:
The Fat Pelican in Carolina Beach
The Barbary Coast in Wilmington
Fox’s Hole in the Wall in Wilmington
Rebellion in Wilmington
Pour Taproom in Wilmington

I am, by no means, suggesting you forget about these great places, either.

This year’s winners, in no particular order, are:

Duck & Dive Pub in Wilmington

Good dive bars, I mean really good dive bars, are not as easy to find as one might think. It’s not just a matter of having a place that looks seedy and tacky due to the management “letting the place go.” That seediness and tackiness must be carefully planned and nourished. And last year’s winner, maybe the gold standard in NC Carolina Dive Bars, the Fat Pelican in Carolina Beach, has that plan down to a science.

But so does the famous — or infamous, if you prefer — Duck & Dive. You want a little dark and dingy? Check. You want a couple of imbibers involved in a game of chess over in the corner? Check. You want dart boards? Check. But most importantly, you want good beers served by a good bartender? Duck & Dive has it all. I mean this place had a great collection of beers — I even got an Abita Strawberry Lager! And you don’t find that often, even in some of your finer establishments. The atmosphere is dually conducive to engaging with others or sipping your brew in quiet solace.

The ambience of the Duck & Dive makes you feel immediately comfortable, like seeing the familiar face of an old friend.

Duck & Dive Pub, 114 Dock Street, Wilmington

The Scapegoat Taproom in Leland

Scapegoat is a family-run and family-built business owned by Chris and Jody Walker. Jody’s day gig is as a teacher of fifth grade in Leland — in the very same elementary school she attended as a child.

Chris’ s full time gig is as a firefighter, and their two children, Lydia ( a student) and Zeke (a graduate) are also heavily involved in the venture. Jody and Lydia designed the whole area of the interior, including the bar.

There’s ALWAYS something happening at The Goat, and the proprietors and staff understand what hospitality is all about. From food trucks to trivia to live music, the fun seeker can hoist a pint or three in a family atmosphere. Fifty beer taps should be proof enough of that. Chris knew where he wanted those 50 taps and how he wanted them to look. It’s an impressive sight, for sure. Of course, if you prefer to ruminate in private, there are couches and chairs dedicated to that pastime. But if that’s your bag, why even go out at all?

Though the structure has plenty of glass and light, it’s still the “comfortably dark” space Jody always wanted. According to Jody, her clientele comes mainly from Compass Pointe, and they enjoy the “welcome to our home” feeling they get while there. Jody said that one of her goals is to know every one of her customers by name, including the names of their children and grandchildren. A noble mission, that, but it worked for TV’s Cheers Bar, and, in fact it’s the main ingredient of many a successful tavern or bar.

The pub, however, is dedicated to, well, losers. The idea to open a place dedicated to scapegoats came to Chris Walker while he was in college. It may have been because he learned that Mrs. O’Leary and her cow got a bum rap for causing the great Chicago fire of 1871. There is no evidence that her cow ever kicked over a lantern in her barn which started the great conflagration. But poor Mrs. O’Leary got the blame. Hence, she was forever in the scapegoat Hall of Fame. For you NY Giants fans, I mentioned the name of Joe Pisarcik to Chris, and he was dutifully intrigued.

I’m sure Herman Edwards would raise a glass to old Joe. If I have to explain, you’re not a Giants fan.

The Scapegoat Taproom, 2789 Compass Pointe South Wynd #4, Leland

Freya’s Haus in Wilmington

Kimberly Rhine, owner of Freya’s Haus off Scott’s Hill Road in outer ILM, is many things besides an ambitious, savvy, hardworking businesswoman. She’s also the dedicated mom of two beautiful daughters, a MARSOC Marine’s lady and a firm believer in giving back to the community. That she’s always sponsoring events that donate to others testifies to that. Like so many other taproom owners, she has a wide array of activities at her capacious, yet somehow cozy and inviting building and food trucks for every occasion and appetite.

Personable and articulate, she was a world renowned model. She knows exactly what she wants, where she wants Freya’s Haus to go and how to get there, and she and her attentive staff will be more than happy to welcome you and your beer preferences. To say that she is well-traveled is an understatement, but if she’s there when you visit, do yourself a favor and chat with her. Just don’t expect it to last more than five minutes, because this gal is driven to succeed, and she’s definitely a hands-on owner.

As if being all those things isn’t enough, Kimberly Rhine is also a Viking Goddess and a daughter of Freya who supposedly can see the future. My guess is that it’s pretty bright.

Freya’s Haus, 55 Scotts Hill Loop Road, Wilmington

Surf City Brewing Company in Surf City

Surf City Brewing Company has only been open for about 14 months. But the owners of this clean, bright, spacious brewery, Clint Smith, Brian Hemenway and Reynaldo Gomez, run the place like they’ve been doing it for far longer.

There were 11 beers on the menu when I visited recently, and 10 of them were top tier. The one that was “just OK” was a blonde ale designed to be that “transitional” beer (offered by most breweries) and has a specific function: bringing BudMillerCoors drinkers into the craft beer world. It likely succeeds well at that task, because it certainly had more pizazz than the mainstream stuff.

The bartender who worked that day I visited was named Flip, and he knew his beer. That means the novice as well as the experienced beer nut can trust him with recommendations. There is no food at SCBC, save for a variety of pretzels, but like most, an array of food trucks visits the place regularly.

The beers were so good, I was prompted to ask if SCBC intended to can/distribute their beer across a wider area, and Flip allowed that it’s under consideration. But the owners are a circumspect group and are not rushing into anything. They have a clear plan for managed growth. When the time is right, I am sure, you’ll be able to get SCBC beers elsewhere — like in your local supermarket.

That prospect is pleasing, but until then you’ll have just as good a time by visiting the facility and interacting with the staff and the clientele. Besides, fresh beer is always better.

Surf City Brewing Company, 400 Alston Boulevard Extension, Hampstead

Outer Dunes Brewing Company in Wilmington

When I first visited Outer Dunes Brewing in the Porters Neck area of Wilmington, I thought I had inadvertently pulled onto the Ponderosa of Bonanza fame. A cluster of buildings, all rustic looking, set amidst impressive trees and grounds, a welcoming inside bar with an airy outside emporium if weather permitted, and some damned solid beers. ODB’s Oktoberfest is worth a few good looks, as is the Italian Pilsner.

Phil and Ellie Mabe had also just opened a state-of-the-art brewhaus, where brewer Phil “gets in a zone.” That’s probably where the surprise of my visit was dreamed up — the 6.1 % Cowboy Cookie Porter, with peanut butter, chocolate and the slightest hint of coconut. Probably not a summer beer for everyone, but certainly one for those chilly fall and winter nights.

In fact, if you do go, I’d suggest you first have a few at the cozy bar, then grab your friends and go to the biergarten, which looks especially cool at night. The Mabes had Outdoor Innovations come and re-do the look of the already impressive grounds, and it’s a spectacular place to hoist a few.

As in most good places to quaff, friendly, knowledgeable staff will attend to your needs — or leave you alone to enjoy the vibe and/or serenity of the grounds. If you can wrangle a look into that brewhaus where the ODB magic happens, it, too, will be worth your while.

Outer Dunes Brewing Company, 7976 Market Street, Wilmington

Summary
Let’s face it. If just drinking the beer was the goal, you could do it much more cheaply, not to mention much more safely, in the comfort of your own home. Going to a bar just to “watch a game on TV” is pointless, unless you do not have a TV of your own.

Watching the Giants at home with cheaper, better beer and no lines at the bathroom were two of the reasons I gave up my Giants season tickets. Joe Pisarcik was another.

Bars and taverns have served as gathering places for convivial folks for more than 5,000 years. The allure of the pub is probably as firmly ingrained in the human psyche as the attraction of the flaming hearth, which strikes an internal chord in all of us calling us to its glow.

But most importantly, there are other people there with whom to interact. Even if it is just the bartender. Good bartenders matter, and not just because they can pour a good beer or make a good drink.

Time to continue my quest for the 2025 edition, but the places above check all my boxes for 2024.

Here’s hoping they check yours … Na Zdravi!