The 6th annual 302 Beer Drinkers’ Choice Awards will once again be held this weekend in Lewes.
Nearly every brewery in the state ― 26 out of 30 ― will each be under one roof with two of their brews to taste at the silliest beer festival in The First State.
What is the 302 Beer Drinkers’ Choice Awards?
Beer brewers aren’t usually the reserved type and this festival lets them let their hair down…even if it’s not their real hair.
Sure, the festival allows Delaware beer drinkers to vote for their favorite First State frosty, but the costumed, fun-filled event is more than that.
Awards also include Most Unique Brew, Best Brewery Costume, Best Judge Costume, Coolest Booth Set Up and Best Drinkers Costume. That’s right. The beer-makers aren’t the only ones who will be in costume. Ticket-holders can get dressed up in the “craziest and most outlandish costume imaginable” and join in the goofiness as well.
“Hijinks are highly encouraged, especially on social media where participating breweries and their brewers will ruthlessly (our definition is different than yours) engage in the fine art of trash talk, all in good taste,” organizers promise. The trending hashtag is #302BDCA.
When and where will it be held?
This year’s 302 Beer Drinkers’ Choice Awards will be held Sunday, April 2 from noon to 4 p.m. at Crooked Hammock Brewery at 36707 Crooked Hammock Way in Lewes.
What breweries will be there serving?
If you’ve been smacking your lips wanting to try beers from Delaware breweries you’ve never been to, save some gas money and hit them all in one spot.
These are the participating breweries this weekend: Bellefonte, Wilmington Brew Works, Thompson Island, Big Oyster, Midnight Oil, Volunteer, Ocean View, Crooked Hammock, Twisted Irons, Dewey Beer, Mispillion River, 38°-75°, Blue Earl, Iron Hill, Loakal Branch, JAKL Beer Works, Dogfish Head, Revelation, Autumn Arch Beer Project, First State, Brick Works, Fordham & Dominion, Stitch House, Argilla, Bethany and Musings Fermentation Underground.
The four breweries missing in action from this year’s festival are Stewart’s, Dew Point, Hangman and 1937.
How do I get tickets and how much do they cost?
Tickets for the beer festival cost $55 or $15 for non-drinking designated drivers. Open only to those 21 and older. For details and tickets, go to crookedhammockbrewery.com/302-bdca.
What beers will be there to sample?
- Wilmington Brew Works: Luau Punch (sour) & Eloquation Triple IPA
- Thompson Island: Escapades (sour) & Botanists Delight Belgian Dubbel Blueberry Maple Pancake
- Big Oyster: OnlyPhans Hazy IPA & Hot Mess Sour
- Midnight Oil: Momentum West Coast IPA & Insomnia Chocolate Stout
- Volunteer: Eleven33 & Spring Saison
- Ocean View: Walking Distance Bliss Strawberry French Toast & West Coast IPA
- Crooked Hammock: Spare Parts (sour) & Super Soft Lemon Party (hazy IPA)
- Twisted Irons: Dark Side of The Moon (black IPA) & Get To The Choppa (Vienna lager)
- Dewey Beer: Pizzetta Secret Machine (Italian pilsner) & Strawberry Raspberry Lemon Ice
- Mispillion River: War Squirrel (sour) & Party Monster (DIPA)
- 38°-75°: Holly’s Comet IPA & Super Duper Chocolate Eruption
- Blue Earl: Give Up the Fruit & Hop Carnival DIPA
- Iron Hill: Peaches and Cream & Russian Imperial Stout (milkshake IPA)
- Loakal Branch: Loakal Life Lager & Island Style Porter
- JAKL: The Trouble with Swallows & Cold Quench
- Dogfish Head: Mid-’90s microbrewery-style Horkin’ Heapload IPA & Red Ale
- Revelation: Razz Sour & Grateful Nation
- Autumn Arch: Diversity of Thought & High Viscosity! (session hazy IPA)
- First State: Droid Dreams & Gelato Lost Ubiquity (New Zealand pilsner)
- Brick Works: Lotus Eater & Killer CCPS
- Fordham & Dominion: Cherry Blossom Lager & Tropic Like It’s Hot IPA
- Stitch House: Big Stitch Nick & Pale Ale Coconut Pete Porter
- Argilla: Some Milk and Coffee & 7 Day IPA
- Bethany: Seamark Saison & Rick’s Brown Ale
- Bellefonte: El Hoppo NEIPA & Toe Jam Sour
- Musings: Texture Flanders Style Red Ale & Shadow Hibiscus Saison Ale
Who are the defending champions?
Wilmington Brew Works won the Fan Favorite Beer vote for the second year in a row in 2022. Their Luau Punch, a milkshake-style sour beer fermented with tropical fruits, won them the contest. It will be at the festival again this year.
How did it get started?
Launched in 2017, 302 Beer Drinkers’ Choice Awards was created by Crooked Hammock to have a day when the breweries could come together and have fun while lampooning the seriousness of award shows at the same time, says festival host and Crooked Hammock owner Rich Garrahan.
Like the award shows, the brewers and their co-workers “dress up” for the festival, as do the beer-lovers that gulp the good stuff.
An hour before the doors open, the brew crews gather for a jovial breakfast buffet, which (surprise, surprise!) also involves alcohol.
“The expectation is for them to enjoy themselves as much as the guests,” Garrahan says. “It’s just intended to be really silly and fun.”
Case in point: the brewery that wins the Fan Favorite Beer takes home a WWE-style championship belt that’s passed on to winners year after year.
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