The glass in the cover image may be Photoshop’d, but don’t worry–there will be Beer at Bethany pint glasses available by the time the festival rolls around.
Bethany’s first beer fest
It’s true–our first Delaware Shore Craft Beer Festival is coming to Bethany Beach on March 24, 2018, from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. (12:30 for VIP ticketholders), at the Bethany Beach Ocean Suites, located right on the beautiful Bethany boardwalk.
Not only is there a Saturday festival, but there’s a whole weekend of fun planned, from a craft beer pairing dinner at the hotel’s restaurant 99 Sea Level to craft beer spa treatments that will be available month-long.
“We did a food and wine festival in November and it was really successful,” said Allyson Knight, the Activities Director at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites. “We wanted to branch out and reach out to those that are into the craft beer industry as well.”
Knight says they’re excited to provide the venue for the first Shore Craft Beer Festival in Delaware and the first beer-themed weekend in general to ever hit Bethany Beach.
“We’re right in the heart of everything,” she said. “You have Ocean City a half hour down the street or you can go up to Lewes, another 30 minutes up the road, so we’re right in the middle of all those breweries you’ll want to get to.”
Craft beer goes best with hand-crafted cuisine
Friday night will feature a five course meal, plus dessert, each course paired with a local craft beer. The food will be made by 99 Sea Level chef Danio Somozoa, who has been Culinary Coast’s Top Chef for two years in a row.
Here’s what’s on the menu–beers TBA.
First course: Bacon confit jalapeno cheese balls with flat bread crackers and yuzu avocado puree
Second course: Alaskan halibut with orzo, Malabar spinach, heirloom tomatoes and red curry carrot broth
Third course: Crackling pork belly with coconut grit croquettes, yuka fritti and maple ginger wine glaze
Fourth course: Wild Nantucket scallops with hominy hummus, salmon reo and pear perfume of viola
Fifth course: Wild wing Ossobucco with red wine agave guajillo, Point Reyes bleu cheese and maple malibu carrots
Dessert: Waffle iron churros with chocolate strawberry, lime mouse and cinnamon sugar
Craft beer spa treatments?
The Oceanova Spa in the Ocean Suites hotel will be providing several special spa treatments throughout the weekend that involve craft beer.
It might sound strange, and it’s not exactly a common practice just yet, but through the craft beer spa treatments, Oceanova Spa Manager Erin Mitchell has found ways to make beer beneficial to your health.
“I love beer, but this is definitely more spa-like,” Mitchell said. “So if you don’t like beer, you can still be involved [during the weekend].”
The spa will offer a body scrub made with spent hops and an essential oil scented like Dogfish Head’s Sea Quench Ale, inspired by citrus and lemongrass.
“We’re still in the process of figuring it out, but we’re going to mix it with our lotions as well,” Mitchell said. “It was a lot of research to find any of these treatments — I thought of the essential oils myself, we’re very into essential oils here.”
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The VIP package for this beer fest weekend includes a one night stay in a partial ocean view or oceanfront suite, two VIP tickets to the Saturday festival, a commemorative beer glass and a welcome amenity from the hotel upon check in. Rates are from $209 – 300 a night. Tickets to the Saturday festival can be purchased here. VIP packages can be purchased here with the promo code “CUE.”
