Delaware Beer: The Story of Brewing in the First State

by Tony Russo, Jim Lutz (Foreword)

Boasting a brewing history older than the United States, Delaware packs an outsized punch in the craft beer scene with its landmark breweries and bold flavors. In 1873, the German lagers of Wilmington's Diamond State brewing rose to dominance. After Prohibition and the bust of the first craft beer bubble, entrepreneurial homebrewers resurrected the industry. Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head led the charge by rewriting the state's beer legislation, and the field opened to other brewpubs like Stewart's and Iron Hill to pair savory bites with their brews. By 2009, production breweries like 16 Mile and Fordham & Dominion were on the rise, changing the arc of Delaware beer. Beer writer Tony Russo tells a story of big risks and innovative brewers and proves that there has never been a better time to drink local.

128 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2016

About the author

Telling compelling stories about ordinary people has been Tony Russo's specialty for the entirety of his journalism career. Whether profiling artists, community leaders, or combat veterans, he has a knack for helping people connect to personal stories.
After nearly 20 years covering news and writing features for local outlets, Tony moved into independent journalism, telling stories about how small events affected the larger culture.
In addition to writing about the craft beer revolution, Tony wrote and hosted "This Is War" a narrative podcast documenting the personal stories of combat veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His most recent work, Dragged Into the Light: Truthers, Reptilians, Super Soldiers, and Death Inside an Online Cult looks into how one nondescript woman was able to tap into the rising paranoia that birthed the conspiracy theory culture.
Tony lives on Maryland's Eastern Shore with his wife and the only of his four daughters who has yet to move out. Together they keep their dog and cats comfortable.

Reviews

[Deni B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very dated; many of the breweries described have closed. Good historical info, though.