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Dewey Beer brings home the belt from 302 drinkers choice awards

Eighth annual event shows off the best of Delaware’s breweries
Harrison Albert of Dewey Beer Company celebrates with his gold mug and championship belt after winning Fan Favorite beer at the eighth annual 302 Beer Drinkers Choice Awards held March 30 at Crooked Hammock. Dewey Beer won for its Thrills-Heartbreaker Fruit Beer. RYAN MAVITY PHOTOS
Ryan Mavity
April 5, 2025
The winners of the Best Brewery Costume award went to the crew from Brick Works, which came as Jimmy Dugan and the Rockford Peaches from “A League Of Their Own.” The team comprises (l-r) Samantha Hall, Aly Williams, Jackie Woods and Jeff Shockley.
Madison Morgan, left, and Sarah Feldmann represent Revelation Craft Brewing Company, holding up a glass of the brewery’s Schwarzbier.
One of the newcomers to the awards was Lewes’ Dog Pirate Brewing Company, which naturally, had a pirate-themed booth. Representing the brand are Mary Ann Christmas, left, and Lori Brown.
Rich Garrahan, founder of host Crooked Hammock, came as Brian Fantana as part of the brewery’s “Anchorman” theme.
In addition to the brewers, the audience is encouraged to come costumed as well. Getting into the spirit are Jimmy Kroon and Sharon Naccarato, who came as a pirate and The Beer Judge, respectively.

Dewey Beer Company was the winner of its first championship belt at the eighth annual 302 Beer Drinkers Choice Awards, held March 30 at Crooked Hammock outside Lewes.

Dewey Beer took home the prize for its Thrills-Heartbreaker Fruit Beer, continuing a theme that has been present at almost every iteration of the awards: sours and fruited beers are king. Wilmington Brew Works and Mispillion River Brewing have five belts between them for sours or blended sours, and Big Oyster Brewing won in 2023 with a sour. 

The awards are a celebration of beer and brewing in Delaware, with 20 Delaware breweries taking part. Brewers are encouraged to get creative in beer making, names and in their booths. The awards are voted on by the audience. In addition to Fan Favorite beer, awards are also given for Best Brewery Costume and Most Creative Beer. The former went to the crew from Brick Works, which came dressed as Jimmy Dugan and the Rockford Peaches from “A League of Their Own,” while the latter went to Big Oyster Brewing for its In My Sour Era sour. The crowd is also encouraged to arrive in costumes, and an award is given to the best audience costume. 

Crooked Hammock founder Rich Garrahan, whose team came as characters from the movie “Anchorman,” said it was encouraging to see breweries that have taken part in all eight editions of the awards, but also newer faces like Lewes Brewing Company and First State Brewing, which recently opened outside Rehoboth Beach. 

“Craft beer, from an availability and quality perspective, I think we’re still on the rise, which is exciting,” he said “This event is all about the beer community. When we started this, we were the new guy in town. The love and care and support that other breweries showed us at the beginning is what we wanted to make sure Crooked Hammock is seen as.”

Garrahan said it was fun to think of Crooked Hammock as now being an elder statesman in the Delaware beer game, and the venture continues to expand, with brewpubs in Lewes, Middletown and Myrtle Beach, S.C., plus plans to open two new brewpubs in Raleigh, N.C. and Charleston, S.C., in 2026. 

“Brewers, brewery owners, get asked to do a lot of events. This one is aimed to be for the brewers. It’s meant to honor one another. So many breweries have told me over the years that this is the one event they look forward to every year. That’s a real honor,” he said. 

 

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