Surprising Wilmington: Three Breweries and a classic hotel.  Beers of the Day: April 8 through April 14.

Wilmington, Delaware, is the city that is perhaps best known as the urban area you have to avoid on a trip from Washington to Philadelphia.   For beer tourists, though, it’s worth a stop.   Three breweries, plus a few others on the periphery, give plenty of opportunities for beer hunting and there are fun things to see and do.

The Hotel DuPont is a 1913 masterpiece.

The DuPont Hotel helps make the city a destination.

Several breweries tried and failed to change the face of Wilmington breweries during the 90s and early 21st Century. Iron Hill brewery was the first to stick, opening up a branch more than 10 years ago in a waterfront area that also hosts the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball field.  Today a high rise Hyatt so you can catch a game, a  few beers and sleep it off without disturbing your car.

The City’s newest brewery is located not quite two miles from the city center.   It’s a good sized beer hall with a wide range of beers and if the location isn’t very central, it does have plenty of parking.

The DuPont Hotel is a gem.  Opened in 1913, it is a masterpiece of French and Italian craftsmanship.  The theater, a short interior walk from the lobby is a $40 million attraction in its own right and claims the fourth largest stage in the country.

From the Dupont Hotel, the industrial-themed Stitch House is a short and safe walk–if you stay on market Street.  Menu is above average– prices run a bit over $10 bucks on average, but vary widely in size from massive sandwiches to a more modest pair of scallops.