We found through a search, and wandered into Flytrap Brewing this past weekend for the first time. Located at 319 Walnut Street. The space, equal parts cozy taproom and shaded beer garden, feels both vibrant and homey. If you're reading this and asking yourself what is the region's native icon, the Venus Flytrap - we have catching up to do. Read history below the review. The mood was easygoing. Two staff members, juggling orders with grace, kept the taps moving and the vibe relaxed. We had the Oatmeal Porter (dark, smooth, layered with chocolate, roasted malt, and caramel) And the Brook's Mulberry Lemonade (a blend of house-made lemonade and beer, fermented with mulberries hand-picked from Brook's garden). Both were super delicious. Flytrap Brewing sits tucked in a quiet Wilmington neighborhood, and it feels like it belongs there. The thoughtful drinks, easy crowd, and unpretentious energy, we will for sure be back! History: The Venus flytrap, scientifically known as Dionaea muscipula, is native to a limited area of the southeastern United States. ONLY naturally growing specifically within a 75-mile radius of Wilmington, North Carolina. This area includes parts of both North and South Carolina. The plant was first discovered in the late 1700s. So respected in North Carolina, removing or poaching them from public lands or private property is a Felony. Purchasing them or growing yourself is praised. read more

Flytrap Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The beer was fantastic. And the overall ambiance was terrific. The back was fenced in, and would be perfect for kids to run around in. With twinkly lights and cozy corners to sit in, it's also a great place for a date night. The server was friendly, hospitable, had great recommendations, and was happy to let me try a few beers before I decided what I liked. The free popcorn was a nice touch too. It's a bit off the beaten path, but not a long walk from the River Walk or Main Street at all. I did miss the bigger fly traps in the back, and the ones inside were smaller (and a different kind) than I was expecting. Still, this place has a really cool, chill, and fun vibe. Highly, highly recommend. read more

The people and ambiance at Flytrap has always been great. In addition, Flytrap was always one of my favorite breweries in Wilmington however, when push comes to shove you go to a brewery for the beer. I don't know if Flytrap has a new brewer or what has happened to their beer or choices in beer styles but for quite some time now I have not found a beer from them worth stopping in for. It's extremely disappointing because they used to have some of the best beer in town but not anymore. read more

Great place to grab a beer! I definitely appreciate that they honor the Venus flytrap, both in atmosphere and they have actual plants! Draft list is diverse, so everyone can find something to enjoy, including a hard seltzer on draft (they also have wine and non-alcoholic drinks). An added detail I appreciate is that they serve different styles of beer in different glasses. You don't see that often. Very reasonably priced. Parking is on the street, but easy to get. They are pet friendly. Will for sure be returning! read more

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Most tourist never make it to this side of town (Brooklyn Arts district). That's fine with me. The beer is a solid 4 stars. All brewed by them. The location is 5 stars. Service is great. Like most beer gardens, you have to go to the bar to order your beer. The Flytrap is in a great location. Awesome outside seating area, with large trees providing some great shade. Inside seating as well if you want the AC. Highly recommend. read more

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Really loved the ambiance and great people running it. The beers were very good. I would highly recommend checking them out.

A short walk from our hotel, Flytrap was a great way to close the evening. Patio seating was available and cute but we opted to sit indoors at the bar. The immediate advantage was the opportunity to chat with the kind and knowledgeable bartenders, plus a view of the aquariums that have been turned into homes for flytrap plants !! The beers were delicious and available as flights, pints and half pints. We were there on a Friday night and spotted both a live musician and a taco truck outdoors. Packaged snacks are available inside. read more

Fun brewery in Wilmington's arts district. The brut lager was good, and they had a really nice alcoholic ginger beer. The outside are was really nice, and the free popcorn was a fun touch. read more

Always friendly service and good beer. Large beer garden. Sometimes music. Food truck nearly nightly

Really fun brewery in the area!! I can't comment on the beer selection because I'm not a big beer drinker, I found 1 sour beer that I loved (sour saison with raspberries) and I stuck to that one for the night! Very dog friendly brewery- there was not an outside seat or table available when we first arrived, so the staff let us sit inside with the dogs, while we waited for an outside table to open up. Inside is a quiet atmosphere, the staff are very friendly and welcoming. Outside had a great vibe going on- lots of picnic tables all around (as well as individual chairs), strung lights overhead, a live band playing music, and a food truck parked right outside of you get hungry! There also seemed to be both heaters and fire pits for colder days or nights. Really enjoyed this brewery and would definitely return (with the pups!!)! read more

Flytrap Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The last time I was here Covid and Pandemic were not buzz words we were using constantly. With that being said they have grown into what I now would consider my favorite brewery in Wilmington. Their outside garden is very large and perfect for pups and kids. You are also away from the downtown traffic which makes it pretty quite and relaxing. The beer is also pretty good. We just got some light beers this go around (amber ale and Pilsner). Both were tasty. Lastly part of their proceeds from buying merch (we got our child a shirt... yes we are those parents) goes to the conservation efforts for Venus fly traps. Not only was this a great family fun day but we spent a bit of time in the courtyard looking up videos and facts about NCs native carnivorous plant. read more

Flytrap Brewing - I think I found my favorite brewery in Wilmington - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Flytrap is one of my favorite breweries, and always on our must visit list when visiting Wilmington. Full disclosure: although I love breweries, and my husband and I make a point of visiting local breweries wherever we travel, I can't drink beer (thanks, allergies). At many breweries, this means I am left with whatever dreadful "boxed wine" breweries keep on hand. Not so at Flytrap Brewing! Flytrap has a carefully curated wine list, which is almost as long as their beer list. The majority of their wines are Natural, crafted without chemical additives, with grapes raised without pesticides or herbicides. Kudos to them for this bee (and human) friendly approach. Not a beer or wine drinker? They do have ciders and 'hard' ginger beer (yum). Bringing the pup along? They have their spent brewing grains transformed into dog treats which are also available for sale. read more

Some really solid brews in the Wilmington area. They don't bottle or can (yet), so you know that you're getting the freshest beer there. The Mexican lager and the kölsch were my favorites. read more

I can not believe I haven't posted a review of my favorite local brewery!!! I love this place! Their outdoor area is so nice and is huge. You can sit in the sun or the shade. They often have live music which just adds to the fun atmosphere. Oh, and the beer is great and the service is impeccable. read more

Flytrap Brewing - Outside - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Great vibes here! Outside patio with lots of seating and string lights. They have delicious food trucks pull up and live music. Beer is good. I like that they have staples and rotating selections. Great specials throughout the week on drinks! Has a large wine selection compared to other breweries. There's something for everyone here! Place isn't huge so the service is usually very good. Never had to wait. read more

Flytrap Brewing - Saison $6 comes in a bottle - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Love this brewery! They have great beer and wine, a fun singer outside, and an awesome Korean food truck! This was a Sunday afternoon and it was just a good vibe. I definitely recommend read more

Cool spot! It's a little "removed" from the whole Historic Downtown area, but well worth the walk "off the beaten path." You can also hit up Edward Teach Brewery a block or so away. Flytrap has some pretty cool branding, merch, and okay beer. I ended up getting a flight, but completely missing a whole half of the beer offerings and got a lot of sours (more than I would have preferred). Never-the-less, I redeemed myself and got a pint of their IPA to wash down all the sours in the flight. Really relaxed space, there's a flytrap terrarium located at one of the entrances and an outdoor space for the 4 legged crews (they are also welcome inside). read more

Flytrap Brewing - Flight! - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Highlight of my trip to Wilmington. Great drinks, great music (lots of Los Growlers), and fantastic service. After trying a few halfs & pints, I ended up taking home a crowler of the honey-berry kolsch with intentions to come back and buy more (as well as some merch) before I left town. Well, I ended up with only that because of their afternoon hours on Monday and my early schedule :( . Either way, I plan to hit this spot everytime im in Wilmington, and I may even plan a trip again soon JUST to visit Flytrap. *I looked at their flyers and they have a "board games & brews" night, hosted by Cape Fear Games. As a table top game enthusiast, I was intrigued and visited the shop before I left town. I was pleasantly surprised to see they offered a ton of table top games, puzzles, cards, figurines, terrains, and DISC GOLF. I'm getting into disc golf currently so this got me so hype- I bought a couple discs and threw my new ones at the renowned Castle Hayne Disc Golf Course a few miles away. read more

My favorite brewery in town, best beer around. So luscious and vibrant brews. Love the outdoor patio. Dog friendly, often live music and food trucks. I used to walk here when I lived downtown, all the staff has always been so friendly and care about the community. Worth every sip and price. Consistent. Can't say enough wonderful things about their establishment, brews, service, environment all on point. read more

Flytrap Brewing has quickly become one of our favorite breweries in town. The staff is always super friendly, they have a great indoor/outdoor seating area and the beers are on point. I specifically love that they focus on European style beers (with a lot of options like Saisons, Dubbels, etc). They are also super dog friendly which is , and always ask us where our Frenchie Pico is when we stop by without him. It's also worth noting that they are super dog friendly (they even have treats behind the bar) so bring your well-behaved furry friends :) read more

This was recommended to us as we are newish to the area. The food in this city just continues to blow us away. This was no exception. Great beer and special pecan crusted sheepshead with risotto. Simply yummy. I highly recommend this restaurant. They do have some outdoor seating which is important to us, even pre-pandemic. Check it out. read more

The Belgian dubbel with elderberry is a 5 star beer. And I don't give that rating often! (Ommegang 3 philosophers is my other 5 star beer for reference) Zac and Sawyer are great bartenders! Such a great brewery! read more

Really cute small brewery. Cool atmosphere- has a modern look and lots of cool artwork for sale. I had the sour pomegranate papaya saison- very tart and sour and very tasty! Staff was friendly and there was a pretzel place right outside to get hot soft pretzels. Looks they have rotating food options depending on the day. Clean bathrooms and little area with wall spicket with cups for water. There are board games to play as well. read more

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This place is definitely one of my favs in the downtown Wilmington area for breweries. Bartenders are always super friendly and helpful. Over the past few years, it is great to see how much they've grown and expanded their backyard space! Love that on almost every night they have a food truck, and support local artists and musicians. Also love that it is dog friendly,as it's always great to bring my dog along with me. Give this place a try! read more

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Not exactly my favorite draft beers BUT the cranberry saison was delicious! Even though I didn't give them 5 stars for the draft beers, the ambiance was fantastic and I loved their holiday decorations. read more

Flytrap Brewing - Cranberry Saison - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Flytrap. Brief walk from Front Street, a few blocks up. From the excellent service from Jarred, to the quality of the beers and decor, made for a fun date night stop. We arrived early so wasn't too busy and we know they frequently have food trucks onsite. Also have a good wine list and bottled beers to go. Will definitely visit again asap. read more

Flytrap Brewing - Wine list - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Nice fun little shop with great beer. They have an assortment of food trucks on site during the week. read more

Flytrap Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Niche and kinda hipster would be the best words I could think of to describe Flytrap Brewing. More art gallery than brewery, they often do live music. The beer was...not for me. Heavy on IPAs and other hoppiness, darker beer drinkers may be left a little sad (at least in November 2019). Nonetheless, Flytrap seems to stay busy, so maybe there's something I just don't get. read more

Flytrap Brewing - Live music! - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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I've very much enjoyed the times that I've been to this establishment. I'm not much of a beer drinker but they typically have some good saison on tap. The have a wide variety of food trucks throughout the week and the Music Bingo and Trivia on Monday's is always a hoot. I would give them five stars but there is one thing that has left me feeling a bit uneasy quite a few times. If you're familiar with the area, you will know that there are a lot of homeless folks around. Typically they sit on the sidewalk and linger at the gas station around the block, but when events are happening, there will be one or two that try to ask customers for a hand out. I understand setting a boundary with them and not wanting them to disturb your customers, but the way it seems to be handled could possibly be a little better with not a lot of extra energy from the establishment and employees. I've never heard what gets said to them but once an employee see's and approaches them, they walk off immediately and typically there is some sort of pointing that indicates "keep walking or go somewhere else" and they do just that. Flytrap sells a small selection of snacks and has free water, like most places, and I wonder if they every think to ask if the person would like a bag of cheez-it'z or water. In my opinion, it's the least you could do to keep a bit of humanity in a city that has a huge homeless issue while you make such a profit in one of the biggest areas of town that has this issue. Plus, I bet those that are outside that see the act of basic kindness would think even more highly of this business. I know this review might not cause a change in policy and how they choose to operate but I think some kind of awareness needs to be made because at the end of the day, it's a prevalent issue and they live in the neighborhood that your business thrives in. read more

The atmosphere is really nice for a chill day/night at a brewery. They do brew their own beer but that leads to fewest options. I think they had 6 on the menu when I went. The inside has seating at a bar and tables and their is also an outdoor patio with picnic benches. They have live music a lot which is nice when outside, but when inside it is hard to hear conversations. They also have food trucks that come often since there isn't much food options right at the brewery. Overall I think it's a good place to chill for a night with friends and it is within walking distance to more up beat bars in downtown Wilmington if you want to keep the night going. read more

Flytrap Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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After trudging up from New Anthem and Front Street along hot shiny painfully reflective sidewalks, we thought our faces were going to melt off of our skulls...but there it was at long last - Flytrap. Hip Hip Hooray for beer!! Am I the only one that excited about good beer? Flytrap occupies a cool corner lot in the Brooklyn Arts District of Downtown Wilmington. The painted brick exterior walls and logo are appealing magnets (like a flytrap maybe?) that say "come on in". A young man with delightful mutton chops greeted us with a smile, noticed we were melting and pointed us to the "all you can drink filtered water tap". Glug, glug, ahhh! Dude! Thank you! The interior is equally inviting - crisp and not overly furnished with some jazzy local art work. Love the international money wall too! The beer list covered everything from Belgian to IPA to Saisons. Let me say this - Mike Barlas can make some beer. Everything I tried I really enjoyed - well crafted, well thought out recipes! Briefly got to speak with him and he's so down to earth! He was even wearing a Fonta Flora shirt.... My flight: Sour Apricot Saison, Session IPA, the current Rotating IPA (had like 5 different hops) and my favorite of theirs (that I tried), Blackberry Saison. I'm still kicking myself that I didn't get a crowler of Blackberry Saison but alas, I didn't have a cooler with me. Great atmosphere! Great beer! Make this one of your "must try" stops while in Wilmington! And don't forget to take a picture of the flytrap sculpture eating you or your children! read more

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At about six months old, and one of Wilmington's newer breweries, Flytrap is doing a lot of things right. Located an easy 5-10 minute walk from the river front, it's removed enough to keep out the flocking tourists and draw in the true beer seekers. If you walk around Wilmington's riverfront at all, you might notice a beautiful venus flytrap sculpture and learn from the plaque that the Venus Flytrap is North Carolina's official state carnivorous plant [hence the name for Flytrap Brewing I'd assume]. The first thing that struck me about Flytrap is that it's a small brewery that not only showcases their own beer (only four on tap on my visit) but also beers from around the world. In addition to their own beers on tap, they also have drafts from around the US, a very impressive sour list and a wine list as well. Most pints (full 12 oz) on draft run $5 although their Saison was $6 and the Petrus Aged Pale was $8. They'll let you try a flight of anything for $7/four 4oz pours, and have $5 flights on Tuesdays. Their beers were easy to drink and I enjoyed everything I tasted (minus the saison, I'm just not a saison girl), although the Hoppy Tripel stole the show. They had just tapped a gose that is brewed with local salt earlier that day, dang it! I've got to go back for that one. From what the bartender said, there is only one man brewing behind the doors, and for that they're putting out, I'm impressed. Overall a great experience and I'd hit this brewery again when I'm in town! read more

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One of the best in town! Staff & patrons are always courteous lending to that small town feel in a sea of Lbreweries. Love their weekly rotation of food trucks & taps. I'm an IPA kinda gal - the Hoppy Triple is one of my faves. read more

Flytrap Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Really want to love coming to this place but my biggest complaint is only one cider on the menu....and it's the same one. Would love to see a wider variety as I am a huge cider drinker and the one that they offer is at the bottom of my list. Otherwise outside seating and music is wonderful!! read more

I love the beer! Honestly, I felt bad giving this a 3 because the beer was solid and that's what this place does, and they do it well. Veronica was the lady at the front. She is the reason I didn't rate this place 5*'s unfortunately, and honestly I hate doing it. We walked up, with a ~2 yr old. No tables available, may be 25 minutes. No problem. 5 minutes later, couple leave at a table we can see, and decides she's just not going to acknowledge it. I walk up and say - "they just left, does that table work?", she looked at me and said "I can't make people leave"... ok? Anyways - had my wife go say "ok we will be right over here waiting on the next spot" - couple walked up, and was seated at the exact spot I had been talking about. I honestly was floored. we only were sat because another group let at the exact same time, and when I mentioned the other table she said, "they literally JUST left". I really liked this spot, the bartenders were solid, beer is good, snacks fine, music good... The lady who sat us was awful - will be back, for beer & entertainment, but the introduction/seating structure absolutely needs to be addressed. Once we were sat I watched her continuously not properly seat folks, for maximum seating, the entire time we were there, and turn people away when there were available spots. Not what you want, especially during Covid. Not not be certain, but may not be a good spot for kids? and maybe that's the goal? read more

So first off Skylar was amazing and so welcoming. We did come in like 15 min until close. (Do not recommend bc not cool) however we rarely find ourselves in Wilmington and really wanted to try this brewery. Skylar was so nice to us the beer was amazing and so was the atmosphere. 10/10. Please over tip the bartenders here, and try the stouts! As a bartender i wanna be more like Skylar. read more

Decent entry to the craft beer scene. The tap room is fun -- nice, new design with live music and Pepe's Tacos food truck on site the night we were there. It was packed on a Friday night. All of their beers (and, we did try them all) were average. And, they had more guest taps than their own brews. Of the Flytrap options, no real stand outs here. We tried the gose, red, hoppy tripel, saison and stout. Of those, I liked the red the best. Great outdoor seating and dog friendly! read more

Flytrap Brewing - Flight o' 4 - Breweries Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

My favorite atmosphere of anywhere we visited on our trip to ILM. Cheesesmith food truck was outside and the timing was perfect to order our food and get a table in the garden. Tables are very spread apart and clean. There was a and playing live music which just added to the "normal, yet distanced" atmosphere. I'm not a huge beer drinker, but I tried all the fruity ones- all of which I enjoyed. I loved seeing the live flytrap terrariums they have inside (the inside is closed, but you can go in to use the restroom.) read more

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Yea, pretty good, not my style of beer, but the West Coast IPA was good. Seems like a place where you bring your own friends, family and fun, otherwise, its kinda lonely in there. Most brews were super high ABVs, but you get a full 16oz for $6 which is getting rarer these days. TAG: DOG FRIENDLY INSIDE AND OUT WITH SOME COVER AND PATIO HEATERS read more

We've been coming to Flytrap for years, but today was really great. It's been a rainy and cold day, so we stopped in at Flytrap as soon as they opened. We started with flights, and stayed for a while as we waited for the rain to stop. We had such a great time chatting with John, and we tried (or brought home) nearly every beer on the menu. I also snagged a sweatshirt on my way out. Highly recommend the beers and company, and we were listening to some great live music for about half the time we were there. We will definitely be back! read more