One of the Slayer's favorite beer haunts, The Wilmington Brewing Co., has made some dramatic changes recently. You may have heard or read in that bastion of journalistic excellence, The Wilmington Star News, that the makers of Dergy's have been bought by Williamsville brewing company.

The new ownership has implemented many changes. The Slayer, was interested in how it would affect the quality of beer produced at Wilmington's only microbrewery. Using the subversive, direct approach, he visited Wilmington Brewing Co. to taste, ask questions and nose about a bit.

As he sneaked through the front door, The Slayer, whose powers of perception are quite keen, immediately noticed that the capacity had increased dramatically. The once roomy brewing area was now chuck full of new equipment. The Slayer had not seen a place with such wholesale changes since he returned home from summer camp to find his room had been converted into a den.

The sparkling, stainless steel additions to the brewery include: four 20-barrel and one 30-barrel fermenters; four 20-barrel conditioning tanks and a 20-barrel bright tank. The new fermenters alone increase capacity from 180 to 270 barrels. Addition of the conditioning tanks, which frees up fermenter space, and the bright beer tank increases the total capacity of the operation to 370 barrels: more than doubling the amount of malt nectar that can be produced at the brewery.

According to Jeff Wuellner, assistant brewer, they have been taking full advantage of this increased capacity. He told The Slayer that he alone has brewed over 300 barrels of beer since mid April. While that is highly impressive, Jeff's eyes really lit up when The Slayer revealed that he has drunk almost 20 barrels in the same time frame. Of course, that is not humanly possible, but The Slayer has a reputation to uphold.

Still, the question remains: who is financing all of this new equipment? The Slayer, through his investigative journalistic prowess, was able to uncover the source of this new found capacity (In actuality, he just asked.): the Williamsville Brewing Co. This company, which already has breweries at King's Dominion in Virginia; Fernandina Beach, Florida; St. Maarten and Aruba, has bought Wilmington Brewing Company and is the financier of the new stainless steel vessels.

The entire "microbrewery conglomerate" is owned by Bob Cabaniss, a 20-years-plus veteran of the beer business. The Slayer was anxious to speak with Bob but the new owner managed to skirt him this day. Obviously, he was not ready to be grilled by The Slayer; who was prepared to ask him the knotty questions such as, "Can you give me free beer, please, oh please, oh please?" and "Will you send me to Aruba to tour your brewery there, please, oh Please, oh PLEASE?"

Alas, The Slayer was unable to pose these searching queries of Mr. Cabaniss and he greatly fears they will never be answered. That opportunity lost, The Slayer settled for interviewing Kevin Sondey, the head brewer and Jeff Wuellner; at least he could cadge some free brew from them.

They told The Slayer that Wilmington Brewing Company was producing beer under a new name, the First Coast Brewing Co. While the Dergy's name and beers will continue to be sold as such, the new brews produced under First Coast will have entirely different labels and brand names. Added to the Wilmington stable, in conjunction with Williamsville's (First Coast) Fernandina, FL. brewery, are Bikini Beer (a light ale much like Dergy's Honey Blonde), Beach Beer (similar to Dergy's Golden Ale) and Mango Ale.

With a new identity, beers and labels (the Bikini Beer has said beachwear gracing it), Wilmington Brewing Company's product has taken on a whole new look. However, The Slayer knows the proof is in the bottle, not the packaging. While he was intrigued to find out what was hiding beneath the Bikini Beer, The Slayer put his primal urges on the shelf, for the sake of beer connisuership and the children at home (not his, yours), and opted to try the First Coasts new fruit offering, Mango Ale.

Lately, The Slayer has had so many fruit beers that he feels he should be put in a salad bowl and served as an appetizer at a chic dinner party or upscale vegetarian restaurant. The copious amounts of healthy flora ebbing through his veins make him feel like some sort of neo-hippie health food junkie. However, The slayer was intrigued by this fruit beer example because he had never had brew that has been graced by the tropical nectar of the mango.

After The Slayer coerced a free sample of Mango Beer from the brewers, he quickly tore its cap from the bottle and poured the golden contents into the nearest clean glass. As the adequate head began to form near the rim of the vessel, Jeff Wuellner informed The Slayer that it was he who had brewed this beer. "I have yet to sup of this brew, Jeff," The Slayer replied. "It may taste absolutely horrendous. If it does, I will have no choice but to publicly blame you for its preparation. A word to the wise, don't take credit for a beer until I say it is well crafted and delectable."

"No matter what your opinion is, I am quite proud of this beer," the brewer indignantly replied.
"Well you should be, you brewed it. Don't forget, it is I, The Slayer, who will be the one to deem it worthy of fine hand-crafted status."

With an imperial wave of his hand, The Slayer dismissed Jeff so he could properly sample the beer in quiet solitude. Bringing the vessel to his nose, The Slayer could immediately detect the aroma of the fleshy mango emanating from the cup. In fact, the tropical fruit's aroma virtually obliterated any other scent that may have come from the beer's other ingredients. Even with this initial sniff of the brew, The Slayer knew this was no ordinary fruit beer.

Given its overt mango scent, The Slayer prepared himself for a copiously sweet elixir whose only flavor characteristics would come from the fruit. Much to his delighted surprise, First Coast's Mango Ale would be a relatively multi-faceted brew.

As he allowed the nectar to engulf his palate, The Slayer first tasted the biscuit-like flavor of the brew's malt base. This gustatorially pleasing sensation was followed, ever so delicately, by the flavor of the mango. The finish was dominated by the interplay of the two flavors. The Slayer could detect virtually no hops in this beer. While he greatly enjoys the taste of hops, The Slayer was not disappointed by the absence of their bitterness because it would have intruded upon this beer's palate.

After finishing the beer, The Slayer concluded that Jeff had every reason to be proud of this beer. While it is not of such classic styles as bock, IPA or stout, it is truly a grand example of the craft beer's summer seasonal darling, the fruit beer. The judicious addition of the fruit just before filtering allows the mango to compliment the beer's malt base with its clean freshness without overpowering the brew with its sweetness. Bravo, Jeff, you are certainly becoming a very skilled brew artisan.

Impressed by their foray into the world of fruit and nuts, The Slayer believes that First Coast Brewing Company's beers will be a grand addition to the beers brewed here in Wilmington. The Slayer has nothing but good things to say about the new beers and new owner, Bob Cabaniss (even though they have never met). Bob, given this glowing review of your Wilmington brewery, do you think you could find it in your heart and pocket book to send The Slayer to Aruba to write about your operation there? PLEASE, OH PLEASE, OH PLEASE!