Heavy Seas Alehouse opened a week earlier than anticipated last Thursday. For now, the pub and restaurant is open for dinner only, with lunch service expected to begin soon.
Below is the beer selection, which has 21 brands on tap, including several seasonals and will even rotate annually the winner of Heavy Seas' homebrewing competition.
Heavy Seas founder Hugh Sisson was convinced to license his brewery's name by his stepson Patrick Dahlgren to promote the brand without any risk; Sisson is not an owner of the new venture.
And an advertisement it is! The draft beer list is all Heavy Seas. It is divided into three sections: the Clipper Fleet (lagers & stouts), the Pyrate* Fleet (IPAs, Belgian-style), and the Mutiny Fleet (seasonals).
If this seems greedy, it is also commonplace: the beer list at Dogfish Head's Rehoboth restaurant is also entirely made up of their own product. I haven't seen Heavy Seas' beer list yet; will update the post when I do. Also, Sisson says he's lobbying the state legislature to make growlers legal at most restaurants and bars, including the Alehouse.
On a positive note: the menu at Heavy Seas helpfully suggests pairings for each of the beers.
Heavy Seas Alehouse' draft beer:
Clipper Fleet:
Heavy Seas Classic Lager
Heavy Seas Pale Ale
Heavy Seas Gold Ale
Heavy Seas Marzen
Heavy Seas Sea Nymph
Heavy Seas Crossbones Oyster Stout
Pyrate Fleet:
Loose Cannon American triple-hopped IPA
Peg Leg Imperial Stout
Small Craft Warning Uber Pils
Black Cannon Black IPA
Dubbel Cannon Belgian Style IPA
Red Sky at Night Belgian Style Saison Ale
Winter Storm Category 5 Ale
Mutiny Fleet:
Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout (January)
Plank (March) (Experimental brews finished on wood)
Letter of Marque (May) (Winner of Heavy Seas' homebrewing competition
Davy Jones Lager Imperial Cream Ale (July)
Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale (September)
Great'er Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale (September)
Below Decks Barleywine (November)
Below Decks Barrel-aged Barleywine (November)
*The spelling is their own.