It’s no secret that Tropical Lightning is big. The West CoaststyleIPA accounts for 60% of the beer made by Wilmington Brewing Company and is likely the area’s most popular locally made beer. You can find it in more than 150 bottle shops, bars and restaurants in the Wilmington area.
John and Michelle Savard make a lot of different beers at their brewery that are popular year-round. But January and February tend to be, well, slower.
“We wanted to have our brewery do something during our slow month,” John Savard said.
“And we don’t really celebrate the brewery anniversary or anything,” Michelle Savard said.
So, to do both, they decided to make variants of their most popular beer, releasing one each day during what is now known as Tropical Lightning Week. Four years later, it’s still going strong and takes place Feb. 5 through Feb. 9. in 2024.
Lightning in a can:This may be Wilmington’s most popular local craft beer
The idea is that there’s a new beer released each day, available in bottles and on draft at 800 S. Kerr Ave. Fans line up at 11 a.m. Monday to enjoy the first beers. There are T-shirts and koozies. People stock up through the week for the Super Bowl.