Dew Point Brewing Battle For Live Music Is Over, First Concert Is Planned For Mid-September

YORKLYN — After years of legal wrangling, noise complaints, and community debate, live music is set to return to Dew Point Brewing Company. The Yorklyn-based brewery announced this week that its first outdoor concert under new state-approved rules will take place in mid-to-late September, marking the end of a long-running dispute between the community and two Delaware lawyers.

Dew Point Brewery owner John Hoffman said he is relieved to move forward finally. “I’m grateful that this long journey is about to be over,” Hoffman said. “We couldn’t have reached this point without the public support, our loyal customers, and the neighbors who stood by us.”

Strict New Rules for Outdoor Music
The decision, handed down July 30 by Delaware Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner Jacqueline Paradee Mette, grants the brewery permission to host outdoor concerts again, but under strict sound and scheduling rules:

Live music is permitted on Fridays and Saturdays until 8 p.m. and on Sundays until 5 p.m.
Four times a year, the brewery may host extended multi-band events until 9 p.m.
Amplified music must stay below 65 decibels—about the level of a normal conversation.
Only a five-speaker system may be used, with all speakers facing inward toward the lawn and patio.
A hard limiter must be installed to control volume.
All instruments and microphones must be plugged into the approved system.
Drum kits must be shielded with plexiglass, and the stage must include sound-absorbing materials.
Performer contracts must reflect all restrictions.

The brewery, represented by attorney Adam Balick, agreed to the safeguards after neighbors—including attorneys Chad Stover and Jennifer Wasson—challenged the events, citing concerns about noise, parking, and road conditions. Despite Stover’s and Wasson’s public statements, the final resolution did not address parking or traffic issues.

A Community Tradition Silenced
Since opening in 2016, Dew Point Brewing, operated by the Hoffman family in a renovated snuff mill, has become more than just a taproom. By 2017, the brewery’s expansive lawn hosted weekly concerts featuring local bands, food trucks, and craft beer. The gatherings drew families from Yorklyn, Hockessin and Greenville and quickly grew into a weekend tradition. The local musician performed at 5:00 – 7:00 on Fridays and Saturdays most weekends in the summer.

For many residents, those summer evenings became a fixture of community life. A 2024 poll conducted by the “Hockessin Herald”, a local newspaper in the area, found that 74% of local respondents supported the return of the concerts.

But in 2020, the music stopped. A cease-and-desist order from New Castle County cited zoning and noise violations, forcing the brewery to halt outdoor performances. The shutdown left the community without its most popular gathering spot, and efforts to resolve the matter stretched through years of hearings, appeals, and the pandemic.

Division Among Neighbors and Leaders
While hundreds of supporters packed hearings in favor of the concerts, opposition came largely from about a dozen households within earshot of the brewery.

“We’re not opposed to the brewery or to live music inside,” Stover said during a hearing earlier this year. “We’re simply asking for confirmation that amplifiers and speakers are not part of their variance.”

Supporters countered that the brewery followed its permits and that the concerts boosted local business and community spirit.

The issue also put a spotlight on state leaders. Some residents criticized State Sen. Laura Sturgeon for siding with the opponents, the Greenville Lawyer community and the Liquor Control Board rather than advocating for compromise or supporting the majority of the residents in her community.

Looking Ahead
For Hoffman, the ruling represents not only a business victory but a restoration of what Dew Point has always tried to build: a place where people can gather.

“Those concerts brought people together,” Hoffman said. “They weren’t just about the music. They were about families meeting up, neighbors spending time together, and creating something special here in Yorklyn. We’re excited to bring that back—with the right safeguards in place.”

With the first concert expected to launch in September, Hoffman hopes the community will once again fill the lawn, this time with a renewed appreciation for the hard-fought return of live music to Dew Point.

About Dew Point Brewing Company

Founded: 2016
Location: Yorklyn, Delaware, in the historic Garrett Snuff Mill complex

The Brewery:
Dew Point Brewing Company is a family-owned craft brewery operated by the Hoffman family. Known for its creative beers and rustic setting, the brewery transformed a 19th-century snuff mill into a popular community hub.

What They’re Known For:

Craft Beer: A rotating selection of IPAs, lagers, stouts, and seasonal specialties.
Scenic Setting: Nestled in the Red Clay Valley, with a spacious lawn and patio overlooking historic mill buildings.
Community Events: Since 2017, Dew Point has hosted outdoor concerts, food trucks, and family-friendly gatherings that attract visitors from Yorklyn, Hockessin, and Greenville.

The Music Tradition:
Weekend concerts quickly became a signature feature, drawing hundreds of people to enjoy local bands, craft beer, and a festival-like atmosphere. The events were paused in 2020 after zoning and noise disputes, leading to a years-long legal battle that has now been resolved.

Why It Matters:
Dew Point has become a cornerstone of the Yorklyn area, offering not just beer but a place for neighbors and families to connect. Its story highlights the tension between growth and preservation in a small community—and the power of local support in keeping a community institution alive.