Climb Into A Fantastical Retreat Of Art, Adventure, And Imagination At A Delaware Brewery

The 40-foot-tall, 8-ton fantastical Steampunk Treehouse that now lives at Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Delaware — originally an art piece conceived for and debuted at the Burning Man festival in 2007 — makes it a great reason to pilgrimage to the small town. Milton is located about 112 miles southwest of Philadelphia and 104 miles east of Baltimore. Dogfish Head Brewery — considered among Delaware's most celebrated craft breweries — is one of its star attractions. (If you're looking for more reasons to visit Milton, Delaware's only free lavender farm is another good one.)

Although the treehouse technically comes from Oakland-based art crew Sean Orlando and the Five Ton Crane Arts Group, one might think its spiritual ancestor is "Howl's Moving Castle," part of an exclusive theme park in Japan that transports guests into an interactive Studio Ghibli film. Like that life-sized moving art piece, the Dogfish Head treehouse uses recycled and repurposed materials to create a magic that's tangible and humanistic. But instead of finding wizards inside, it houses details akin to the turn-of-the-century futuristic era of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Think Victorian sconces, stained-glass windows, a telescope, and a hand-crank telephone that transport visitors into another time and place. Read on to learn more about the treehouse and its current owners.

The intriguing installation, made of wood and metal, represents the eclectic vibe of the brewery and has stood outside the flagship tasting room at 6 Cannery Village Center since 2010. Although it seems ripe for climbing and exploring, the interior of the Steampunk Treehouse is the exclusive domain of Dogfish Head employees, hosting meetings and magical brainstorming sessions from time to time.

The brewery, however, is open daily from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and features nearly 30 beers on-tap and for sale, alongside a casual kitchen menu of pizzas and sandwiches. Visitors on TripAdvisor reward the brewery experience with 4.5 stars, citing its friendly atmosphere, helpful staff, and great beer. Reviewer Lisa P. says, "The extended full tour is worth it." If your curiosity is piqued, she's definitely right.

The Off-Centered brewery tour includes samples of experimental beers, a tour of the brewhouse, and — yes! — an exclusive trip inside the Steampunk Treehouse itself. If you're interested in more microbreweries and excellent craft beer, visit the Colorado gem that is known as America's craft beer capital.