The Whelchel family has been a part of the Boca community for decades. Originally from Lake Mary, the Whelchels moved here in the late 70s, and their children attended Boca Middle and Spanish River High School before venturing off into adulthood. Siblings Jay Whelchel and his sister Kristy Hartofilis returned to the area and founded Whelchel Partners in 2010 as a local real estate firm specializing in commercial properties. Whelchel reminisces about the days they spent on Deerfield Beach as children so when a former warehouse came up for sale in 2017 the Whelchels scooped it up with hopes of turning it into a brewery. But being the city’s first brewery came with growing pains when there were no codes written for this type of business. Then the pandemic hit. But the Whelchels persevered, and after a long five-year process the Cove Brewery has debuted.
“We take our responsibility seriously in being Deerfield Beach’s first brewery,” Welchel said. “We hope to earn (its) respect.”
Whelchel attributes the brewery’s laid-back, flip-flop-loving vibe to its head brewmaster Corey Wilson, who wears several hats as the business’ third partner and its general manager as well. The former Crazy Uncle Mike’s brewmaster created eight beers to complement the brewery’s coastal aesthetic including a German lager, an American wheat beer, a Schwarzbier, and a couple IPAs. Whelchel says they’re aiming to launch eight more beers in the coming months alongside canned beer for purchase and distribution to local restaurants, bars, and supermarkets.
Located in the historic Cove shopping center, the brewery has embraced its neighborhood and offers residents a true local experience by encouraging families to visit with children and their fur babies. It has also partnered with neighboring Won-Tom’s, a dim sum and Asian street food concept owned by another local family, the Ganters, who are also the team behind Lighthouse Point’s Papa’s Raw Bar. Won-Tom’s gives brewery guests a true dining experience by delivering their dishes straight to their table. Make sure to try the soup dumplings, spicy papaya salad and pork belly bao buns. Their fresh housemade dishes pair nicely with the Cove’s brews. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
1500 S.E. 3rd Court, Deerfield Beach; 954/531-1245; covebrewery.com
