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Local breweries...
It is a great time to be a beer afficianado (snob, whatever, I do drink Busch Light in cans when fishing) in the USA, in a few short years the variety and quality of American brews has put the rest of the world to shame, IMO.
While there are others, the two main players in Gainesville are Swamphead and First Magnitude.
Swamphead was first, and they make some fine products, but in the beginning there were consistency issues that they seem to have ironed out.
1st Mag hit the ground running, and their 72 pale ale and Drift English mild ale are seriously two of my favorite beers on earth.
Both have their beers widely available on tap around town, and both can some of their beers so you can pick some up at Publix, and even quite a few kwik mart type places.
I love drinking high quality suds that were made less than 5 miles from my house!
Both are really good but I have to give the edge to 1st Mag, not just because of general higher quality and variety, but also because they are super nice people, one of my bands plays on their outdoor stage quite often, they seem to like us back lol.
Look for their products, I'm not sure how widely distributed they are yet but both businesses are rapidly expanding.
Let's hear about some more local brew! **** I'm thirsty already...
While there are others, the two main players in Gainesville are Swamphead and First Magnitude.
Swamphead was first, and they make some fine products, but in the beginning there were consistency issues that they seem to have ironed out.
1st Mag hit the ground running, and their 72 pale ale and Drift English mild ale are seriously two of my favorite beers on earth.
Both have their beers widely available on tap around town, and both can some of their beers so you can pick some up at Publix, and even quite a few kwik mart type places.
I love drinking high quality suds that were made less than 5 miles from my house!
Both are really good but I have to give the edge to 1st Mag, not just because of general higher quality and variety, but also because they are super nice people, one of my bands plays on their outdoor stage quite often, they seem to like us back lol.
Look for their products, I'm not sure how widely distributed they are yet but both businesses are rapidly expanding.
Let's hear about some more local brew! **** I'm thirsty already...
Replies
I have yet to find a Funky Buddha brew that is even just above average. They all nail whatever it is they are going for on the head, pun intended. I like the Blood Orange one as well, but for now I am enjoying the darker beers before it starts getting warm out and I have to switch.
There are a lot of good local micro brews out there. Hourglass is near my house, but doesn't have a big distribution yet though.
Tomoka in Ormond is pretty good. They had a beer that had Sage in it and they have a canner there to bring a big can home from the tap. I haven't been to Playalinda in Titusville yet...we never get past the Tiki bar (Cracker Jacks) under the Memorial Bridge.
What is the one they are opening up on 44? I can't wait to hit that one.
http://redcypressbrewery.com/
dont serve food, and don't really understand that
One of my local pubs has their Cat 5.
Good stuff. Strong stuff though. One pint is enough.
I go to Mellow Mushroom occasionally and always have a Due South when there.
It opened after I quit drinking so I haven't tried it myself, but it's very well liked and everyone that I know that's had their brews has been positive about them, in fact they are so well liked the publix here sells their beer
You should try their Mariana Trench Imperial Stout. They age it in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels. 9.8% alcohol!
Three Daughters, Green Bench, and to a slightly lesser degree Cage Brewing all have large party areas for games, live music, food trucks, etc. And then there's Pinellas Ale Works, St. Pete Brewing, and Cycle Brewing. Some within feet of each other, all within a half-mile radius. And Flying Boat should open soon. And Mastry's on St. Pete Beach.
I think Cycle makes better beer than even Cigar City but their tasting room is for serious tasting, no music, food, or games.
In the Tampa Bay area (including Bradenton and Sarasota) there are, off the top of my head, the following breweries that can/bottle their beer and sell it at Publix:
Three Daughters
Green Bench
St. Pete Brewing
Cigar City
Coppertail
Tampa Bay Brewing
Rock Brothers
Barley Mow
Pair O' Dice
Motorworks
Darwins
Big Top
J Dubs
That ones close to me too and I have been meaning to get out there. But if they don't have a patio and it is basically just a bar, it doesn't give me much incentive.
We'll be hitting that one with my nephew in town this week.
There is also Central 28 in DeBary and I've had one of theres that was good, I believe Dancing Pierre.
I like how Publix now seems to be offering local brews if they offer them in a can.
I like sitting outside, that's why I came to Florida. So a brewery usually needs to have outdoor seating to entice me.
Our plan is to move to the Gulf/Bradenton area in the next year or so. It's not for the micro breweries, however that will be a nice perk.
You'll be happy with Darwins and Motorworks. They're about 4 blocks apart in Bradenton with the Pirates spring training stadium between them.
That's Motorworks.
I like that Big Top Key Lime Pie. Just had Tampa Brewing Co Quat the other day and it was good.
I love craft beer, but I am not a guy who loves extra hoppy beer. I have found a love for wheat beer though for summer and hot days.
Good selection of tasty beers.
Food not so good
Ie
Smashed burger cooked one way.
Well done and dry.
Served with not so good shoe string fries.
Stick with the beer.
www.seaspy.theplan.com
Thank God I have rediscovered Belgian White and wheat beer. They make some pretty strong ones now too.
I still think if I had to name an absolute favorite, I would go with St Bernardus ABT 12. Great sipping beer.
If wheat beer was the only beer I'd have to drink something else.
Same, they have a weird sweet flavor I just don't like.
We're all about the local as well, trying to phase in more FLA beers all the time.
Lately, we've been featuring beers from Sailfish Brewing Co., out of Ft. Pierce. They have a fancy new taproom, and are now distributing all over south Fl.
I'm a huge fan of Due South. Very cool taproom.
Other local area beers we usually have are Tequesta, Islamorada, MIA, Swamp Head and of course Funky Buddha and Cigar City.