Tag Archives: beer in florida

Tampa Bay Beer Week 2024

Annual Tampa Bay Beer Week podcast is here for 2024!

It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year here at the BeerWise Podcast because it’s time for our annual Tampa Bay Beer Week podcast. This year, I am joined by Elise Sweeney and Chris Fairchild from the Tampa Bay Beer Week Organization.

Chris and Elise are talking about what’s new for 2024, what they are looking forward to, the new Tampa Bay Brewers Alliance, and where the organization is headed in the future.

This podcast was recorded on Monday, February 26th, so I’m happy to release it faster than a hazy IPA.

Tampa Bay Beer Week 2024

Are there any guests you would like to hear on the show? Reach out! I’m on social media at FL Beer News or Mark at florida beer news dot com to let me know your opinion.

Please remember to like, subscribe, and follow BeerWise on your favorite podcast platform, so you don’t miss an episode. Also, please remember to review the show on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach new audiences.

Florida Beer News and this podcast are now on PATREON! I have begun new fundraising efforts for the website and podcast in hopes of making some updates and changes. Check out patreon dot com slash Florida Beer News (spelled out) for information on how you and your business can help fuel our growth and get some cool rewards.

That’s all for now, until next time when I’ll be back to talk about what’s going on in the world BEERWISE. Cheers and happy Tampa Bay Beer Week.

You can listen to the podcast online here or on your favorite podcast platform. Remember to subscribe or follow so you don’t miss an episode!

Thanks for joining us in the journey of the BeerWise Podcast, hosted by Mark DeNote – editor of Florida Beer News.

If you like the podcast, please tell someone. If you have constructive feedback or a guest you’d like to hear on the show, please email mark at floridabeernews dot com or follow the “Contact Us” link on the Florida Beer News website.

For more episodes, follow Florida Beer News on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and your favorite podcast platform!

Tampa Bay Beer Week 2024

About Tampa Bay Beer Week
Tampa Bay Beer Week, Inc. (TBBW), is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization established in 2012 to showcase the Tampa Bay area as an emerging and vibrant craft beer destination and to advance the local and international craft beer culture through events, education and marketing. The Board of Directors consists of representatives from distributors, breweries, retailers and independent beer enthusiasts.

TBBW created Tampa Bay Beer Week, which is a week long celebration of the vibrant beer culture found throughout the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Beer Week begins annually on the first Saturday of March and ends 8 days later. Since the inaugural Tampa Bay Beer Week in 2012, TBBW has hosted hundreds of events such as large-scale festivals, brewing competitions, charity events, and educational seminars. The efforts of TBBW have been a major factor in the continued growth of the Tampa Bay craft beer community making this area one of the top beer tourism destinations in the Southern United States.

Fort Myers Brewing Logo

Fort Myers Brewing unveils its full lineup for 11th Anniversary

Fort Myers Brewing Company is celebrating eleven years as the city’s eponymous brewery, and one thing is certain – the brewery knows how to party. Each year their anniversary celebration is at least a weekend-long, beer-filled extravaganza, and 2024 is falling right in line with expectations.

From Fort Myers Brewing:

Fort Myers Brewing Company has unveiled its complete beer lineup for its four-day 11th Anniversary Party Feb. 22-25 that features 55 rotating specialty craft brews – five beers for every year Fort Myers Brewing has been in business – as well as more than a dozen food trucks and nine live performances.

Glass of Fort Myers Brewing Chocolate StoutBeverages available throughout the weekend include 11th Anniversary Imperial IPA, Boat Story, High 5 IPA, Gateway Blonde, Fort Myers Light, Brewer’s Breakfast, Czech Around, Go Apricot, American Wheat, Mosaic Grouper New England IPA, Clean Shave IPA, Maniacal Jellyfish, O.Y.A., Red Tape, Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter, Penny Lager, Spyk’d Hard Tea, Blake’s Apple Cider, Nitro Porter, Tangerine Wheat, Tamiami Tan, Virtuoso and Bubblin’ Crude. A variety of seltzer-based cocktails will also be on tap.

Saturday is considered the main day of the event, and 55 craft beverages will spotlight the menu with new beers released every two hours. Below is Saturday’s beer schedule:

Noon-2 p.m.: Altbier, Red Currant/Vanilla Blonde, West Coast Red Ale, Hazelnut Stout, Pink Lemonade Gose, Orange Mango Spyk’d Hard Seltzer
2:15-4:15 p.m.: Rauchbier, Pineapple/Vanilla Blonde, German IPA, Caramel Coffee Stout, Rainbow Gose, Strawberry Orange Banana Spyk’d Hard Seltzer
4:30-6:30 p.m.: Coffee Vienna Lager, Key Lime Pie Sour Ale, Cherry Chocolate Stout, Mango IPA, Dreamsicle Gose, Blue Raspberry Lemonade Spyk’d Hard Seltzer
6:45-8:45 p.m.: Keller Pils, Belgian Tripel with Pear, El Churrito, Blood Orange Jellyfish, Watermelon Gose, Guava Pineapple Spyk’d Hard Seltzer
9-11 p.m.: Mosaic Pale Ale, Belgian Dubbel, Passion O.Y.A., French Toast Brown Ale, Raspberry Gose, Grape Spyk’d Hard Seltzer
Specialty beers hit the taps on Thursday and Friday as well, with highlights including Blake’s American Berry, Mosaic Pale Ale, Chocolate Stout, Fruit Candy Sour, Belgian Dubbel, Pineapple/Vanilla Blonde, Grape Spyk’d Hard Seltzer and a Rum Punch seltzer-based cocktail on Thursday, and Blake’s Cherry Limeade, German IPA, Hazelnut Stout, Watermelon Gose, Coffee Vienna Lager, Mango IPA, Blue Raspberry Lemonade Spyk’d Hard Seltzer and a Mai Tai seltzer-based cocktail on Friday. On Sunday, guests can return to help kick the keg with brews pouring until the kegs run out.

Available beginning at noon on Thursday, Feb. 22, Fort Myers Brewing is also releasing limited-edition anniversary swag, including commemorative glasses and T-shirts, all available for purchase in the taproom. A Brewer’s Bundle package that includes one anniversary T-shirt, one anniversary glass and one beer fill can be purchased for $35 while supplies last.

The full schedule of events includes:

Thursday, Feb. 22 (Noon to 10 p.m.)

Food Trucks: Farmers Corn, Grace’s Taste of Poland, Mad Brunch, Tia’s Kitchen, Wicked Streatery
Live Music: Wendell Ray (4 p.m.), Soapy Tuna (7 p.m.)
Friday, Feb. 23 (Noon to 11 p.m.)

Food Trucks: Don’t Give Up, Fat Thor’s Smash Burger, Mobstah Lobstah, Smokin’ Crow’s BBQ, South Pizza Co.
Live Music: Matt Walden (4 p.m.), Rock Republic (7 p.m.)
Saturday, Feb. 24 (Noon to 11 p.m.)

Main event with 50+ specialty beers rotating throughout the day
Food Trucks: King’s Tacos & Burritos, Mad Brunch, Mambo, Vesuvius Wood Fired Pizza, Viet Yum
Live Music: Virgil Cain (1 p.m.), DJ Nate (4 p.m.), Bad Latitude (7 p.m.)
Sunday, Feb. 25 (Noon to 8 p.m.)

Kick the Keg Party until the specialty beers run out
Food Trucks: Cositas Gourmet, Detour Diner, Fat Thor’s Smash Burger, The Way of The Crust
Live Music: The Musician Martin Short (noon), Ben Allen Band (3 p.m.)

 

Fort Myers Brewing LogoAbout Fort Myers Brewing
Opening in an industrial park in 2013, Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first microbrewery in Lee County. Now, as one of the largest breweries in the state of Florida, we continue to lead the surging craft beer movement. Amidst our rapid growth, FMBrew’s promise remains the same – to brew the best beer you’ll ever drink!

Funky Buddha Brewery Maple Bacon Coffee Porter 2024

Oakland Park’s Funky Buddha Brewery posts details of Maple Bacon Coffee Porter Festival

One of the culinary-inspired beers that helped put South Florida’s craft beer scene on the map is undeniably Funky Buddha Brewery’s Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. For many years, the beer’s release has been promoted to a festival where lots of Funky Buddha beers and some guest beers were poured and a celebratory atmosphere reigned through the Funky Buddha faithful. (This festival also signaled that the beer would soon see a wider release on draft and in bottles.)

Florida Chocolate Beers for Valentine's Day

Chocolate for Valentine’s Day? Why not a glass of chocolate beer?

If life is like a box of chocolates, why can’t beer be like a glass of chocolate on Valentine’s Day?

For many, gifting a box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day is traditional. But for the beer lover, a better gift might be a six-pack of chocolate beers. Florida Beer News is listing six beers from around the Sunsine State, each of which express different characteristics of chocolate. Each beer is like a different sweet in a box full of chocolates. Grab a few chocolate Florida beers and sip the night away with decadent flavors and waves of chocolate goodness or pair each with a piece of chocolate and see what flavors emerge.

Here’s our suggestions for a Valentine’s Day six pack of Florida chocolate beers:

Fort Myers Brewing Peanut Butter Porter

 

Candy flavors for adults: Fort Myers Brewing’s Peanut Butter Porter (5.4% ABV)

South Florida’s Fort Myers Brewing has a year-round beer that showcases the flavors of peanut-butter cups in liquid form.
Peanut Butter Porter has the aroma and flavor of roasted peanuts with the addition of sweet chocolate. Like the peanut cluster or peanut butter chocolate in each box of chocolates, PBP is a nice way to start with its relatively low alcohol content in a light- to medium-bodied porter.

 

 

The sweet treat: Proof Brewing Company’s Creatures in the Dark  (8.0% ABV)

Tallahassee’s Proof Brewing Company knows how to make a sweet beer. Creatures in the Dark is a milk stout made with cacao nibs and vanilla beans for intense chocolate and vanilla flavors. Brewed with lactose (milk sugar), Creatures in the Dark has the aroma and flavor of dark chocolate combined with the cocoa of hot chocolate with the middle of Oreo cookies for good measure.

Funky Buddha Brewery Last Snow Coffee Coconut Porter

 

Did someone say coconut?: Funky Buddha Brewery’s Last Snow Coffee Coconut Porter (6.4% ABV)

For those with a sweet tooth – there’s no chocolate ingredient in South Florida’s Funky Buddha Last Snow. But that does not mean it doesn’t taste like chocolate. The characteristic malts of a porter bring some chocolate flavor, and this beer has all the sweetness of a Mounds candy thanks to the heaping helping of coconut and coffee used in the brewing process. Florida may not get snow, but Floridians are thankful for Last Snow season each year.

Find out more about Funky Buddha Brewery from owner Ryan Sentz on the BeerWise podcast.

Woven Water Brewing De La Noche Imperial Stout

Now for something spicy: Woven Water Brewing De La Noche Imperial Stout (9.0% ABV)

For those seeking some spice – a beer inspired by Mexican Hot Chocolate – Woven Water Brewing uses a deep, dark imperial stout to meld with the flavors of cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon, and a blend of Mexican peppers and create a beer that has some polite capsaicin heat into the finish. Rich and smooth, this imperial stout has the full-bodied decadence of an imperial stout but with an additional bite for the curious drinker.

Tampa Bay Brewing Company Cookies and Dreams

 

Cookies and cream and chocolate: Tampa Bay Brewing Company’s Cookies and Dreams Imperial Stout (9.0% ABV)

More dessert chocolate beer, this time from Tampa Bay Brewing Company. Not as rich as ice cream added to beer or a beer float, instead Cookies and Dreams has the flavors of dark chocolate and cocoa meld with the flavors of cookies and cream. Medium to full-bodied, this one brings dessert to the drinker and more layers of flavor emerge as the beer warms.

Learn more about Tampa Bay Brewing Company from owner Dave Doble on the BeerWise podcast.

 

 

Calusa Brewing BA S'mores Stuff

 

Bringing the intensity and a parfait of flavors: Calusa Brewing’s Barrel-Aged S’mores Stuff (13.7% ABV)

The deepest, darkest, richest beer of Valentine’s Day, Sarasota’s Calusa Brewing brings the house down with their bourbon barrel-aged dessert beer. This beer demands sipping with both its depth of flavor and alcohol content. Layers of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and marshmallow float amidst the clouds of vanilla imparted by bourbon barrel-aging. Still full-bodied and stretching the limits of the word “decadent,” BA S’mores Stuff ends the chocolate beer sampling with a bang.

 

 

Of course, these are only six of the many many beers offered by Florida’s craft breweries. Reply in the comments or on social media what your favorite Florida chocolate beer is and next year, we will compile suggestions!

BeerWise Podcast with Josh Aubuchon of Florida Brewers Guild

Josh Aubuchon of the Florida Brewers Guild joins the BeerWise Podcast for latest episode

In this episode of the BeerWise Podcast our guest is Josh Aubuchon, the Lobbyist and General Counsel of the Florida Brewers Guild.

Josh has held this position for many years and serves an advisor and lobbyist to the craft brewers in the State of Florida. Josh has been a part of each legislative session ever since joining the guild, lobbying on issues like 64oz growlers, brewery tasting rooms, and now self-distribution and franchise reform.

Josh talks about these and other issues during our talk that was recorded in December 2023 at his office in Tallahassee.

You can listen to the podcast online here or on your favorite podcast platform. Remember to subscribe or follow so you don’t miss an episode!

Are there any guests you would like to hear on the show? Reach out! I’m on social media at FL Beer News or Mark at florida beer news dot com to let me know your opinion.

Please remember to like, subscribe, and follow BeerWise on your favorite podcast platform, so you don’t miss an episode. Also, please remember to review the show on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach new audiences.

Florida Beer News and this podcast are now on PATREON! I have begun new fundraising efforts for the website and podcast in hopes of making some updates and changes. Check out patreon dot com slash Florida Beer News spelled out for information on how you and your business can help fuel our growth and get some cool rewards.

BeerWise Podcast with Josh Aubuchon of Florida Brewers Guild

Thanks for joining us in the journey of the BeerWise Podcast, hosted by Mark DeNote – editor of Florida Beer News.

If you like the podcast, please tell someone. If you have constructive feedback or a guest you’d like to hear on the show, please email mark at floridabeernews dot com or follow the “Contact Us” link on the Florida Beer News website.

For more episodes, follow Florida Beer News on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and your favorite podcast platform!

 

Two beer glasses with caption "Can you help Florida Beer News?" in foreground.

Can you help out Florida Beer News?

Florida Beer News, like so many other work around the brewing industry is funded as a labor of love.

Florida Beer News began ten years ago when Cycle Brewing’s predecessor in St. Petersburg, Peg’s Cantina, began growlering their beer. People would line up around the block for this beer, and when a high school English teacher submitted this information to all of the major beer news outlets, no one would cover it. So, in that spirit, Florida Beer News was born.

Two beer glasses with caption "Can you help Florida Beer News?" in foreground.That teacher, Mark DeNote, has since written two books about Florida beer, and continues to work to promote the story of his home state’s craft beer and brewers. The goal is to make this website go further to provide coverage of Florida’s beer and breweries. During the pandemic, Florida Beer News brought into being the BeerWise podcast as a way to continue to spread the good news about Florida beer.

Florida Beer News will continue as long as there are breweries in Florida and as long as someone is willing to write about them. But in order to expand, make some improvements, and grow, Florida Beer News would benefit from some help.

That is where this request comes from.

Florida Beer News is funded by one person and the few sponsors that have supported us in the past. (Thank you Cigar City Brewing and Coppertail Brewing!!) But if the site could get a little help, it would go a long way.

Florida Beer News has decided to use Patreon to try and raise some consistent income to help with expenses and expansion. If you, your business, or your brewery could spare even a few dollars each month, it would be immensely helpful.

I have put off asking for support and patrons because for a long time, the website supported itself and it was fun to watch it grow. Like the breweries the site covers, though, it has come time to grow and change, including launching a sister website that will cover larger issues in the beer industry and will include Florida beer when speaking to a broader audience.

If your business would like to advertise to an engaged audience of beer-minded people, please see the features of this campaign.

If your brewery or business cannot afford to support, then please STILL REACH OUT TO US WITH YOUR NEWS. Please add Florida Beer News to newsletters and updates!

If you would like to suggest a guest for the BeerWise Podcast, please reach out. Always on the hunt for new and interesting guests.

Any support would be greatly appreciated, and thank you for helping us support Florida’s beer and breweries!

Florida Beer News Patreon