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Best Florida Beer 2023

Congratulations to 2023 Best Florida Beer Medal Winners

This past weekend launched Tampa Bay Beer Week 2023 with Sunday’s anchor event: Best Florida Beer’s Brewers Ball 2o23.

Brewers Ball is festival put on by the Best Florida Beer organization who presents awards for the results of their professional beer competition, judged previously.

The awards presented included 839 beers entered into 59 Medal Groups.

Magnanimous Brewing's marketing manager Geiger Powell

Magnanimous Brewing’s marketing manager Geiger Powell sports the brewery’s gold medal for their hazy IPA, Juice Lord

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor opened the medal ceremony, and Best Florida Beer Vice President Chris Johnson presented the awards.

The awards included (From Best Florida Beer):

Best Florida Beer: Hell ‘n Blazes Brewing Co. Huggings Hefe -South German Hefeweizen

Runner Up Best Florida Beer: Fort Myers Brewing Company High5 – Strong Pale Ale
2nd Runner Up Best Florida Beer: Toll Road Brewing Company Sun Ryes – Rye Beer
Best Small Batch Beer In Florida: First Magnitude Brewing Company – Nightfall
Runner Up Best Small Batch Beer In Florida: Florida Avenue Brewing Co – Well Connected
2nd Runner Up Best Small Batch Beer In Florida: Two Frogs Brewing Company – Relax On My R.I.S.
Honorable Mention Best Small Batch Beer In Florida: Redlight Redlight New Wave Biere De Garde
Best Large Brewery: Mathews Brewing Company
2nd Runner Up: Fort Myers Brewing Co.
Best Small Brewery: Hopsized Brewing
Runner Up: Hell N’ Blazes Brewing Co.
Best Brewpub: King State
Runner up Best Brewpub: Park Pizza and Brewing Co
For a complete list of medal winners in the 2023 Best Florida Beer Competition, click here.
Best Florida Beer Logo
About Best Florida Beer
The purpose of Best Florida Beer is to aid in the development and promotion of both home and commercial Florida brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. BFB accomplishes this by organizing fair and credible competitions that distinguish excellence in beer with qualified judges. In addition we increase awareness of commercial breweries through consumer education, marketing, events and competitions.BFB strives to serve as a model of cooperation in its effort to unify the Florida brewing community by establishing partnerships and cultivating resources with like organizations statewide. 

Preben Olsen and Michael Payne from Aardwolf Brewing on BeerWise podcast

Aardwolf Brewing Company’s Preben Olsen & Michael Payne join the BeerWise Podcast

This episode, I am joined by Aardwolf Brewing Company owner Preben Olsen and head brewer Michael Payne. Aardwolf Brewing has been a mainstay in the Jacksonville, Florida beer scene since 2013 when they opened as a beer bar and progressed to brewing their own beer. Preben and Michael discuss Aardwolf’s origins and how they came to start brewing in an historic ice factory in the San Marco area of the city.

Preben is also on the executive board of the Florida Brewers Guild, so I could not resist asking him about some of the initiatives that the guild has going on during the current legislative session.

As a side note, the brewery is built very close to the train tracks, so there is periodic train noise. The brewery was also opening the tap room, so there is ambient brewery tap room noise throughout the interview.

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. As a note toward transparency, this episode was made possible by Visit Jacksonville on a recent press tour. My thanks to Visit Jacksonville for arranging this interview.

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!

Preben Olsen and Michael Payne from Aardwolf Brewing on BeerWise podcast

 

About Aardwolf Brewing Company
Aardwolf Brewing Company is a microbrewery in the heart of San Marco, Jacksonville FL. Only two aardwolfs were harmed in the branding of the tap room…

Southern Swells on BeerWise podcast

Corey Adams of Southern Swells Brewing joins the BeerWise Podcast

This episode, I am joined by Corey Adams of Southern Swells Brewing. Southern Swells just celebrated 6 years in the Jacksonville, Florida beer scene. Through it all, their beer lineup has been anchored by New England IPAs, especially their Karate In The Garage made with cryo Mosaic hops. Aside from that one particular beer, Southern Swells lineup changes continually. During this visit, Southern Swells still had Where the Citra Things Are, a session IPA made with every form of Citra hops available to purchase.