Darwin Brewing Company introduces new head brewer

January 21, 2020

Bradenton’s Darwin Brewing Company has been a mainstay of the city since they opened their brewery and tasting room in 2014. The brewery has steadily grown both the beer lineup and distribution offerings. Darwin Brewing Company has recently announced the departure of their previous brewmaster and the arrival of new head brewer Blue Hellenga who will take over brewing responsibilities.

Darwin Brewing Company new brewer Blue Hellenga

Darwin Brewing Company Brewmaster Jorge Rosabal (left) passes the brewing mantle to brewer Blue Hellenga (Right).

From Darwin Brewing Company:

Great beer knows no bounds. While we say a warm goodbye to our head Brewmaster Jorge, he has passed the Finch torch to our new head brewer BLUE HELLENGA. Stay tuned for more about Blue and our future plans to bring you new brews!

Meet our new Head Brewer- BLUE HELLENGA! Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Blue moved to Miami around age 20 to experience this side of the US. It was there that his love for craft beer was ignited. Starting off as a 5-gallon-batch home brewer, he quickly developed a love for brewing and took a special interest in IPAs. After moving from Miami back to Eugene, Oregon he began brewing at Steelhead Brewing (a.k.a. McKenzie Brewing). Blue went on to build and oversee their production facility before deciding to move back across the country to Florida and joining our team. He has a love for NW/West Coast IPAs + Russian Imperial Stouts and is excited to share some new flavors with us. We will be having a MEET THE BREWER event with Blue in January to personally introduce him to our community. For the full story and details about Blue, watch our FB events for the posting!

About Darwin Brewing Company
Born in 2012 out of a Latin American gastropub, Darwin Brewing Company calls Bradenton, Florida home. We proudly brew culinary-inspired ales and lagers evolved from native flavors of Florida and the Americas. Florida Beer. Evolved.

Darwin Brewing cans and releases Llama Mama Milk Stout

February 9, 2017

Press Release: For the first time since its brewing inception, Darwin Brewing Company’s flagship stout, Llama Mama Milk Stout, has found its way onto retail shelves. The Bradenton-based brewery is proud to announce the release of 12 oz. cans into distribution throughout the state of Florida.

Llama Mama Milk Stout is a beautifully-balanced beer, featuring roasted malt, notes of caramel, and a creamy Amazonian chocolate finish. It’s a beer that would make any mama proud: a full-flavored, medium-bodied stout, with just the right amount of curves and topped with thick, creamy brunette foam. Brewmaster Jorge Rosabal remarks, “We’re so excited to now offer our customers a dark beer as a package product. Darwin Brewing Co fans will fall in love with this beauty!”

As a company, DBC prioritizes partnerships with other local businesses, sources local ingredients and is a proud to be a staple of the Florida brewing scene. We encourage all chefs and brewers, professionally and at home, to integrate our culinary-inspired ales and lagers into their kitchens and menus. Llama Mama Milk Stout is no exception and pairs perfectly with anything from braised or barbecued meats to sweet chocolate treats.

Darwin Brewing Company owner and general manager Matt Cornelius notes, “Our customers have been clamoring for Llama Mama for years, and we’re pleased to give the people what they want. In a local beer zoo populated with lions and cows, we feel that there is room for a llama to join the fun.”

Consumers should be able to find this new product at fine retailers throughout the state. As llama-lovers, if you don’t see Llama Mama available, please request it at your favorite grocery, liquor, or convenience store.
About Darwin Brewing Company
Born in 2012 out of a Latin American gastropub, Darwin Brewing Company calls Bradenton, FL home. We proudly brew culinary-inspired ales and lagers evolved from native flavors of Florida and the Americas. Florida Beer. Evolved.

Darwin Brewing Company is having a Big Deal release

November 20, 2015

Darwin Brewing Company of Bradenton has been producing beers at a great pace. Their cans are coming from the production facility and rolling into neighboring markets to the delight of the brewery’s fans. Now, Darwin Brewing is announcing a new bottle release.

From Darwin Brewing Company:

Join us on November 21st at 1:00p for our 3rd bottle release, Bourbon Barrel Aged Big Deal!

Bourbon Barrel Aged Big Deal is a toasty Imperial Stout that has been aged in Kentucky whiskey barrels for 10 months. This beer imparts rich flavors such as vanilla, American oak, and coffee and has a delightful, warm velvety finish. 10.3% ABV

Darwin Brewing Company is located at 803 17th Avenue West in Bradenton.

Darwin Brewing Company is canning soon

May 29, 2015

Darwin Brewing Company of Bradenton has been teasing their fans for a while now about their desires to can their core beers. As of this week, canning is no longer theoretical, as the brewery has posted picture of screen-printed cans of Pirata Pils, Circa 1926 Tangerine Wheat, and Summdayze IPA.

Fresh off the heels of the release of Aguanile, the Maibock collaboration with Cigar City Brewing aged on Amazonian wood, the brewery has now crossed another milestone as cans will begin flowing out soon, as they don’t do so well as planters or keepsakes.

Darwin Brewing Company is located at 803 17th Avenue West and they currently have quite a few cans in their house.

What is Darwin Brewing Company doing for Tampa Bay Beer Week?

March 10, 2015

Tampa Bay Beer Week is just that, a week of events encompassing all of Tampa Bay’s great breweries- and don’t forget the breweries across the Sunshine Skyway.

Darwin Brewing Company has a few events that they will be participating in as well:

Brew and BBQ Night at Urban Brew and BBQ in St. Pete on Friday, 3/13
Featured specialty beer at Mermaid Tavern on Friday, 3/13
We will also be pouring at Hunahpu Day, 3/14. Our featured beers at Hunahpu will be Ayawasca, Charapa, Leche de Tigre Gose, and an Andean Influenced Florida Weiss.

Look for Darwin Brewing Company beers throughout Tampa Bay as they are currently distributed in Tampa as well.

Darwin Brewing Company to celebrate Finchtoberfest (Oktoberfest with a twist)

September 15, 2014

Press Release:

Saturday, September 20 our doors will open at noon in coordination with the opening of the Munich Oktoberfest in Germany!

Brewmaster Jorge Rosabal, trained and educated in Germany, will be releasing Finchtoberfest Marzen-style Lager – a medium-bodied amber lager. We will also have 13 additional DBC beers on tap to enjoy.

In celebration of this special occasion, you will have the option to purchase a Darwin Brewing Company Oktoberfest Stein – a limited amount will be available. $20 will get you the stein to keep, plus your first fill of Finchtoberfest for free. Bring your stein to the brewery any day we are open for Finchtoberfest refills for just $8 through October 5th.

Free food will be catered by Darwin’s on 4th between 2pm and 6pm. Chef Darwin Santa Maria will be manning the grill making traditional German bratwurst with a Peruvian twist and more.

Live music will be provided by the Jason Haram Group!
Check out the Darwin Brewing Company Facebook Page for more information.

Darwin Brewing Company is located at 803 17th Avenue West in Bradenton.

Darwin Brewing Company opening soon in Bradenton

May 7, 2014

On a rainy day just across the Skyway Bridge from Saint Petersburg, Darwin Brewing Company invited friends and family to share in the fruits of what they have built: a new brewery in Bradenton.

This new home is not just a companion for Chef Darwin Santa Maria’s brewpub, Darwin’s on Fourth in Sarasota, this brewery will be where the magic begins for the core brands of Darwin Brewing Company, a separate (but related) craft brewery. Darwin’s beers will begin launching into Manatee and Sarasota then expanding beyond its two home counties. This brewery space will house the fifteen-barrel production brewing system brewmaster Jorge Rosabal will use to slake the thirst of Bradenton’s beer enthusiasts. The core lineup coming through the production facility will be:

*Summadayze IPA
*Charapa (Spiced Porter)
*Ayawasca (Belgian Strong)
*Pirata Pilsner
*Circa 1926 (Tangerine Wheat)

Since the brewery will focus on making large-scale batches, the Darwin’s on Fourth Brewpub will turn its focus to small batch beers to pair with brewpub food and to express the creative and experimental side of Darwin Brewing’s staff.

Darwin Brewing Company’s shiny new 15bbl brewhouse.

Darwin Brewing is not content to merely open a new brewery, they plan to tap the potential of the new space. “Within two months we plan to can our beers,” said Rosabal. There already space set aside for the canning line near the brewery’s loading dock and cold storage. Darwin’s future plans will allow them to be one of the fittest breweries as all warehouse space can be converted to brewery use. Rosabal says leftover space can be used for a second brewhouse, additional fermentation tanks, and a second boiler.

Darwin’s tasting room pours forth a stream of Andean-influenced beers.

Jorge also plans a little something extra for patrons in the Darwin tasting room, aside from the eleven Darwin beers on tap. While beer going to distribution will be filtered, beer in the tasting room will not. What difference does this make? It depends on beer preference. When beer is filtered, yeast and excess particulates in the beer are removed, but many would argue that filtering beer removes flavor as well. Unfiltered beer is typically hazy and can contain some yeast, barley, or hop sediment. Darwin’s will allow patrons to try both and decide a preference.

Darwin Brewing Company draws influence and joy from both its Peruvian influence and Andean roots. In conversation, Chef Darwin Santa Maria says that Peru is proud of what the brewery is doing. In fact, Peru has sent samples of different Amazonian woods for Rosabal to age his beers in so that a little bit of Peru can truly dwell in some of Darwin’s beers. While Darwin was very proud of this, both he and Rosabal were not sure of a timeline for when Amazonian wood-aged beers would be ready.

While Darwin Brewing has a bright future ahead of them, they are sweating to get beer out to their home market. Currently, Darwin’s beers are served only on draft in their to home counties, but like their namesake says, Darwin’s beers are both strong and survivors.

Darwin Brewing Company will welcome the community to their grand opening on May 24th with an opening to the public at an earlier date to be determined. Darwin Brewing Company is located at 803 17th Avenue West in Bradenton.

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