Tag Archives: new brewer

SaltWater Brewery Logo

Saltwater Brewery welcomes new head brewer

Press Release: Saltwater Brewery, a Florida-based microbrewery known for the Edible Six Pack Rings, announced an extension to their brewing team with the hiring of Justin Rick, previous Senior Brewer at Brooklyn Brewery.

Justin graduated from the Master Brewers Program at UC Davis in 2008, and over the past eight years has held top brewing positions at Stone Brewing, Leinenkugel and Brooklyn Brewery. Following the success of the Edible Can Ring viral video, Justin will continue the momentum as Saltwater’s new Head of Brewing. Since the beginning of June, he has helped to standardize procedures, improve safety, streamline operations, grow the Beer Lab, and just brewed the brewery’s 250th batch of beer. Dustin Jeffers will continue to manage recipe formulation and serves as Saltwater’s Director of Operations.

“We’re excited to have such a seasoned and talented Brewer,” said Jeffers. “His hands-on, senior-level experience with large breweries is unmatched and will be instrumental to helping Saltwater grow and improve.”

Justin’s hiring ushers in a third canned beer for the company, LocAle. A crisp, refreshing, golden ale with 3.7 percent ALC/VOL, LocAle is the ideal all-day drinking beer to enjoy at your favorite local event or activity. Cans have been available in the Tasting Room since the beginning of September, and are now available throughout Saltwater’s Florida-only distribution territory. The brewery’s canned beer offerings now include Screamin’ Reels IPA, Sea Cow Milk Stout, and LocAle Golden Ale.

About Saltwater Brewery
Founded in December 2013 by a team of Floridians, Saltwater Brewery is Delray Beach’s first local production microbrewery, with tasting room and beer garden on sight. Using only pure and natural ingredients, each style of handcrafted beer and corresponding name is inspired by the ocean to reflect the lifestyle and passion of the Founders. Saltwater’s goal is to maintain the world’s greatest wonder by giving back through ocean based charities (CCA, Surfrider, Ocean Foundation, MOTE) and the Edible Six Pack Rings. Over 12 styles are typically available in the tasting room, while Screamin’ Reels IPA, Sea Cow Milk Stout and LocAle, are distributed in cans and on tap throughout the state of Florida. Packaging is done on-site with the brewery’s in-house canning line, and the team will soon install an in-line labeler for seasonal and special releases.

Big Storm Brewing Logo

Big Storm Brewing has new brewer and additional location

Big Storm Brewing Company has been just that- a storm of activity. First canning two core beers, then winning a few awards at Best Florida Beer Competition, then hiring a new brewer, now Pasco County’s first craft brewery is opening a second location in Pinellas County.

From Big Storm CEO Mike Bishop:

The Pinellas location will actually be a second location, we plan on moving our current facility in pasco to the other side of the industrial park for more space.

Combine this new facility with news in a recent Tampa Bay Business Journal post about a new brewer coming to work at Big Storm, brewer Dan Sartin, a cofounder of Service Brewing Company in Savannah, Georgia.

About Big Storm Brewing Company:

Way back in 2012, this crazy beer venture began with a few pennies and a lot of inspiration. Mike Bishop and Clay Yarn recognized a void in Tampa Bay and desired to fill it with quality, approachable craft beer.
What started as a small 3.5 BBL brewhouse is now nearly 5 times the size with a 15 BBL system and the capacity to brew between 800 and 1200 kegs per month. The local taste of Tampa Bay is now shared on tap from the Keys to the Panhandle, and our new canning line just hit the shelves!

Our brew team is a tightly knit family that shares a passion for bringing great beers to the consumer, whether you are a veteran or a newcomer to the craft beer scene. We pride ourselves on not only the great beer we serve, but also on the level of service we provide. The Big Storm Brewing Co. taproom is a community where all are welcome to have a pint, fill a growler, and enjoy a little escape from life.

Big Storm Brewing is located at 2438 Merchant Drive in Odessa.

Tampa Bay Brewing Company

Tampa Bay Brewing’s big news

Tampa Bay Brewing Company of Ybor City has two big announcement for beer enthusiasts. First, they have a new head brewer at the Ybor City Brewpub, and then there’s their next two bottle releases.

From the TBBC Newsletter:

Ybor Head Brewer Tim Ogden starts Monday 2/2. Brewmaster Dave is working to organize his staff for the new Westchase location. Very exciting times to say the lease. So to staff up Ybor, in order to eventually run the Westchase production brewery, Dave has hired Tim Ogden, formerly of Cigar City Brewpub, to lead the brewing staff at the Ybor pub. Tim hopes to expand the barrel aging program once all those damn tanks get out of the way. Welcome Tim!

Iron Rat Stout Aged on Cacao Nibs:

We prepared a special Valentines Day Edition of our Iron Rat Stout. It is aged with cocoa nibs which greatly enhances the chocolate flavor just in time for that special day with your sweetie. 22 ounce bottles will be for sale starting Friday 2/6 for $10 at the Ybor pub while supplies last. Only 120 bottles will be produced.

Barrel-aged Iron Rat:

A very special Iron Rat Stout will be released on 3/12 during the Night of Wood. This exquisite beer has been aging in a Bourbon barrel for two years! It’s strong, well balanced and just so damn good. We fully expect that this beer will sell quickly, so if you want some, please buy early. Mailing list subscribers will get an early opportunity to buy this beer online before the public. SO stay tuned next week for a newsletter announcement as to when you can buy early. Sales are limited to two bottles per person, cost $20 each and come in 750ml caged and corked glass bottles. You must buy the beer at our online store, then pick-up in person on or after 3/12 – 6pm. This is the night of our annual “Night of Wood.”

Tampa Bay Brewing Company is located at 1600 East 8th Avenue in the Ybor City Section of Tampa.

Rapp Brewing announces new members of the brew team

Recently Greg Rapp of Rapp Brewing has announced a few changes to his lineup. Those changes have nothing to do with the ever-rotating lineup of beers coming through the tap lines, but instead deal with the folks who make those enchanting liquids that pour in the tap room.

Recently Rapp posted that the brewery has a new head brewer:

Please join me in congratulating Joe Scheibelhut, who is now our Head Brewer!
Joe has been with us over one and a half years and has been running the brewery operations for more than 6 months now. I haven’t had any complaints about the beer…so I guess he’s doing a pretty good job – LOL.
Seriously though, thank you Joe for all you have done for us!

After that, Rapp posted that there will be a new assistant brewer helping Joe out:

Please join me in welcoming Clinton Sallee to the Rapp team as our newest assistant brewer!
Clinton has decided to give up his three piece suit for coveralls and rubber boots to work in our brewery.

In summary, Rapp Brewing now has “7 full time employees and 1 part time employee working on bringing you the best selection of beers in Florida!”