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Here in Florida, there are sooo many reasons to sip, chug or swill a local craft beer. So put down whatever watery garbage that’s currently in your hand and try some of these Florida brewksies. Many of these breweries will be at the Orlando Beer Festival on Nov. 12 at Festival Park.
Breweries that will be at the Orlando Beer Festival are marked with an (*)
Midnight Espresso at Motorworks Brewing*
1014 9th St. West, Bradenton | 941-567-6218
Made with real coffee beans that are hand-roasted on site, Midnight Espresso has a distinctly coffee flavor (duh.) along with fruity and chocolate notes. Available in both their taproom, and in 4-packs in a variety of Florida stores.
Photo via Beer Timez/FacebookDeath Roll at Red Cypress Brewery
855 E State Rd 434, Winter Springs | 407-542-0341
This creamy chocolate malt is another popular milk stout from a brewery that aims to bring the craft beer obsession of the West Coast directly to the streets of Central Florida.
Photo via meghanonthemove/InstagramRhesus Peanut Butter Cup at Bugnutty Brewing Co.
715 N. Courtenay Pkwy., Merritt Island | 321-452-4460
As the name suggests, this robust porter is meant to be accompanied with a specific confectionary treat.
Photo via babels_cameron/InstagramBelgian Quadrupel at Big Storm Brewing Co.*
12707 49th St., Clearwater | 727-201-4186
Going with their hurricane theme, the Big Storm’s Belgian Quadrupel is part of a series based on the levels of hurricane strength. This particular one is Category 4, which tastes of rich malt and dark fruit. And yes, there will be Category 5 released soon.
Photo via jeromejello/InstagramOld Elephant Foot at Tampa Bay Brewing
13931 Monroe’s Business Park, Tampa | 813-247-1422
Fans of hoppy bears will really enjoy this one, as it has a very generous portion of Northern Brewer, Centennial, and Cascade hops. It’s also award winning, taking home a silver in the Best Florida Beer Championship last year.
Photo via mewiley/InstagramCottonmouth at Swamp Head Brewery*
3650 SW 42nd Ave., Gainesville | 352-505-3035
Named after a species of snake that is indigenous to North Florida, this Belgian Witbier is subtly sweet, crisp and refreshing, with hints of bitter orange and coriander.
Photo via swamphead/InstagramHefe’n Awesome at Bowigens Beer Company*
1014 State Road 436, Casselberry | 407-960-7816
A spin on a traditional German beer, this Hefeweizen is made with actual peanut butter. In addition to the peanut butter flavor, drinkers can also taste banana and slight sweetness from local orange blossom honey. It’s uniqueness has made it a local cult favorite.
Photo via Bowigens Beer Company/FacebookRocking Rabbit Red at Mount Dora Brewing
405 S. Highland St., Mt. Dora | (352) 735-1111
Known as Mount Dora Brewing’s “first draft,” this brew is an Irish red ale made with Orange Blossom honey.
Photo via Mount Dora BrewingTipsy Friar at Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co.*
111 W Georgia Ave., Deland | 386-873-7350
The Tipsy Friar is a rich and malty Belgian Dubbel that has a slight smell of raisins, as well as a bit of a nutty taste.
Photo via navydiver2464/InstagramCitrus Kicker at Crooked Can Brewing Company*
426 W Plant St., Winter Garden | 407-395-9520
A throwback to the once great citrus industry in Winter Garden, the Citrus Kicker combines it’s hops with zest from locally grown oranges and grapefruits.
Photo via Rona Gindin/FacebookConch Republic Key Lime Wheat At Big Top Brewing Company*
6111 Porter Way, Sarasota | 941-371-2939
Big Top is named for Sarasota’s history with the circus, and this brew shows off the eccentricity of a circus performance. It’s one of Big Top’s few beers that are available year-round, and it will remind you of key lime pie, with smooth citrus as well as hints of graham crackers.
Photo via bigtopbrewco/InstagramMad Manatee IPA at Bold City Brewery*
2670-7 Rosselle St., Jacksonville | 904-379-6551
Named such because this IPA is “as bitter as a mad manatee.” There is some sweetness with the citrus finish, and the four different hop varieties make this a very balanced beer.
Photo via kill4kut/InstagramBumby Blonde Ale at Ocean Sun Brewing*
3030 Curry Ford Road | 407-745-5551
This golden brew is sweet and spicy. It has something of a macintosh flavor to it, and it goes down smooth.
Photo via hugowolfie/InstagramOlde Pelican English Pale Ale at Orlando Brewing*
1301 Atlanta Ave. | 407-872-1117
An English-style pale ale, the Olde Pelican is full bodied and robust, and has slight caramel and chocolate flavors. If you decide you really love it, you could also take home a 13.2 gallon keg of the ale for $175.
Photo via Paul Mattey/FacebookPianissimo? at Reprise Brewing*
1124 Pennsylvania Ave., St. Cloud | 321-805-4701
Fun fact about Reprise, all of their brews are based on music terms. Pianissimo, for example, is a volume marking meaning quiet. The brew is described as “quietly” hiding its alcohol taste, while also tasting like a liquid peppermint patty.
Photo via suckaj43/InstagramClearwater Honey Cream at Pair O’Dice Brewing Co.
4400 118th Ave N. #208, Clearwater | 727-755-3423
Described as “light, crisp and refreshing” by Pair O’Dice, this beer is known for its distinctive golden color and for the hints of orange and honey that make themselves known as soon as you pick up a pint – or a can.
Photo via Pair O’Dice/FacebookTippy Pippy’s Red Dred Ale at Dead Lizard Brewing Company*
4507 SW 36th St. | 407-777-3060
Known for its signature red color, this ale is on the more bitter side. It will also help you grow your beer belly without breaking your bank, as it is on the cheaper side of Dead Lizard’s menu.
Photo via Keith Lyons F./YelpFlorida Lager at Florida Beer Company
200 Imperial Blvd, Cape Canaveral | (321) 728-4114
A blend of caramel, Carapils malt and two-row – this beer has a litany of awards to its name thanks to its crispness and subtle spice.
Photo via Florida Beer Company/FacebookToasted Coconut Porter at Orange Blossom Brewing Co.*
3900 Frontage Road South, Lakeland | 407-754-0045
A smooth brown porter that would of been good as is, but the added real coconut gives this beer something extra. Although really closer to a brown ale than a porter, this beer’s unique flavors give it a pass.
Photo via Corkscrew Bar & Grill/FacebookMcCarthy’s Irish Red at Tomoka Brewing Company*
4647 S Clyde Morris Blvd., Port Orange | 386-256-4979
One of Tomoka’s core beers that they have brewing since the beginning , this traditional Irish red ale is both malt-forward and easy-drinking. It also pairs well with Tomoka’s beer-infused cuisine.
Photo via nandalindz/InstagramBimini Twist IPA at 3 Daughters Brewing*
222 22nd St. South, St. Petersburg | 727-495-6002
An India Pale that is as “refeshing as a Bimini sea breeze” is this beer’s tagline. The Bimini Twist has a bold flavor, with intense citrus, floral hops, and sweet caramel malts. Perfect for enjoying on the beach.
Photo via Florida Food Lover/FacebookCreme del Diablo at Deadly Sins Brewing*
750 Jackson Ave., Winter Park | 407-900-8726
The newly open Deadly Sins has several beers on tap that play with the idea of sins (seven actually, fittingly enough). However, their smooth cream ale, Creme del Diablo, is our personal favorite.
Photo via Deadly Sins Brewing/FacebookDrift English Mild Ale at First Magnitude Brewing Co.*
1220 SE Veitch St., Gainesville | 352-727-4677
Drift English is very dark and malty, with a rich chocolate smell. And while you sip on the earthy brew, be sure to check out First Magnitude’s daily collection of food trucks.
Photo via kaciwynpoor/InstagramBrown Beer Brown Beer What Do You See? at The Hourglass Brewery
480 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood | 407 262 0056
This brown (of course) ale is dry and malty, and has strong carbonation. Drinkers are treated to the smell of whole grain bread with notes of coffee and chocolate while they sip (or chug).
Photo via Hourglass Brewing/FacebookThe Bokey at Wop’s Hops Brewing Company*
419 S Sanford Ave, Sanford | 407-878-7819
Although it is slightly sweet, this ale is known for its distinctive smoky taste. It’s also commonly referred to as Sanford’s official beer.
Photo via janizasaurusrex/InstagramRocky Road at Angry Chair Brewing
6401 N. Florida Ave, Tampa | 813-238-1122
This imperial sweet stout features notes of cacao nibs, vanilla beans and walnuts. Angry Chair, a small and personal brewery, has a rotating mix of beers on tap, and bottle sales usually cap at 4 per person.
Photo via emmarosewarrior/InstagramJai Alai IPA at Cigar City Brewing
3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa | 813-348-6363
Brewed in honor of the Basque game that was once hugely popular in Florida, this pale ale is said to pair well with the spicier dishes.
Photo via Cigar CityCocoa Beach Pale Ale at Cocoa Beach Brewing Co.
150 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach | 321-613-2941
Featuring two row malts, nugget, perle and cascade hops, the Cocoa Beach Pale Ale is a “gold medal-winning” American pale ale you’ll want to taste at least once.
Photo via Cocoa Beach Brewing Co./FacebookFree Dive IPA at Coppertail Brewing Co.
2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa | 813-247-1500
This beer is available year-round, and according to Coppertail it pairs perfectly with grilled shrimp. Hits of citrus and pine complement its malt backbone.
Photo via Coppertail Brewing Co./FacebookHop Gun IPA at Funky Buddha Brewery
1201 NE 38th St, Oakland Park | (954) 440-0046
This fruity beer delivers a mix of grapefruit and pineapple straight to your pallate – and a splash smooth caramel finishes out the flavor. If you like it enough, it’s available in bottles.
Photo via Funky Buddha/FacebookDeja Moo at Hidden Springs Ale Works
1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa | 813-226-2739
This “milkstout,” a beer with added sweet and unfermentable lactose, is brewed with cocoa nibs for sweetness and chipotle peppers for that late-afternoon kick you probably need after a long week.
Photo via Hidden Springs Ale Works/FacebookPumpkin Ain’t Easy at Intracoastal Brewing Co.
652 W Eau Gallie Blvd, Melbourne | 321-872-7395
What sounds better for this season than a malty amber ale with the aroma of a flaky, warm homemade pumpkin pie? The subtle spice of this beer will surely rival the hype surrounding the ubiquitous Starbucks PSL.
Photo via wholistichippie_fit/InstagramGeographically Challenged at Playalinda Brewing Co.
305 S. Washington Ave., Titusville | (321) 225-8978
This 9.2% ABV pour features Belgian double IPA with American and New Zealand hops for a worldly flavor that you don’t need to leave Central Florida to taste.
Photo via Playalinda/FacebookBlack Cauldron Brewing Solstice Saison at Broken Cauldron*
1012 Church St. | 407-986-1012
Broken Cauldron is a joint brewery that serves beer from both the Black Cauldron and Broken Strings brewing companies. Both serve slightly different beers, such as Black Cauldron’s Solstice Saison, which is brewed with local orange blossom honey and both French and Belgian Saison yeast.
Photo via USERThe Harder They Fall at Ten10 Brewing Company*
1010 Virginia Drive | 407-930-8993
This stout has hints of both chocolate and coconut, but don’t let its sweet-sounding description fool you. It’s 8% alcohol, the second highest on Ten10’s current beer board.
Photo via malars75/Instagram