Hope everyone had a great Beer Day on Thursday, the anniversary of the official end of Prohibition. Lots of Florida craft beer venues had celebrations and specials to mark the occasion, but the best I could do was a couple of Sam Adams at Chili’s after picking up my wife at the airport. Then, of course, a couple of other craft beers when I got home. Now, back to the news.
Joey Redner. Businessman and cookie server.
Joey Redner, founder and owner of Cigar City Brewery, got a shoutout from Florida Trend magazine in its Economic Yearbook 2011. Here’s what they had to say:
ROOKIE PLAYER: Joey Redner, owner, Cigar City Brewing — Redner’s Cigar City Brewing sold its first bottle of beer in March 2009. In 2010, it sold 3,500 barrels. This year, Redner expects to sell 9,000 barrels or more. Redner, 38, started with two employees, including himself, and is now up to 32.
Congrats, Joey, and all the crew at Cigar City. Well deserved.
A Fest is Born
The inaugural Winter Haven Brew Fest will take place Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. in downtown Winter Haven. Its website says that “1,500 young professionals, ‘foodies’ and craft beer enthusiasts will descend onto downtown Winter Haven’s Main Street to pair, drink and taste some of the best area foods and drink around.” Well, I fit into one of those categories, but I’m not sure if I’ll make it. Saturday may be when I finally get around to breaking in the home brewing kit that I got for Christmas.
Collaborative Ventures
Meanwhile, back at Cigar City, the brewery will host a Bruery tap takeover today. The Bruery folks will be in town to brew the other half of the collaboration beer that Cigar City made last year at the California brewery. Of course, among the offerings will be Marron Acidifie, the first half of the collaboration. Loko Cuisine will offer menu items with a “Spanglish” Theme. Cigar City will have several of its beers available as well.
Can’t make it to Tampa? You’ll get another chance Sunday at Orlando’s premier craft beer bar Redlight Redlight, which will hook its taps up to kegs of many of the same beers offered at Cigar City’s event. It runs from 1 to 9 p.m.
Bring Your Own Bagpipes (Not Really)
The folks at Dunedin Brewery are helping the community celebrate its 45th annual Dunedin Highland Games with a performance by Celtic/Rock band Seven Nations at 9 p.m. Cover is $10, but your first pint is free with admission. They’ll also be pouring a Highland Games Smoked Porter, brewed especially for the occasion.
Slow Food, Cold Beer
There’s a pretty cool event happening in Northeast Florida on Sunday. Twenty-four local farms 24 farms in St. John’s, Baker, Bradford, Duval and Putnam counties will open their gates for the community to learn about local food production during the Slow Food Tour-de-Farm. Jacksonville’s Intuition Ale Works will be pouring their brews at Black Hog Farm in East Palatka. Also, through April Intuition will donate a dollar from every beer sold on Thursdays to the St. Johns Riverkeeper to mark River Month. The advocacy group’s mission is to work for clean and healthy waters in the St. Johns River. Intuition brewed a special beer for the occasion, too: Riverkeeper Red.
These are a few of my favorite things …
Mr. Dunderbacks in New Tampa will host a Belgian Beer and Cheese Pairing on Tuesday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. with Bob Sylvester from Saint Somewhere Brewing. There will also be a Beer 101 class on “how to make and enjoy the diversity of the Belgian beer making craft.”
Reminder: Please use our free interactive calendar to promote your upcoming craft beer events. The link’s at the top of this page.
That’s it for Beer Bites this week. Feel free to email trips4beer@gmail.com with any ideas or story tips.
Until next time, Florida, remember: We are here! We are Beer!
