Beer in Florida

Proof Brewing consolidating operations, closing original brewery

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Gerard Walen

Proof Brewing Co. in Tallahassee announced this morning that it is shutting down operations at its original location on Tennessee Street and consolidating all of its operations to its newest brewery location in the Railroad Square district.

This is the last weekend the original business will be open.

Owners Byron and Angela Burroughs started the Tennessee Avenue operation as a bottle shop and liquor store in 2007, and a year later opened a pub there, specializing in craft beer. In 2012, the Burroughs installed a three-barrel brewhouse, turning Proof into a full-fledged craft brewery.

Continued success led them to open the 20-barrel brewhouse and taproom at Railroad Square in May 2014, where they continue to produce their award-winning beers in greater quantity.

Here is the letter the Burroughs sent out this morning:

From everyone at Proof Brewing Co. we would like to offer our deepest thanks and appreciation for all of the love and support we have received from our hometown of Tallahassee. It has been amazing to be a witness and catalyst for the growth and appreciation of craft beer locally. Because of your support these past 8 years, we have grown from a Craft Beer Retailer and Pub into an award winning Craft Brewery. Our goal is to be a brewery of the highest standard in what we consider to be the best brewing state in the nation.

With this goal in mind we have decided to consolidate our three operations and put all of our focus and efforts into our Railroad Square Brewery, expanded growth and production.

This weekend Friday December 18th and Saturday December 19th will be the last days of business operations at our Tennessee Street location. Friday, December 18th, Proof Bottle Shop will open at 12pm and close at 5pm. Proof Pub will be open normal hours from 5pm-2am on Friday December 18th, and Saturday December 19th.

Moving forward all Proof Brewing Co. operations and events will take place at our Railroad Square Brewery, Tasting Room and Beer Garden and we have some amazing things in store for 2016!

Thanks for drinking local and looking forward to having a beer with everyone in 2016!

Best Wishes,

Byron & Angela Burroughs

Share this:

Posted in Beer news, Brewery | Tagged beer, beer in florida, brew pub, brewery, brewing, brewpub, craft beer, craft beer in florida, craft brewer, craft brewing, florida, florida beer events, microbrewery, North Florida, proof brewing, railroad square, tallahassee, top beer in florida | Leave a comment

Brew Hub to expand, signs JDub’s and M.I.A

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Gerard Walen

image courtesy of Brew Hub.

Brew Hub, the relatively massive “partner brewing” facility just off of Interstate 4 in Lakeland, announced today that it will expand its capacity by 60 percent, and has signed two award-winning Florida breweries – Sarasota’s JDub’s Brewing Company and M.I.A Brewing Company of Miami – to do some of their brewing at what will be a 100,000 bbl-per-year brewery.

Here’s the release they sent to Beer in Florida:

ST. LOUIS (Dec. 17, 2015): Brew Hub, a company led by a team of beer-industry executives and craft-brewing experts, announced the expansion of their Lakeland brewery and the formation of new partnerships with JDub’s Brewing Company of Sarasota and M.I.A. Brewing Company of Miami. The brewery expansion will allow Brew Hub to increase its incremental capacity by 60 percent, and the partnerships with JDub’s and M.I.A. will enable both craft brewers to immediately expand distribution and grow volume.

Brew Hub’s 64,000-square-foot Lakeland brewery opened September 2014. The brewery had an initial brewing capacity of 60,000 barrels, or nearly 1 million cases, annually. The expansion will increase the brewery’s capacity to 100,000 barrels, or 1.4 million cases, annually. In addition to its home brands, Brew Hub brews beer for partners Cigar City, BJ’s Restaurants, Toppling Goliath, Green Man, Orange Blossom, GolfBeer and Brew Bus.

“We designed the brewery with expansion in mind. We hoped this day would come – it just arrived sooner than we could have ever imagined,” said Tim Schoen, CEO of Brew Hub. “The expansion proves the model we built to help craft brewers grow is working. We’re excited to continue helping our partners grow as we expand, and we welcome the opportunity to add quality brewers like JDub’s and M.I.A. to our team.”

During its first 12 months of operation, Brew Hub expanded its bottling line and installed a new, state-of-the-art canning line to handle increased demand. In January, the company will install new bright beer tanks, increasing packaging capacity by 64 percent. In February, the company will add eight new fermentation tanks, increasing fermentation and conditioning capacity by 60 percent.

“With these additions, Brew Hub can brew and package an additional 40,000 barrels of beer in 2016,” said Brew Hub’s chief of brewing operations, Jim Ottolini. “We’re getting thirsty just thinking about it!”

Due to high demand, Brew Hub’s brewing capacity has been sold out since July 2015. The expansion allows for an increase in production for all existing partners and the opportunity to add new partner brewers. The expansion also is needed to meet projected growth for 2016.

Founded in 2013, JDub’s Brewing produced approximately 4,000 barrels (55,000 cases) of beer in 2015.

The partnership with Brew Hub will allow JDub’s to increase its volume to nearly 10,000 barrels (137,000 cases) annually.

“Partnering with Brew Hub is a dream come true,” said Jeremy Joerger, founder and CEO of JDub’s Brewing Company. “Their state-of-the-art brewery and the deep experience of the Brew Hub team give small brewers like JDub’s access to an array of talent, tools and technologies found only in larger breweries.”

Founded in 2014, M.I.A. Brewing Company produced approximately 2,000 barrels (27,000 cases) of beer in 2015. The partnership with Brew Hub will allow M.I.A. to increase its volume to nearly 8,000 barrels (110,000 cases) annually.

“The partnership with Brew Hub is a game-changer for us,” said Eddie Leon, founder of M.I.A. Brewing Company. “This is an exciting chapter in our company’s history, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Brew Hub will package the beer in cans, bottles and kegs for both brewers. Florida is the only state where JDub’s and M.I.A. currently distribute their beer. The increase in production will allow both brewers to expand their distribution throughout the state and regionally.

Share this:

Posted in Beer news, Brewery | Tagged beer, beer in florida, brew hub, brew pub, brewery, brewing, brewpub, central florida, Cigar City, craft beer, craft beer in florida, craft brewing, festival, florida, florida beer, florida beer events, florida craft beer, jdub's, mia brewing, miami, microbrewery, Sarasota, Tampa, top beer in florida | Leave a comment

Enter the Grindhaus: New brewery planned for Clearwater

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Gerard Walen

“Grindhouse” is a cult-film genre characterized by low budgets and cheesy special effects, often bursting with buckets of fake blood and curvaceous B-movie actresses filling out the cast.

“Grindhaus Brew Lab” is the latest project of longtime Florida craft beer personalities and supporters Robb Larson and Lisa Colburn.

The venture, which they hope to have open next year, will operate from where the two currently run HiFi Homebrew and BBQ Supply in Clearwater.

Because it will be situated in their existing business, the property and much of the infrastructure are already in place, but they have started an Indiegogo page to raise $15,000 to “help pay for boring building improvements like plumbing and drainage but also for shiny new brewing toys like the brewing system and fermenters. ”

Here’s the news release announcing the new venture.

Robb Larson and Lisa Colburn, owners of HiFi Homebrew and BBQ Supply in Clearwater, Florida, are pleased to announce they are planning to open a brewery in 2016.

In less than a year, HiFi Homebrew and BBQ Supply has become one of the most popular homebrew stores in Pinellas County. Hosting such events as “Battles of the Brewers” and “Brew and View” has given HiFi a reputation for being unique and thinking outside-the-box. Robb and Lisa wish to add to this success by creating a brewery on premise. They are inviting the community to join on their adventure through Indiegogo, http://igg.me/at/grindhausbrewlab.

The brewery will be named “Grindhaus Brew Lab”, a reference to a style of cinema they are fans of. The brewery will be movie themed.

Grindhaus Brew Lab will be a small neighborhood brewery for the central Pinellas County area focusing on high quality beers and housed inside of HiFi Homebrew and BBQ Supply.

Originally from the Twin Cities area in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, Robb and Lisa fell in love with craft beer and the process of making it after being inspired by Summit Brewing, a craft brewery institution in St. Paul. In 2005 Robb and Lisa relocated to Florida where their passion for beer and brewing flourished. Robb, besides being an accomplished Beer Blogger with his Tampa Bay Beer Syndicate page, would eventually go on to become a cofounder and Director of Development for Coppertail Brewing in Tampa while Lisa (who is a member of the Pink Boots Society) formed the prestigious all female craft beer group “Bay Area Barley’s Angels”.

Robb and Lisa will be joined by Tony Vincenti, an award winning homebrewer and craft beer expert who has assisted at HiFi Homebrew and BBQ Supply since its opening.

Grindhaus Brew Lab plans to open sometime in 2016.

Robb and Lisa have started a website for the Grindhaus Brew Lab project as well.

Here’s a video explaining more:

<iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=roatriforbee-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0761168117&asins=0761168117&linkId=YOWEVA3RJDJ2J5WP&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"><br /> <br /> <iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=roatriforbee-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1612120903&asins=1612120903&linkId=NVT3CAJVXVQVI7W4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"><br /> <br />

Share this:

Posted in Beer news, New Breweries | Tagged beer, beer in florida, brew pub, brewery, brewing, brewpub, clearwater brewery, craft beer, craft beer in florida, craft brewer, craft brewing, florida, florida beer events, florida craft beer, grindhaus, grindhaus brew lab, grindhouse, microbrewery, new clearwater breweries, top beer in florida | Leave a comment

Florida Beer Bites: A Florida brewery closes its doors

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Gerard Walen

I apologize that I was unable to post one of these last week, especially after being absent Thanksgiving week, but as some of you know, I also do freelance writing and had a lot of deadlines piled up at once.

But I’m back, and unfortunately this week’s Beer Bites begins with bad news. One of the Tampa Bay area’s most beloved breweries has shuttered its doors. The rumors about the impending closure of Three Palms Brewing began circulating on social media channels earlier this week, and on Thursday founder and owner Randy Reaver confirmed it in an email sent to the members of Three Palms’ bottle club, which read in part:

It breaks my heart to bring you this very unfortunate and sad news, but due to various circumstances, we had to close Three Palms Brewing effective immediately.

We have made so many great friends over the past years, with majority of you on this very list! It has been an honor to serve you, as well as seeing you enjoy our beers over the past years.

Three Palms opened in April 2012 in an industrial warehouse district in East Tampa, and its beers won several awards over the years.

Even in an industry populated by really good people, Randy stands out as a top-notch guy who never has a bad word for anyone. I hope the best for him and his wife, Danelle, in whatever their next endeavor may be.

Catching up

Here’s a few quick links to what happened since the last Beer Bites was published:

To offset the depressing news I led with, check out this hilarious chronicle of the extraordinary efforts of Engine 15 Brewing Company in Jacksonville to register the federal trademark for its Nut Sack Double Brown Ale. Read it here.
Cigar City Brewing released more details on the 2016 Hunahpu’s Day.
Yelp’s Local Brew Week featuring various breweries in Broward-Palm Beach continues through Saturday.
The Jax Ale Trail marked its first year.

Florida Brewery news

Bold City Brewery in Jacksonville announced plans to open another brewing location in the city’s downtown. As the Daily Record reports:

The company signed a lease last week for the storefront at 109 E. Bay St., adjacent to the Cowford Chophouse. The location was formerly occupied by Forge 3D Printing.

The move comes within a year of Intuition Ale’s bid to move Downtown near the Sports Complex.

Welcome!

A huge welcome to the newest sponsor of our Florida Brewery Map and List Page. Marker 48 Brewing in Weeki Wachee (yes, where the mermaids swim) held its official grand opening on Nov. 21. The only full-scale production brewery and taproom in Hernando County has proven so popular that the owners decided to open earlier, at noon, Wednesday through Sunday. If you haven’t had an opportunity to swing by yet, plan a trip there. It’s certainly a unique space, and the beer is top-notch. Hint: I’ve heard the tours on Saturdays are not to be missed.

If you or your business is interested in becoming a sponsor of this high-traffic page, drop me a line at gerard@beerinflorida.com and I’ll forward the details to you.

Festivals

It’s the time of year when beer festival organizers take a break, so there are none to report this weekend. If I have missed one, feel free to leave a comment below.

That’s it for this week. If you find this website useful, feel free to drop a little money into our tip jar on up there on the right rail. If you’re planning your beer journeys in the Sunshine State, check out our Florida Brewery Map and List. I should be announcing an update very soon.

Cheers!

Gerard

Beer in Florida’s mission is to chronicle and support the thriving Florida craft beer community, but as a reminder, especially as the excesses of the holiday season lie before us: Drink responsibly. Designated drivers, hotel rooms, Uber, Lyft, and taxis are all great ideas. In fact, if you haven’t used Uber yet, you can get your first ride free (up to $15) by using the code uberBeerInFlorida when you sign up for the ride-share service.

Share this:

Posted in Beer bites, Beer news | Tagged 3 palms brewing, beer, beer and food, beer in florida, brew pub, brewery, brewing, brewpub, central florida, Cigar City, cigar city hunahpu's, craft beer, craft beer in florida, craft brewer, craft brewing, festival, florida, florida beer, florida beer events, hunah, hunahphu's day 2016, hunahpu's day, jacksonville, microbrewery, Tampa, Three palms brewing, top beer in florida | 1 Comment

Beer in Florida

Proof Brewing consolidating operations, closing original brewery

Brew Hub to expand, signs JDub’s and M.I.A

Enter the Grindhaus: New brewery planned for Clearwater