St. Pete Craft Beer Expo, 2010 version.
Happy days are here again.
Not that there’s been much sad news coming from the Florida craft beer scene of late, but the torrent of glad tidings this week should warm the cockles of beer geeks’ hearts across the Sunshine State.
It’s been a rare week in another way. We don’t often get to point our fingers at other places in the country this time of year and give them a Nelson Muntz-worthy “Ha Ha” in regards to the weather. But the heat wave across the Midwest and Northeast has offered us Floridians the rare opportunity to gloat that our temperatures are “only” in the mid-90s.
However, I do feel a little sorry for those folks – some of whom I even call “friends” – so here’s some quick tips on how to deal with the sweltering swelter, based on five decades of dealing with it eight months or so a year. 1) Do not leave the air-conditioning. 2) If you must go outside, remain perfectly still and in the shade. 3) Drink a lot of water. 4) Drink a lot of craft beer.
Now, on to this week’s Beer Bites
Some New Kids on the Block
I’m not talking about the NKOTBSB concert tonight in Orlando, but about new Florida craft breweries that are getting close to opening their doors.
- According to Jacksonville.com’s Amber Waves blog, Mile Marker Brewing in St. Augustine is in the final steps of getting the necessary licenses and permits to sell its brew and is expected to open to the public within a month. With two 15-barrel systems and a bottling line already in place, expect this brewery to make a big splash on the Florida craft beer scene.
- Seventh Sun Brewery in Dunedin has launched a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a placeholder website. This update is posted on the FB page: “Thank you for joining 7th Sun’s facebook page. It’s been a long road getting here & we still have far to go – if all goes well, our doors will open in October. In the mean time, please stay tuned to watch things progress and for goodies along the way – not beer yet – but we’ll get creative in other ways. Thank you for your support! Salut!” This may be the phoenix rising from the ashes of the unsuccessful effort to open Swell Beer in Dunedin. Two of Swell Beer’s principals, Devon Kreps and Justin Stange, are listed as managers of Seventh Sun Brewing Company LLC, according to Florida Division of Corporations records.
- Hourglass Brewery in Longwood has launched a website and Facebook page. Details are scarce, but I’ll let you know more when I get more information on it.
All of this is great news for the Florida craft beer lover. Onward and upward!
Facebook Groupies
Leigh Middlemass of Longwood recently started a “Florida Beer” Facebook group to, as he posts, “be a beer network within the state of Florida. Remember this group is to help promote beer in Florida. Please only post information or topics related to, or pertaining to beer either brewed in Florida, or beer sold in Florida.. Craft and specialty beer is the main focus. We can all help promote beer within the Sunshine State. Thank you.” There are already more than 100 members, and the conversation has been, to say the least, inspiring. Here’s a hint: “Florida Beer Week.” Stay tuned and join the conversation here.
Pour It Slow and Steady
The St. Petersburg Cask Beer Expo kicks off tomorrow at the historic Coliseum in downtown St. Pete. Read more about it in this Beer in Florida preview.
Dark Arts Ahead
Denise Burke of the Burkes of Ireland Pub, reportedly a craft beer oasis in an otherwise macro market, is putting together the Dark Arts Beer Fest in Crystal River on October 29. The festival planning is well on the way with a well-designed website and a Facebook page. The next step is to get more breweries and vendor to sign up, Denise said. This looks like it will be the start of a premier annual festival in one of the most beautiful areas of the state. To participate, go to this link for a registration form.
On the Agenda
- Today through Sunday: Unibroue Weekend at Mellow Mushroom in Tampa. Information here.
- Growlers Pub First Anniversary Party will be Saturday in Sarasota. Information here.
- The Big Beer Event will be Tuesday at World of Beer in West Palm Beach. Expect a lot of tasty – and high-gravity – brews. Information here.
- Victory Keep The Pint Night will be Wednesday at Willard’s Tap House in Largo. Information here.
- Hey Chimay – Part II will be Wednesday at Mr. Beery’s in Sarasota. Information here.
- Drink Local Keep the Pint Night will be Thursday at Pour House Tampa. Information here.
That’s it for this week’s Beer Bites. I hope you found something useful in it or found a craft beer-focused event near your home that you didn’t know about before.
Please email trips4beer@gmail.com with any ideas or story tips. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Until next time, Florida, remember: We are Here! We are Beer!
