Now Open: Fishweir Brewing, Jacksonville

Fishweir Brewing is now open for business.
(photo: Linda Johnson)

November 29, 2018: It's official: Fishweir Brewing Company, in the Murray Hill section of Jacksonville, is now the area's "newest brewery." With a soft opening on Wednesday, November 28, the brewery's Grand Opening Day takes place on Thursday, November 29, beginning at 3pm. 

Owners Broc and Stacey Flores have transformed the former Kit Kat Lounge nightclub on Edgewood Avenue South into a neighborhood tap room and brewery. From the cozy outdoor front porch to the wood-themed interior, guests can look forward to a welcoming atmosphere and a variety of beer styles.

Front porch, for sitting and sipping ... and people-watching.
(photo: Linda Johnson)

The wall will tell the story of the beers on tap. With several house beers currently on tap, including First Block Saison, Bait and Switch Coffee Blonde Ale (made with local coffee beans), Hide Your Feelings Chocolate Stout, and Pucker Factor Kettle Sour, the tap list also offers four guest taps, including a cider.  Guests may remember these house beers, along with the Big Fishweir IPA, from the previous tastings conducted around town earlier this year. 

Plenty of seating at long tables inside the tap room

The wraparound bar has twenty taps, with two ten-tap walls on each side. Look for the beer list to grow quickly, as the fermenters are already working to pump out more beer. Future beers include ESB (Extra Special Bitter, that was part of the tastings), and a new holiday-themed beer. 

Future barrel room behind the windows,
bordered by additional seating along the side

A dedicated barrel room, which will also house foeders, is in the works, according to Brewer Dan Frye. Dan, who attended brewing school in Berlin, Germany, and brewed at breweries across Europe, including Celt Experience in Wales and Exmoor Ales in England, looks forward to the "artistry" involved with brewing sours and barreled beers. By blending beers, and using different ages of beers and different barrels, there is no end to the possibility of creativity and flavors. There may also be beers with unusual, wild or uncommon ingredient combinations coming down the road -- those who attended the tastings may remember the Carrot and Lemongrass Saison and the Pomegranate Pucker Factor Sour, for example.  Expect beers of all styles and taste ranges to tempt those tastebuds. 

The brewhouse behind the tap room

The oversized seven-barrel brewhouse is complemented by five seven-barrel fermenters and two brite tanks. Already looking ahead, Dan added that the brewery plans to add four additional 15-barrel fermenters. 

Back to the bar ... 

The tap room decor combines wood, brick and tile in an open-industrial-loft concept. 

The tap handles spell out "Fishweir" flanked by handles sporting designs of hops. Beers are served in varying sizes -- taster, half-pint, 10-ounce, pint -- allowing for more samples, or sipping on a larger pour of your favorite (nice touch, by the way). Or, try a beer flight (choice of 4 tasters). The brewery partnered with Grater Goods to produce ready-made cheese pairing plates, which are always available. The bar also serves a variety of wines, together with sparkling water and Kombucha.

Bait and Switch Coffee Blonde Ale (half-pint) and
Hide Your Feelings Sweet Chocolate Stout in the glasses.

Taster of Pucker Factor Kettle Sour

Growlers and Crowlers ready for duty

Merchandise available, including "Rooted in Jax" themed wear

Congrats to Fishweir Brewing! Continue to follow Jacksonville's newest brewery for new tappings. Whether you're into sours or traditional styles, there will be a beer on tap at Fishweir Brewing for you. The beers are solid, and good representations of style, in this writer's view. 

Lights are on ... after sunset at Fishweir Brewing

Fishweir Brewing is located at 1183 Edgewood Avenue South, in the city's up-n-coming Murray Hill area, off of I-10 West and Roosevelt Blvd. (US 17). There are a number of dining and food-to-go options easily within walking distance on the same block; the brewery does not serve meals. Brewery hours are: Wednesday-Thursday, 3-10pm; Friday, 3-11pm; Saturday, noon-11pm; and Sunday, noon-8pm. 

Congrats to Fishweir Brewing ... It's a cool, friendly, and comfortable spot serving beers backed by over ten years of homebrewing experience by Head Brewer Broc Flores, and traditional, European, and experimental brewing experience by Brewer Dan Frye.  Looks like these roots will grow into something!

Cheers!

Til next time,

Linda

Linda Johnson, Certified Cicerone®

www.brewnymph.com

(all photos: Linda Johnson)

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