making HEADlines: Bog Brewing Bottle Release

making HEADlines:

BOG BREWING, ST. AUGUSTINE, SET FOR SECOND BOTTLE RELEASE DECEMBER 16

December 10, 2017

St. Augustine, FL: 

Seven days after making its inaugural beerfest appearance at the Florida Brewers Guild ("FBG") Barrel-Aged, Sour & Cider Fest, Bog Brewing Company is set for its second bottle release on December 16, at its tap room in St. Augustine. 


Bog Brewing will release its "Light in the Dark" Belgian Tripel, aged in bourbon barrels from St. Augustine Distillery. The brewery introduced its new barrel-aged beer at the FBG Fest in Jacksonville on December 9. In a statement, the brewery described the beer as having "a golden color and vibrant bourbon aromas, with a warming finish," at 9.9 ABV.  "I love the interaction of wood and beer, because it creates flavors and nuances that you can't get from a stainless steel tank," said Steve Mendoza, co-owner and head brewer. Aging the beer in St. Augustine Distillery's bourbon barrels is a "match made in heaven," and "it will only get better with age."

St. Augustine Breweries Light Things Up With Nights of Pints

November 2, 2017: The four St. Augustine breweries are lighting things up this holiday season by introducing the first "Nights of Pints" celebration of local beer in the historic city during the annual Nights of Lights tradition. 

Ancient City Brewing, Bog Brewing Company, Old Coast Ales and Dog Rose Brewing have teamed up to highlight the city's craft beer presence and give locals and visitors alike a fun way to experience their breweries -- and, receive a complimentary pint of beer at each. To participate, just purchase the special-edition Nights of Pints commemorative t-shirt ($25) at any of the four breweries, get your beer passport, and get ready to explore!

That's a First: Bog Brewing Company To Celebrate First Anniversary March 4 With First Bottle Release

[UPDATE, 2/26/2017:  The Anniversary Ale referenced below will be subject to a two-bottle limit, at $15 each. Sales of bottles will begin at the back door of the tap room on March 4, 2017.  Cheers!]

On March 4, 2016, brothers Steve Mendoza and John French quietly opened Bog Brewing Company on West King St. just off of US 1 and downtown St. Augustine (see pre-opening story from this site here).  The brothers opened the 3.5 barrel brewery and tap room in a building that housed a former drugstore and a pawn shop with the intention of bringing a neighborhood brewery to the area. Over the course of the first year in its young existence, they have done just that. Walk into Bog Brewing anytime, and guests are immediately made to feel welcome while enjoying a glass of house-made craft beer (and, yes, this writer speaks from experience).  

Opening Day in St. Augustine: Bog Brewing Company

It may be Spring Training elsewhere in the Sunshine State, but yesterday, St. Augustine witnessed its own Opening Day: Bog Brewing Company officially opened its doors to the public. Serving up six original house craft beers, owners Steve Mendoza, John France and Jeffery Hayes unlocked the front door at 218 West King St. to guests already waiting to be among the first customers to sample their beers. With a soft opening scheduled for noon, Steve let those folks in a few minutes early, and the steady stream of well-wishers continued throughout the day. I arrived shortly before 4pm, and I found the place humming with guests at the bar and tables. If you haven’t heard about the newest addition to the local North Florida brewery scene, take a look at my earlier story from a couple of weeks ago, where I got a sneak peek before opening day.

Shhhhh! ..... Bog Brewing Company Ready to Open in St. Augustine

EDITOR'S NOTE: OPENING DAY IS FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 12pm
See also: my follow-up story from March 5
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Quietly, over on West King St. in St. Augustine, just west of the US 1/King St. intersection which leads to downtown, three guys who love beer have been hard at work converting a building which previously housed a former pawn shop and an old drugstore/soda shop into a craft brewery and community tap room. 

From the outside, you may not have noticed much going on at 218 W. King St., but inside, the transformation is just about complete, and within the next couple of weeks or so, you'll be able to visit and taste the small batch brews crafted by Bog Brewing Company.