All Florida Beer and Sunshine at Florida Brewers Guild FBG Fest, Tampa

March 8, 2018:  
The Sunshine State was just that on Saturday, March 3, as the Florida Brewers Guild hosted its annual celebration of Florida breweries and beer at its Craft Beer Festival ("FBG Fest") at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park along the river in downtown Tampa. It was all sun and smiles on the first official day of Tampa Bay Beer Week. 

The Park is no stranger to beer fests, and the FBG Fest has been held here year after year. It was a beautiful day along the river to drink Florida beer and meet Florida brewers!

All proceeds from the fest go back to the FBG, a nonprofit trade association dedicated to preserving the rights and interests of the state's craft brewers. The funds are used for lobbying efforts, educational outreach and programs, member events, and additional public events. With over 70 Florida breweries behind the tables pouring between 3-5 beers (or more) each, attendees had the opportunity to taste a number of beers from all across the state - and, yes, that can translate into a beertrip down the road! 

Tampa Bay Beer Week is Marchin' In, March 3-11

March 2, 2018: Four words pretty much sum up this next week: Tampa Bay Beer Week. 

In what just might be a MOAB of its own, Tampa Bay Beer Week brings its mother of all beerweeks to the Tampa area March 3-11. Established in 2012, the ginormous week of events dedicated to growing the local craft beer community includes nine official days of virtually nonstop beer-centric events, including three epic beerfests! Looking for a beertrip? You found it.

No Sun? No Rain! No Problem: Florida Brewers Guild Warmed It Up at Barrel-Aged, Sour & Cider Fest, Jax

December 14, 2017:
Holiday music on the radio while travelling north on I-95. Gray skies. A temperature reading of 48° at 1pm at Intuition Ale Works. Non-tropical breezes skirting over the river. Aromas from the coffee manufacturer a block away. Santa could have been lurking in these un-Florida-like holiday conditions. What's that about bourbon, whiskey, and staying warm? The Florida Brewers Guild hosted its third annual Barrel-Aged, Sour & Cider Fest in the backlot at Intuition Ale Works in Jacksonville on Saturday, December 9, under cloudy skies in a climate that could have evoked an image of a St. Bernard with a barrel. 

Rollin' Out the Barrel: Florida Brewers Guild Barrel-Aged, Sour & Cider Fest Rolls Into Intuition Ale Works

December 4, 2017:
When the Florida Brewers Guild rolls out the third edition of its annual Barrel-Aged, Sour & Cider Fest on Saturday, December 9 at Intuition Ale Works in Jacksonville, attendees can expect "more breweries, more beers" this year, according to Sean Nordquist, FBG Executive Director. The unique fest is set to host over 35 Florida breweries bringing the smooth tastes of barrel-aged beers along with the funk of sours, the tartness of Berliner Weisses and Goses, and the fruitiness of ciders. For those who savor the words "bourbon," "rye," and "whiskey" when describing barrels, and get thrown into a frenzy at the mention of "Brettanomyces" and "Lactobacillus," the fest is certain to tempt tastebuds!

Education, Business and Beer: Florida Brewers Guild First Brewers Conference Delivered It

The Florida Brewers Guild presented its first Florida Brewers Conference August 7-9 at the beautiful Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek in the land of Disney. 

With an agenda of 22 presentations and panel discussions and two evening social events, the event was packed with information, education and networking. And, yes, there was even a bit of beer flowing during hospitality suite hours. Attended by brewers, distributors, retailers and industry partners, topics included brewery operations, distribution, legal issues, statistics, event planning, and marketing.

making HEADlines:

FLORIDA BREWERS GUILD PRESENTS FIRST BREWERS CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO, AUGUST 7-9

[8-9-17: Ed Note: I am attending the Florida Brewers Conference! See daily photos on social media pages. Recap story on the way!]

Brewers, distributors, and brewery trade partners will convene in Orlando this week, as the Florida Brewers Guild presents its inaugural Florida Brewers Conference, August 7-9. The Conference, which is slated to become an annual event, features educational and networking opportunities for those in or following the craft beer industry. A number of speakers are lined up to present discussions on numerous areas of interest, from business operations and legal issues to brewing techniques to marketing.

Florida Brewers Guild FBG Fest Was a Walk in the Park

On March 4, the Florida Brewers Guild ("FBG") hosted its annual signature event, simply known as "FBG Fest," at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park along the Garrison Channel and Tampa Riverwalk in downtown Tampa. Upon arrival at the venue, brewery tents could be seen lining each side of the waterside park (see last week's preview story). Tickets to the all-Florida beerfest went on sale around the first of the new year, as either VIP (one-hour early access) or General Admission. The VIP tickets sold out the week of the fest. 

When you see two of the FBG Board members scanning tickets at the Fest entry, you know that this is truly a "brewers" fest. Vice President Byron Burroughs (Proof Brewing) and Board Member Jay Dingman (Barley Mow Brewing) were kept pretty busy manning the scanners as the VIP gates opened at 1pm. 

Tap Into Florida Craft Beer: Florida Brewers Guild FBG Fest, Saturday, March 4

The most extensive beer week in the Sunshine State returns this coming weekend. Whether you live in the Tampa Bay area or not, chances are pretty good -- in fact, I'd bet a Pair O'Dice Hop Bet Red -- that you've heard of Tampa Bay Beer Week, which "officially" starts Saturday, March 4 (after several pre-TBBW events). It seems only fitting that the Florida Brewers Guild will once again kick off the mega-beer week with its annual FBG Fest Saturday, from 1-5pm, at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park along the Tampa Riverwalk. 

Barrel-Aged, Sours & Ciders, Oh My!.... Intuition Ale Works Hosts Florida Brewers Guild Fest

[Republished from the Beer Buzzed page on the Nightlife section of www.iwantabuzz.com, written by Linda Johnson, 11/7/2016]  

[Ed. Note: 11/9/2016: Aardwolf Brewing Company will debut its new foeder beer, an Oud Bruin (sour Belgian Brown Ale fermented on cherries), at the Fest. Otherwise, Aardwolf's new beer will be available at a bottle release on Tuesday, Nov. 15.]

[11/9/2016: VIEW THE ENTIRE TAP LIST HERE]


If you love beer, and words like “Barrel-Aged,” “Brettanomyces,” “Lactobacillus,” and “Weisse” send your taste buds into a frenzy, the 2nd Annual Florida Brewers Guild Barrel-Aged, Sour & Cider Fest hosted by Intuition Ale Works is where you want to be Saturday, November 12.

Florida Brewers Guild FBG Fest Recap (Retap)

Swamp Head Brewery's Udderly Calm Milk Stout
in the new Fest glass.... sweet!

This past Saturday, March 5, over 1500 beer enthusiasts filled the grounds of downtown Tampa's Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park for the annual Florida Brewers Guild Beer Fest. The weather was perfect for roaming around the riverside park, talking to brewers, beer industry folks and beer-lovers, and, of course, for drinking Florida craft beer! The Fest also kicked off the fifth annual Tampa Bay Beer Week, running this year from March 5-13 all around the Tampa area. 

SaltWater Brewery Celebrates Two Years: Get Reeled In

Vanilla Sea Cow, tapped at 1pm;
Sea Cow Milk Stout, with, well,
vanilla ... As good as it sounds

What do you get when you combine 40 house beers, plus beers from other Florida breweries and three breweries-in-planning, three food trucks, all day music, timed beer tappings, an inside tap room bar, an outside beer truck, a souvenir glass and 70+ degree weather ... not to mention it's December? Pretty much everything you need for a rockin' Two-Year Anniversary Party at South Florida's SaltWater Brewery in Delray Beach. 

This past Saturday, December 19, SaltWater Brewery celebrated two-years young with an all-day Block Party. For several weeks leading up to the epic event, the brewery announced its taplist on social media -- and with each new post, the taplist grew.  There were four timed releases throughout the day, and at least 10 beers were on tap continously.  And, having simply one or two brews for each timed release just wouldn't be enough, so we're talking about ten beers for each tapping at 1pm, 3pm (Sour Hour), 5pm and 7pm. Following that, at 9pm, the taps rotated to "kick" those kegs!

Jax Beer Week: Tapping a Week of Beer Nov. 7-14, 2015

JAX BEER WEEK is comin' at ya Nov. 7-14 this year.  Where?  All over Jax and Jax Beach, at breweries, bars, restaurants.  It's big, really big.

Believe It .... Coppertail (Brewing) Is For Real

As many of you know, I haven't been a stranger to the Tampa area this year.  Between a number of concerts and the Stanley Cup Finals, I think I'm getting to know every bump and construction barricade along I-4 from I-95 pretty well. And, then, there's all that beer over there!  So, last weekend, I headed to Tampa once again, this time for the Jaguars-Buccaneers game and pre-game Bold City Brigade tailgate party (there are photos on social media about that).  

Confessions of a GABF Virgin

Cover of 2015 GABF Program

Brew Bus Brewing and Aardwolf Brewing (Florida) Win Medals at GABF

If you saw my social media feed over this past weekend, you know that I headed west to the Great American Beer Festival ("GABF") presented by the Brewers Association ("BA") at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. In its 29th year, the festival consisted of four sessions from Thursday to Saturday, and I attended two: Thursday opening night and Saturday afternoon members session.  But, first things first.  In addition to the beer tasting, there was also a behind-the-scenes beer competition going on.  In fact, 6,647 beers from 1,552 breweries in all 50 states and D.C. were judged!  The winners were announced Saturday morning, and the event was broadcast live via internet stream. All said, the judging panel of 242 beer experts from 15 countries, including the U.S.and 155 volunteers awarded 275 medals in 92 beer categories, including 145 styles. 

Freedom for the 64 oz Growler!

When I moved here four years ago, I tried to get a refill on a half-gallon (64 oz.) growler that relocated here with me from Northwest Indiana, just outside of Chicago. I mean, what's the big deal; they're everywhere in the Midwest and elsewhere.  No, I was told, can't do that. At first I thought it was because the growler was some kind of out-of-state alien, that needed proof of state residency. Well, we all know the story.....

Florida Brewers Guild Craft Beer Festival Tapped It as Tampa Bay Beer Week 2015 Opened

Last week at this time, I was heading across the state from St. Augustine on the ocean to Tampa on the bay, where the breweries seem to be opening faster than a hard pour.  The duffel bags were loaded with too many clothes for a 2-day trip, and the cooler was enjoying its quiet time off while dutifully awaiting its return cargo. It had been a couple of years since I visited Tampa (see the two "WaZoo" posts from August 2013), and it was time to go back.