St Augustine Craft Brewers Fest: A Beerfest Flowed Thru the Fountain of Youth

First fest beer: Dog Rose Brewing Lincolnville Lager
(photo: Linda Johnson/BrewNymph)

May 15, 2019: It's unknown whether the attendees at last Saturday's inaugural St Augustine Craft Brewers' Fest streamed into the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park seeking rejuvenation and a quest for youth (yeah, the fact that it was a "beerfest" was definitely enticing in its own right). However, one thing appeared certain even before it was all said and done: this was indeed a "feel-good" fest. Last fall, the organizers embarked on a journey of their own, found an historic and community venue with an abundance of nature, and fit a beerfest into the scenic site. 

The small, intimate fest brought 26 mostly-Florida breweries together, along with several food trucks, under a tree-lined parcel of land bordering gorgeous marshlands. Add continuous foot-tapping live music, an enclosed climate-controlled VIP event space, and some stunning feathered species roaming the grounds, and it all added up to a relaxed and highly enjoyable event for all. 

Lighten Up with Nights of Pints at St. Augustine Breweries

UPDATE: 11/17/2018: Nights of Pints got underway on Friday, 11/16, with kickoff events at each of the four breweries, and Keepers of the Coast on site at each, as the event charity partner. The new event shirts are now on sale, and the beers released! Get that shirt and go!

New Shirts on display. Take a look at the sizes, then buy one!
This from Bog Brewing. Photo: Linda Johnson, 11/16/2018

Shirts, punch cards, and one of the collab beers: Double Fudge Stout,
Bog Brewing with Ancient City Brewing. Beer available ONLY at Bog Brewing.
(photo: Linda Johnson, 11/16/2018)

HAPPY NIGHTS OF PINTS!
(Here with the Double Fudge Stout at Bog Brewing)
(photo: Linda Johnson, 11/16/2018)

November 11, 2018: HoHoHo, the Holidays are here! It's time to "lighten up already," as St. Augustine's four breweries bring back the popular Nights of Pints visit-your-local-brewery travel program for the second year. Designed to coincide with the city's famed annual Nights of Lights twinkling holiday display featuring millions of lights shimmering around the downtown, Nights of Pints is a fun respite from the walking and hiking -- after all, hydration is a necessity! Participation is easy: just purchase your official Nights of Pints event shirt (cost: $30) at any of the four local breweries, and get your passport punchcard good for a beer at each brewery. Then, walk around more, sip a beer, and head over to the next one! 

The 2018 Nights of Pints passport punchcard. With all of the walking, you'll be ready for a beer!

It all starts Friday night, November 16, one day ahead of the city's "Light-Up Nite." Start your holiday season with Nights of Pints launch parties at each brewery at 7pm on Friday night. This year, the breweries collaborated with each other to brew special event beers. One collaboration brew will be available at each: 

Bog Brewing: Double Fudge Russian Imperial Stout, brewed with Ancient City Brewing;

Old Coast Ales: Belgian Dubbel, brewed with Dog Rose Brewing;

Ancient City Downtown Taproom: Belgian Dubbel Christmas Abbey Ale brewed with Old Coast Ales; and

Dog Rose Brewing: update: Fezziwig Brown Ale with Orange Zest brewed with Bog Brewing. 

Photos: Because It Happened! Pink Up The Pace 5k, St. Augustine

October 6, 2018: If it's the first Saturday in October, it must be time for Pink Up The Pace 5K through the streets of St. Augustine, Florida! 

Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Pink Up The Pace raises funds to assist those affected by breast cancer and to bring awareness to the community. The annual 5K coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The organization was founded by Cindy Ortiz Chaconas and Amy Kaelin, both breast cancer survivors. Over two thousand participants were expected for the 2018 Pink Up The Pace 5k, held on October 6, 2018. 

No matter what your goal is -- to run fast, improve your 5k time, or just to finish the 3.1 miles -- one thing is certain: this is a fun and loving event for a great cause. 

The morning began before sunrise, as volunteers set up tables at Francis Field, adjacent to the Visitors Information Center and parking garage in downtown St. Augustine. Music filled the air, as bottles of water and bagels filled tables and tubs. A warm-up Zumba class, led by Funkytown Fitness, got bodies moving and feet tapping:

Gator Tales: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Croctoberfest was a Walk in the Park

Local lager from Dog Rose Brewing, St. Augustine,
at St. Augustine Alligator Farm's first Croctoberfest

October 3, 2018: Celebrating 125 years as a beloved tourist and educational attraction, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park hosted its first beerfest on Friday night, September 28, 2018. The inaugural Croctoberfest brought out both four-legged and two-legged creatures, and even some who moved around in other ways. A cozy and intimate brew-at-the-zoo beer-and-food event, Croctoberfest took place throughout the park, as guests roamed through various habitats sipping beer, listening to music, engaging and watching the zoo inhabitants, and chatting with conservation organizations. "We believe the event was a great success .. with over $12,000 raised for the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group and Malayan Gharials," recapped Trevor Mia, of the park's Education Department, after the event. 

The fest was unique in that a number of local conservation organizations were set up alongside Florida brewery and local food vendors. The tree-lined backdrop provided a beautiful evening setting, and the zoo residents also provided entertainment. 

Educational activities began before the doors opened, as zoo staff introduced two gharials to attendees outside the event entrance.