making HEADlines: Fishweir Brewing, Jax, Opening Day November 29

making HEADlines:

FISHWEIR BREWING, JAX, OPENING DAY NOVEMBER 29 IN MURRAY HILL AREA

[Ed. Note 11/29/2018: See also: New article with photos/content from Soft Opening, November 28: HERE]

November 26, 2018: 

Fishweir Brewing Co-Owners Broc and Stacey Flores,
at a brewery tasting in July  (photo: Linda Johnson)

On Thanksgiving Day, Jacksonville's newest entrant into the area's craft beer market, Fishweir Brewing Company, took to social media and announced its Grand Opening Day set for Thursday, November 29.  Having provided regular updates on construction progress at the Murray Hill venue on Edgewood Avenue, the brewery recently reported that the lights were on and kegging of house beers had begun. 

Broc and Stacey Flores will welcome the public to their new brewery and 1500-square foot tap room at 1183 Edgewood Avenue South on November 29 beginning at 3pm. 


The couple made several appearances over the course of 2018, including Riverside Craft Beer Festival, Beer:30 San Marco, and Really Good Beer Stop, where craft beer enthusiasts sampled sneak peeks of a number of the new brewery's house beers. Although initially described as a sour-focused brewery, the tastings revealed a variety of styles, such as Extra Special Bitter, Sweet Chocolate Stout, traditional American IPA, Saison, and a Coffee Blonde Ale, in addition to a kettle sour.  

making HEADlines: Jax Beer Week, November 3-10, 2018

making HEADlines:

LOCAL COMMUNITY AND BEER EVENTS BOOKEND JAX BEER WEEK; NEW BEER TAPPINGS AND RELEASES HIGHLIGHT THE WEEK, NOVEMBER 3-10, 2018

October 30, 2018, Jacksonville, FL:  

Hey, Jacksonville: Jax Beer Week arrives on the Jacksonville Beer Scene, starting November 3 at the beer garden at Jacksonville PorchFest.  The annual music fest, which runs from noon til 9pm, once again provides tunes throughout the city's Springfield neighborhood, with musical acts singing and strumming on front porches and on the Main Stage at Klutho Park. Attendees at the free music fest can stroll along the tree-lined streets and stop at designated houses to listen and dance the afternoon away. 

A selection of craft beer will be available at the beer garden in the park. Platinum PorchFest Sponsors  include local breweries Intuition Ale Works, Aardwolf Brewing Company and Veterans United Craft Brewery. Yes, you can even take that beer with you as you make your way around the neighborhood!  

Be sure to stop at the Jax Beer Society tent in the beer garden to sample beers from two of the area's newest breweries, SJ Brewing (12-3pm) and Tabula Rasa Brewing (3-6pm).  SJ Brewing opened in August on State Road 200 in Yulee, and Tabula Rasa, in the city's "Railyard District," opened its doors in September.

Making HEADlines: Permits Issued for Legacy Ale Works, Jacksonville

making HEADlines:

LEGACY ALE WORKS, JACKSONVILLE, RECEIVES APPROVAL AND PERMITS FROM CITY; CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY ON BREWERY AND TAP ROOM

October 26, 2018, Jacksonville, FL:

Brewery-in-planinng Legacy Ale Works has announced that the City of Jacksonville has approved construction of its brewery and tap room, located at 14965 Old St. Augustine Rd. in the Bartram Park area. With permits issued, brewery owners Matt and Elizabeth Jacobs have brought on Horn Builders, a residential and commercial construction firm, for the $185,000 build-out of the 3300 square-foot venue.



Construction is anticipated to take three to four months, said Matt Jacobs in a statement. “From there, we will work aggressively to install all the equipment and obtain the necessary permits to brew and sell beer. All in all, we are pushing for an early 2019 opening, barring any other delays.”

The husband-and-wife co-owners encountered unexpected delays in the re-zoning process and during finalization of architectural plans. “A few things popped up along the way that caused us to pause and evaluate our needs for the space,” said Elizabeth Jacobs. “As eager as we are to move forward with the project, we did not want to rush this part of the process, as the choices we make now could dramatically affect us in the future.”

With the hiring of Chuck Horn, owner of Horn Builders, the Legacy Ale Works owners benefit from Horn’s prior experience building and opening Atlantic Beach Brewing Company, where Horn is a co-owner. “Chuck has been a huge asset for us since he fully understands the needs of a brewery,” added Elizabeth Jacobs. “His expertise in our industry as it relates to construction is two-fold, since he understands both the code requirements of the city as well as the needs of the bar and brewery. It really was the best choice for us, and we are looking forward to dramatic changes happening soon.”

Legacy Ale Works has appeared around Jacksonville over the past couple of years sampling beers and promoting the brewery’s loyalty club, the LegacyMakers. With construction underway, further progress updates will follow. 

Cheers,

Linda Johnson,

Certified Cicerone®

www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines: Florida Breweries Earn Medals at 2018 Great American Beer Festival

making HEADlines:

FLORIDA BREWERIES EARN MEDALS AT 2018 GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL

Denver CO, September 22, 2018: The first day of Fall saw six Florida breweries notch medals at the 32nd edition of the Great American Beer Festival, held September 20-22 in Denver. With 2,404 breweries and 8,496 entries from around the world in this year's competition, the pre-eminent annual beer competition awarded medals in 102 beer categories, covering 167 beer styles.  This year's category with the highest number of entries was the Juicy or Hazy IPA, with 391 entries. While the American-Style IPA category historically notches the highest number of entries, it was second this year (311), just behind the haze-craze IPAs (391).  Three breweries: 10 Barrel Brewing (Bend OR), Alesong Brewing and Blending (Eugene OR), and  Lewis & Clark Brewing (Helena MT) tied for the most number of medals at three each. 

According to the Brewers Association, over 800 breweries participated in the 2018 GABF at the Colorado Convention Center, which spanned over 584,000 square feet. Over 4,000 beers were served to more than 62,000 attendees, and the mega-event was staffed with over 4,000 volunteers. 

Six Florida breweries brought home the hardware of Gold, Silver or Bronze medals. Congratulations to the following:

Escape Brewing, Trinity: Silver: Goofy Footed, American Style Wheat Beer
Walking Tree Brewery, Vero Beach: Silver: Barnacled Manatee, Barleywine Style Ale
Cigar City Brewing, Tampa: Gold: Maduro Brown Ale, Brown Porter
Copperpoint Brewing, Boynton Beach: Gold: Coco for Coxness, Chocolate Beer
First Magintude Brewing, Gainesville: Gold: Drift, English Mild Ale
Big Top Brewing, Sarasota: Bronze: Hawaiian Lion Tosated Coconut Coffee Porter,
Field Beer
Cigar City Brewing, Tampa: Silver: Guayabera,  International Style Pale Ale

Congratulations to these Florida breweries, and to all of the medal winners! 

A complete list of the medal winners can be found here. 

The 2019 GABF takes place in Denver October 3-5, 2019. For a  personal look at this site's visit to the 2015 GABF, take a look here. 

Cheers!

Linda Johnson, Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines: HalfwayThere to TBBW, August 25

making HEADlines:

TAMPA BEERFEST, AUGUST 25, CELEBRATES "HALFWAY THERE" TO TAMPA BAY BEER WEEK

[Ed. Note, 8/22: Fest is SOLD OUT!]

 August 15, 2018, Tampa, FL:  Mention the "first week in March" to a Florida craft beer geek, and eyes might light up in anticipation of one of the biggest beer weeks anywhere: Tampa Bay Beer Week. With major beerfests being weekend bookends for a week full of daily tastings, get-togethers and dinners, the over 70-brewery Tampa area can celebrate beer on a grand scale (see the 2018 preview  and subsequent fest recaps on this site from March 2018). 

So, why not hold a beerfest at the "Halfway There" point to the 2019 TBBW? Why not, indeed! TBBW organizers are bringing back the annual event on Saturday, August 25, from 2-6pm at the recently renovated Armature Works Neighborhood Market on the banks of the Hillsborough River.  The fundraiser for TBBW gives attendees a chance to sample beers from over 58 local, national and international breweries, play arcade games by Lowry Parcade, and sip cold brew coffee samples from Commune + Co. Food is available in the Heights Public Market. 

Curious as to which breweries will be there? Take a look at the participating brewery list and plan accordingly! 

"Halfway There" tickets, $35 in advance/$50 at the door, include sampling and a commemorative fest tasting glass. Limited parking is available for $5, and the parking ticket may be used as a voucher for food purchase at the Heights Market. Out-of-towners can receive 15% off room rates at partner hotel Tampa Marriott Waterside, a short walk from Armature Works. 

The Halfway There fest is the major fundraiser for Tampa Bay Beer Week, which was established in 2012 and has hosted over 750 small- and large-scale events. Tampa Bay Beer Week, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to advancing the Tampa area beer culture through education, events and marketing.  TBBW begins the first Saturday in March and runs over the course of eight days. And, 2019 will be here before you know it.

Cheers!

Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines: Happy IPA Day!

August 2, 2018: The words of the Day:
Cascade, Centennial, Citra, Amarillo, Columbus, Simcoe (and more).
Citrus, Piney, Grassy, Floral, Fruity, Tropical, Woodsy, Dank, Resiny.
American. New England. West Coast, East Coast, Midwest. English. Hazy.

What are you thinking of right now? Of course it's the IPA! Happy IPA Day, Thursday, August 2.

Whether you like yours hazy or super hoppy, there's an IPA for you.

making HEADlines: 6th Annual Florida Tap Invitational On Tap for November

making HEADlines:

PROOF BREWING CO. HOSTS 6th ANNUAL FLORIDA TAP INVITATIONAL,
NOVEMBER 2-3, 2018; TICKETS ON SALE AUGUST 1

ED. NOTE, 10/16/2018: A PORTION OF PROCEEDS FROM THIS BEERFEST WILL BENEFIT VOLUNTEER FLORIDA, TO ASSIST IN EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE MICHAEL

ED. NOTE: 10/30/2018: THE TAP LIST HAS BEEN RELEASED. EACH BREWERY WITH TWO RARE, UNUSUAL, OR ONE-OFF BEERS, PLUS A CADRE OF PROOF BREWING BEERS.

July 31, 2018, Tallahassee, FL:  

Beers of all different colors, flavor profiles and styles will again flow in Tallahassee at the 6th Annual Florida Tap Invitational craft beer fest hosted by Proof Brewing Co.  The annual fest takes place over Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, on tap this year for November 2-3.

The event itself may be as unique as the beers that the craft beer enthusiasts will find pouring from the taps on Saturday afternoon.  Over 40 Florida breweries are invited to attend the beerfest, and there's a catch: the beers (over 100 of them) are one-offs, rare, or maybe so mysterious such that they've never been seen outside of the individual tap rooms. Brewers and brewery reps will be on hand to discuss the beers and the flavors (how did you come up with that?).  From the pucker of the sours to roastiness of the imperial stouts to the bitterness of the hop-forward IPAs to the nuances of various ingredients, craft beer aficionados will find delight in their glasses, while palates are pleased. 

making HEADlines: If It's Mid-July, It's Time for Palm Beach Summer Beer Fest!

making HEADlines:

PALM BEACH SUMMER BEER FEST INDOORS, JULY 21

 July 18, 2018:   Heat? Rain? Wind? No worries! If it's mid-July, it's time for the Annual Palm Beach Summer Beer Fest! This year's edition returns to the South Florida Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 21, from 2-6pm. And, before you say "baby, it's hot outside," just remember that this fest is inside in the A/C. No matter what Mother Nature dishes out on the outside, it's all cool on the inside. 

Set up in the Expo Center, attendees will have their choices of over 200 craft beers to sample.  Local South Florida breweries will, of course, be on the scene, along with regional, national and international brands. Feet will tap and bodies will move to the sounds of live music from three different bands on stage all afternoon. 

Although beer is the main event, the fest also includes bourbon and whiskey tasting from Hillbilly Bourbon, along with tastings of bacon brownies, craft beer donuts, and craft ice cream.  The fest also includes games, such as cornhole, Jenga and Plinko, and participants can win prizes for playing. Munchies are no problem, with ten food trucks just outside at the Food Truck Invasion. 

Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Little Smiles of Florida, an organization benefiting children with serious medical conditions, from Miami-Dade to St. Lucie Counties.

Two levels of fest tickets are available: VIP ($75), which gets you in an hour early at 1pm, together with limited beer releases during the first hour, a full-size mug and food certificate; and General Admission ($45), which offers entry at 2pm. Tickets are available online via the fest website link at the top. 

It's always one hot time in South Florida, but mid-July at Palm Beach Summer Beer Fest is one cool way to spend an afternoon. You won't even know what Mother Nature is doing outside. Take a look back at prior fests on brewnymph.com!

South Florida Fair and Expo Center is located at 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach. 

Cheers!

Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines: Florida Breweries Medal at US Open Beer Championship

making HEADlines: Florida Breweries Medal at Annual US Open Beer Championship

July 9, 2018, Oxford OH:

The Annual US Open Beer Championship winners have been announced. Over 6300 entries in over 110 categories were entered in this year's competition, which includes beers from around the world brewed  by professional brewers and award-winning homebrewers.  

Congratulations to all, and especially to a number of Florida breweries who earned  Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

The Top Ten included a couple of Florida breweries which have somewhat regularly received accolades in various competitions:
4. Cigar City Brewing
9. Motorworks Brewing


The Most Creative Beer Name included "Weapon of Mash Destruction," by Main & Six Brewing, coming in at No. 4.

making HEADlines: Indiana Brewery Sun King Brewing Launches in Florida with Jacksonville Events

making HEADlines:

SUN KING BREWING LAUNCHES IN FLORIDA; LAUNCH EVENTS BEGIN MID-JULY IN JACKSONVILLE

July 2, 2018, 

Jacksonville, FL:  


Indianapolis brewery Sun King Brewing Company is bringing its beers to the Florida market beginning this month through distribution with Cavalier Distributing.



According to Carolyn Lowrey Graham, Florida Sales Development Manager for Cavalier Distributing, the brewery's core beers will start hitting the Florida market this week. A series of launch events is scheduled for the week of July 16 around Jacksonville, which is the first Florida area to host events welcoming the brewery to the Sunshine state. 

Sun King Brewing was founded in 2009, and it began canning its beers in 2010. It has earned multiple medals at major beer competitions, including Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and the World Beer Cup, from 2011 through 2017.

Its core beer lineup includes: Sunlight Cream Ale (Gold Medal Winner at 2015 GABF; Silver Medalist at 2010 World Beer Cup); Wee-Mac Scottish Style Ale; Osiris Pale Ale; SKB IPA; and Pachanga Mexican Style Lager (which was available at Engine 15 Brewing, Jax Beach, for Cinco de Mayo). 

The Jacksonville-area launch events include:

July 17: Alewife Craft Beer Bottle Shop and Tasting Room, Five Points, Jax, 6-8pm;

July 18: Engine 15 Brewing, Jax Beach, 4-7pm (Weekly Pint Night)
July 18: Really Good Beer Stop, Jax Beach, 7-9pm;

July 19: V Pizza Tap Garden, Mandarin, 6-9pm;
July 19: V Pizza Tap Garden, Fleming Island, 6-9pm;

July 20: Beer:30 San Marco, Jax 5-7pm.

Look for a few specialty/seasonal kegs to also be on tap during the launch events, added Carolyn Graham. 

Welcome Sun King Brewing to Florida!

On a personal note, this writer is no stranger to Sun King beers (and, yes, I'm originally from Indiana). The inaugural taste of the flagship Sunlight Cream Ale came at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, where the beer won a Gold Medal. The beers have also regularly found their way into suitcases on Indiana trips, most recently last month.  Sun King Brewing also attended the 2018 Hunahpu's Day Beer Festival in Tampa in March, where this writer's last beer of the day was Sun King Brewing's SKB IPA. 



Enjoying some Sun King Brewing beer with the Indiana crew ... at Beer Bloggers and Writers Conference, Tampa, 2016: 

Cheers to another great addition to the craft beer market in Florida!

Cheers,

Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®

www.brewnymph.com

Making HEADlines: New Jax Brewery Legacy Ale Works Moves Through Re-Zoning Approval

making HEADlines:

JACKSONVILLE BREWERY-IN-PLANNING LEGACY ALE WORKS MOVES THROUGH RE-ZONING APPROVAL

June 28, 2018, Jacksonville, FL:

Further to social media posts earlier this week, Jacksonville brewery-in-planning Legacy Ale Works announced today via formal statement that it obtained re-zoning approval from the City Council by a  15-0 vote this past Tuesday evening. 

In early March, the new brewery announced that after months of searching, it had signed a lease at 14965 Old St. Augustine Rd., Suite 129, Jacksonville. The space is located at the corner of US 1 and Old St. Augustine Rd. in the Bartram Park area. 

Liz and Matt Jacobs at
Hogtown Craft Beer Fest, April 2018
(photo by Legacy Ale Works)

Now that the zoning process is behind them, brewery owners Matt and Liz Jacobs will begin construction on the 3300sf space that will be home to the brewery and tap room. "We are excited about the next steps in our journey," said Liz Jacobs. "Our equipment has been delivered, and our plans will be ready to submit to the city for review and approval sometime next week."

Legacy Ale Works intends to bring its "easy drinking" beers to its new tap room on the south end of Jacksonville, just north of the St. Johns County/Duval County line. While "selecting this location was very important to us," said owner Matt Jacobs, he added that the new brewery aims "to serve an area of Jacksonville that does not currently have many craft beer options. The response we have received from the community so far has been very encouraging."

Legacy Ale Works at Riverside Craft Beer Fest,
February 2018 (photo: Linda Johnson)

Matt and Liz Jacobs have offered samples of the house-brewed beers at appearances around the Jacksonville area, beginning last summer at Beer:30 San Marco. They also poured their beers at Jacksonville PorchFest last November, at Riverside Craft Beer Fest in February, and twice at Hogtown Craft Beer Fest in Gainesville last year and earlier this year. 

Legacy Ale Works will appear at Brewz Bartram Park, 14866 Old St. Augustine Rd., on Saturday, June 30, at 2pm, where they will pour  samples of their beers and meet and greet the public. This time, in addition to talking about their beer, they will now be able to discuss their new location and construction plans.

With their 3.5-barrel brewhouse, the new brewery will offer a wide variety of beer, from light lagers and pilsners, to hoppy IPAs, porters, and stouts, in order to "appeal to all different tastes and preferences." In addition to beer, the tap room will also serve wine and non-alcoholic craft sodas for non-beer drinkers. 

Legacy Ale Works plans an early Fall 2018 opening, with an estimated 8-12 week construction timeframe. 

Congratulations to Legacy Ale Works, and stay tuned for more progress updates throughout the summer!

Cheers,

Linda Johnson

Certified Cicerone®

www.brewnymph.com

Making HEADlines: Florida Breweries Notch Can Can Awards

making HEADlines:

FLORIDA BREWERIES MOTORWORKS BREWING AND DUE SOUTH BREWING NOTCH MEDALS IN ANNUAL CAN CAN AWARDS

June 20, 2018:  The Annual Can Can Awards, a competition for canned craft beers, have been announced. Over 350 beers were submitted for the two-day blind taste-test judging in Atlanta, Georgia.  The BJCP-sanctioned competition awarded medals in 36 categories. To earn medals, a beer must have received between 30-50 judging points. Based on the point system, some categories only awarded a Gold Medal. 

Congratulations to the following Florida breweries: 

Motorworks Brewing (Bradenton)
GOLD: V Twin Lager, Marzen/Oktoberfest
BRONZE: Bizarre Gardening Accident, American Style Sour Ale

Due South Brewing (Boynton Beach)
SILVER: Mexican Standoff, Herb & Spice Beer

A full list of the medalists can be found HERE.

Cheers,

Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines: Florida Breweries Notch Medals at 2018 World Beer Cup

making HEADlines:

Seven Florida breweries earn medals at 2018 World Beer Cup Awards

May 3, 2018, Nashville, TN:  The Brewers Association held its annual Craft Brewers Conference, billed as the "Largest Craft Industry Gathering," this week in Nashville, Tennessee. On the final night of the conference, 302 award winners claimed honors in the the bi-annual World Beer Cup Awards.  The numbers: a panel of 295 judges from 33 countries tasted their way through more than 8,000 beer entries (8,234 actually) from 66 countries in determining medalists in 101 categories of beer styles.  


Seven Florida breweries earned medals at the 2018 World Beer Cup! Congratulations to the following: 






Category 8: Chili Beer (57 Entries):
Motorworks Brewing, Bradenton, Silver Medal: Chocolate Datil Pepper Imperial Stout

Category 10:  Chocolate Beer (77 Entries):
Fort Myers Brewing, Fort Myers,  Silver Medal: Somebody Else's Dream Stout

Category 31: Fruited Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer (117 Entries):
Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin, Silver Medal: Ritual Madness

Category 43: Vienna-Style Lager (98 Entries):
Concrete Beach Brewery, Miami, Bronze Medal: Havana Lager

Category 60: French & Belgian-Style Saison (87 Entries):
The Tank Brewing, Miami, Gold Medal: La Finca Miami

Category 66: Belgian-Style Dubbel or Belgian-Style Quad (78 Entries):
7Venth Sun Brewery, Dunedin, Bronze Medal: Belgian Quad

Category 90: Golden or Bronze Ale (121 Entries):
First Magnitude Brewing, Gainesville, Silver Medal: Vega

Not too surprisingly, the IPA category saw the most entries with 377, followed by 196 entries in both the Imperial IPA and Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer categories.  The United States took the most awards (242), while Belgium had the highest winning percentage with 10%, according to a Brewers Association statement. 

Developed by the Brewers Association in 1996 to "celebrate the art and science of brewing," the World Beer Cup competition is held every two years, and has been called "The Olympics of Beer Competitions," in view of its international nature. 

A list of 2018 World Beer Cup medalists can be found here. 

Congratulations to all!

Cheers!

Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines: Beer Makes the Headlines ... in 1933

making HEADlines:

NATIONAL BEER DAY CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF BEER .... in 1933

April 7, 1933:  Washington, D.C.

Not sure that anyone today can relate -- after all, with over 6,000 breweries in the US now, we sure do like our beer! Get a beer in your hand on Saturday, April 7 to toast National Beer Day! And, yes, it would be ... "a good time for a beer" ...

On this day in American history, sales of beer (and wine) became legal again (as long as it was under 4% ABV; 3.2 alcohol by weight). What's now known as National Beer Day celebrates the return of beer into the public marketplace on April 7, 1933, following passage of the Cullen-Harrison Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 22, 1933. The law went into effect on April 7, 1933, and it allowed people in this country to legally buy, sell and drink beer again for the first time in 13 years following Prohibition! 

Stock photo from Google Images

When FDR signed that law, he proclaimed: “I think this would be a good time for a beer,” the now-famous quote.  Later that year, on December 5, 1933, Prohibition officially ended, with the ratification of the 21st Amendment and Repeal of Prohibition.

So, raise a glass, bottle or can, and make a toast to beer,  FDR and National Beer Day on April 7. (And, if you're an Untappd follower, there's a badge for that!)

Cheers!
Linda Johnson
Certified Cicerone®

www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines: Brewers Association Releases 2018 Beer Style Guidelines

making HEADlines: Brewers Association Releases 2018 Beer Style Guidelines; Adds New Categories, Including Juicy/Hazy Ales

 Boulder, CO, March 20, 2018:   The Brewers Association has issued its revised Beer Style Guidelines for 2018. Updated annually, the Guidelines are used as a "model resource" for brewers and competitions, and these revisions will be in effect for this year's Great American Beer Festival (GABF). 

The new Guidelines include "hundreds of revisions, edits, format changes and additions," according to a statement issued by the Brewers Association today. In addition, several new categories have been created to respond to current trends. Most notable is perhaps the formal recognition of Juicy or Hazy Ale Styles, generally known as New England IPAs or West Coast Hazy IPAs. The three official styles are identified as "Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale," "Juicy or Hazy IPA," and "Juicy or Hazy Double IPA" in the new Guidelines.

Other modifications include the addition of "Contemporary American-Style Pilsener," a category which reflects commercial sessionable lager beers with higher hop aroma than found in pre-Prohibition style beers; and a restructuring of the Australian Pale Ale category into separate styles of "Classic Australian-Style Pale Ale" and "Australian-Style Pale Ale," which generally address the differences in color and hop aroma- and flavor-forward characteristics. The Guidelines also edit the Gose and Contemporary Gose categories. 

The Brewers Association points out that factors in revising the Guidelines include historical significance, authenticity or a "high profile in the current commercial beer market." Major changes, such as style additions, are the result of "research, analysis, consultation and consideration of market actualities." Further, current commercial products may not fit within the historical parameters, but rather represent a modern version of a style, explains the statement. 

Cheers,
Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines: Proof Brewing, Tallahassee, Relocating

making HEADlines:

PROOF BREWING, TALLAHASSEE, ANNOUNCES RELOCATION AND EXPANSION PLANS

March 19, 2018:  Tallahassee brewery Proof Brewing Co. today announced its plans to expand its operations and relocate to a larger facility in downtown Tallahassee, which will allow for a 30,000 barrel production capability -- with room for additional expansion. 

According to a statement released today, Proof Brewing will begin renovations this month at the 34,000sf former Coca-Cola Bottling Company building at 1320 South Monroe St. When all said and done, the new brewery will include an expanded tasting room, retail store, private event space, kitchen and beer garden.  On the brewhouse side of things, the move means efficiency upgrades, a quality control lab and additional fermentation capacity, increasing the possible production to 30,000 barrels. 

making HEADlines: Legacy Ale Works, Jax, Announces Location

making HEADlines:

LEGACY ALE WORKS, JAX BREWERY-IN PLANNING, ANNOUNCES LEASE SIGNING FOR NEW LOCATION

March 2, 2018, Jacksonville, FL:

Legacy Ale Works announced via its website and social media on March 1 that it has signed a lease on 3300 SF of space in the City's Bartram Park neighborhood, at 14965 Old St. Augustine Rd., at the intersection of US 1 in the Shoppes of Durbin Creek plaza. Owners Matt and Liz Jacobs had initially searched for properties in the Mandarin area, but after a lengthy search decided on the Bartram Park area.


Plans for the neighborhood brewery and tap room include a 1000-SF brewery operating from a 3.5-barrel brewhouse, and a 2300-SF tap room. Matt has already conducted several tastings around the area and has appeared at several beerfests to introduce the public to Legacy Ale Works and its beers. The beers cover all different styles. 

The brewery now begins the permitting stage. 

Read the March 1 news release here.

For a personal look at the couple behind the new brewery, read the Q&A on this site from last summer. 

Congratulations to Legacy Ale Works!

Cheers,
Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

making HEADlines: Tampa Bay Brewing Co. Update

making HEADlines:

TAMPA BAY BREWING CO. ANNOUNCES REFRESHED LOGO, BRANDING AND NEW LOOK FOR CANS AHEAD OF TAMPA BAY BEER WEEK; ANNOUNCES "HOP SILO" SERIES

February 28, 2018, Tampa FL:

Tampa Bay Brewing Co. has announced a refreshed logo and branding, along with a new look for its cans. 

"Like most mature organizations, our brand identity has slowly morphed over time and was due for a more significant refresh to better reflect our spirit and uncorporate culture," said Managing Partner David Doble in a statement released by the brewery. "Furthermore, both internally and on the street, people have been referring to us as TBBC for years ... This was a rare opportunity to embrace the community-given nickname in a manner that was not confusing to our long-standing customers." 

making HEADlines: Florida Nominations in USA Today "10 Best" Awards Polls

making HEADlines:

FLORIDA GETS NOMINATIONS IN USA TODAY'S "10 BEST" READERS' CHOICE POLLS

February 26, 2018: Last week, USA Today announced that it was turning its attention to craft beer in its latest rounds of Readers' Choice "10 Best" polls. The poll includes 20 nominees from across the nation in each of seven categories: Best New Brewery, Best Brewpub, Best Beer Scene, Best Brewery Tour, Best Beer Festival, Best Beer Bar, and Best Beer Label. Florida received nominations in four of the seven categories.  Voting ends March 19 and the winners will be announced on March 23. Shout-out to the following Florida nominees. Links include a list of nominees and voting information:

making HEADlines: Tampa Bay Brewing Co. Launches in Jax

making HEADlines:

TAMPA BAY BREWING CO. ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION IN JACKSONVILLE; LAUNCH EVENTS WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19

 February 16, 2018, Tampa, FL:  One of Florida's oldest independent craft breweries, Tampa Bay Brewing Company ("TBBC"), has announced expanded distribution plans as it heads into the greater Jacksonville market beginning the week of February 19. TBBC has partnered with Champion Brands to bring its beers to Northeast Florida, and introduction of the TBBC beers will take place at launch events around the area. 

TBBC was established in Tampa in 1995. Its original brewery and brewpub is located in the heart of Ybor City.  In 2015, TBBC opened a second production brewery and brewpub in Northwest Tampa, with a 30-barrel brewhouse and packaging line capable of producing nearly 20,000 barrels per year. It is on schedule to exceed 16,000 barrels in 2018. TBBC is a mainstay at beerfest events around the state. 

On-site photo at TBBC, Ybor City
(photo by Linda Johnson)

Its core brands, Reef Donkey American Pale Ale and Old Elephant Foot IPA, are available in draft and in cans in the Tampa area as well as other markets. These will now make their way into the on-premise and retail accounts throughout the Jacksonville market, along with seasonal releases, including Quat, a golden kumquat ale. TBBC earned a Bronze Medal at Great American Beer Festival in 2014 for its Reef Donkey Pale Ale, a citrus/tropical ale, which is named after a slang term for the amberjack fish. 


"We sold our first keg via distribution in November 2011," said David Doble, TBBC Managing Partner in a statement obtained by this site. "Since then, we have taken a steady, organically driven approach towards opening new markets throughout Florida." While TBBC saw "pent-up demand" for its products through Florida and even beyond, TBBC has been "careful not to rush, taking our time to find the right distribution partners, and most importantly, to ensure that the quality of our product and service we provide does not suffer at the hands of growth for growth's sake," Doble added. 

Members of the TBBC team, including David Doble, Head Brewer John Rankin and Director of Sales Nicole Calvin, will be in Jacksonville during the week of February 19 during the rollout events. 

On the partnership with Jacksonville-based Champion Brands, Doble expressed excitement to work with the distributor "due to the reputation, experience, and commitment to supporting independent craft breweries" that Champion brings. "They are continually innovating and have a culture that aligns with ours, casual but serious."

Launch events taking place around the Jacksonville area include:

February 19 at Beer:30 San Marco, 5pm; and Grape & Grain Exchange, 7pm;

February 20 at Mellow Mushroom Southside, 5pm; and 
Mellow Mushroom Jax Beach at 7pm

February 21 at Really Good Beer Stop, Jax Beach, at 6pm; and at an additional location to be announced. 

Welcome Tampa Bay Brewing to Jax!

Cheers!
Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com