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It's Part 2 of our Rocky Water Brew Fest extravaganza! On this episode, we speak to Max Green, owner of currently-in-construction non-alcoholic brewery, Leader Brewing; Sanford Brewing co-owner Bo Hallowes; Dirty Oar Beer Co. co-owner and brewer Chris Hughes; and all the way from south Florida, we chat with 3 Sons Head of Operations, Dustin Jeffers, and NOBO Brewing co-owner and brewer, Tim Dornbl...

What happens with you're staying on the Space Coast, but you can't get an interview because everyone's at a beer festival? You go to that beer festival, too! This is Part 1 of our LIVE report from Rocky Water Brew Fest, coming from Eau Gallie Square in Melbourne--just a few blocks away from Intracoastal Brewing. This event features the best and brightest from the Space Coast craft beer scene, plus...

Beer in Lake Park? Beer in Lake Park. Way up in northern Palm Beach County is the sleepy little hamlet of Lake Park. It's booming, though, and is starting to become a hub for Palm Beach County craft beer--thanks to breweries like Coastal Karma. To learn more about them, we sat down with owner and brewer Charles Chase. We talk about the awesomeness of the future of Lake Park, creating a homey and w...

The North Miami Brewfest is coming back! This is the 4th year for the event (we're not counting last year). So, we brought back Dr. Michael Cheng, Dean of FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, to talk about the event and what this year will feature. From there, we speak to Maja and Kevin from 3 Mavins. This exciting new beer company focuses on two things: 1) bringing tasty beer...

We visit Prision Pals Brewing in Doral--a production brewery right in the flight path of MIA. Argentine expats, Juan Pipkin and Diego Setti, are making a wide variety of beers to distribute throughout the even wider array of Miami-Dade County and beyond. I spoke to them about the differences between the Florida and Argentinean craft beer scenes, the importance of honey beer, and how Miami is becom...

Previously, Orlando's Ivanhoe Park Brewing celebrated their anniversary, Return to Joyland, with special beer releases. This year, they're expanding the party with a beerfest on Oct. 16th! We speak to owner, Glenn Closson, about the impetus for creating a brewfest, details, and friends that will be coming to party! From there, we head to Clearwater and Big Storm Brewing--big supporters of Ales for...

It's been a long, strange ride before the opening of Pensacola's newest brewery, Alga Beer Co.! Today we welcome co-founder and brewer, Brett Reid, back to the podcast to talk about the labor of love that went into opening this new location. We'll chat about the history of Alga, moving to Pensacola, and the joy of renovations. And whatever happened to Camaro Hair...? Host: David Butler of the Flor...

Today we speak to Andrew Mendez, co-owner of Mendez Fuel in Miami. What may look like just an unassuming gas station on the outside, these special stops actually carry a high end selection of craft beer, natural wines, gourmet food, and a full service lunch counter on the inside. We'll talk to Andrew about how he and his brother decided to turn a Mobil Mart into one of Miami's best sources of craf...

What's better than a cocktail kit pre-loaded with booze, ingredients, and a live mixology class? One delivered to your door! That's exactly what Mixology Mixer has with their monthly Club Mix boxes--a subscription box featuring alcohol and ingredients to make three different, exciting cocktails. Plus each box also comes with a live online class with one of their experienced mixologists who will ta...

There's a lot of fun to be had on this episode of the Florida Beer Podcast. To begin, we speak to Shane Kiffin Ayres, brewmaster at High Springs Brewing. He's also the creator of Brewery! The Card Game, a fun new game you can get to play at brewing beer recipes with your friends. We chat with him to learn a bit more about the game and its creation. From there, we welcome Frances Antonio-Martineau,...

Bone Hook Brewing has grown from a little craft beer outpost in a strip mall to anchoring that mall AND anchoring southwest Florida beer. The liquid fueling that growth is the brainchild of Bone Hook's brew master, William Vaughan. We sat down with Bill to understand a little more about the intricacies of growing a craft beer brand in Naples, surviving COVID, and tattoo artists. Listen in... Host:...

We made it to 75 episodes! Yay! This week, we are heading back to Bonita Springs. We've had an interview in this building before--back when it was the new home of Momentum Brewhouse. Now, it's the newest outpost of Naples-based Riptide Brewing: Riptide Bonita Springs! We chat again with Riptide's Owner, Kim West, and their Operations Manager, Linden Preuss, about obtaining the brand new brewery, N...

Todd Space's background as a high school science teacher helped to further his focus and interest in brewing beer. Finally, after 16 years in Miami-Dade classrooms (and more domestically and abroad), Todd took his science knowhow and curriculum-creating skills to establish Miami's Master Brewer Academy. We chat with Todd to learn more about the MBA and how he is helping to create Miami's next gene...

Opa-locka! The name is Seminole; the architecture is Moorish; and, the beer is Caribbean! It's the home of Legacy Caribbean Craft Brewery, one of the best little breweries in Miami-Dade. Dave and Producer Steve spoke to Legacy's Founder and Brewer, Ismael Fernandez, about the history of their long-standing brewery, their incredible family history of brewing, and that awesome beer jelly. Listen in....

We are checking in with Alan Espino, co-founder at Beat Culture Brewery in Miami. Dave loves chatting and catching up with Alan, and this episode is no different with their discussions involving hot sauce, tart ales, and the most luxurious of Cuban espresso beers. Listen in... Host: David Butler of the Florida Beer Blog Executive Producer: Jaime ("Jemmy") Legagneur, Chief Enthusiasm Officer Field...

Beer festivals are back! We start with an interview with Ben Graybar, founder and organizer of the Tallahassee Beer Festival happening on Aug. 28th. We chat about the history of the event, their new location in 2021, and the amazing number of beneficiaries the event will support. After that, we will chat with Colin Gerner, president and co-founder of Stache Strong. This organization is a 501(c)3 c...

Today we are back with part 2 of our interview with Plasencia Cigars VP Jose Luis Plasencia and The Tank Brewing founder Carlos Padron. We spoke to them both at The Tank Brewing and Family Cigar Shop, about the history of Plasencia, how they operate in the tobacco business today, and even their line of all-organic cigars, the first and only in the cigar industry. Make sure to go back and listen to...

It's all in the family today with the Florida Beer Podcast - Cigar edition! Plasencia has been in the tobacco business since 1865. In that time, they've grown credibility, lost everything (twice), and built up a brand that is now well-renown in the luxury tobacco industry. Their U.S. operations is now based in Doral, close to their partners at The Tank Brewing and Family Cigar Shop. Today's episod...

It's an all-spirits episode of the Florida Beer Podcast! We can't live on beer alone.... So, we start with LS Cream Liqueur, based in Montreal and produced here in Jacksonville. It's a liqueur based on the Haitian staple Cremas, and we speak to LS founders Myriam Jean-Baptiste and Stevens Charles about how their Haitian backgrounds influenced their desire to develop and produce one of the best cre...

It's a monster episode of the Florida Beer Podcast today! First, we speak to Allan Branch, co-founder of History Class Brewing in Panama City, Florida. The brewery was created in part to honor the incredible (and sometimes unknown) history of the city and surrounding area. From there, we talk with Leaven Brewing in Riverview about the most important place for breweries to advertise--social media....

We have an exciting sizzle reel for you with bite-sized highlights from Gerard's first Fresh Mix episodes, beginning with a welcome from Dave Butler of the Florida Beer Podcast and the Florida Beer Blog. Listen in for clips from Gerard's first Fresh Mix guests--Scotty Firester (a.k.a. "The Man Behind the Mystic"); Celebrity author, Max Stryker; Kristy Sumner of Soul Sisters Paranormal, and Sports...

This is a quickie episode, as we are gearing up for Grand Central Beer Day 2021! We gave our friends at Right Around the Corner Arcade Brewery, John McMahon and Tom Rockhill, a call to understand a bit more about the event and what beers to expect. Everything kicks off THIS Saturday, April 10th; so go check it out! Host: David Butler of the Florida Beer Blog Producer: Jaime ("Jemmy") Legagneur, Ch...

I have waited a long time for this episode--four years to be exact! That's how long ago I met Manny Portuondo, torchbearer for La Tropical. At the turn of the century, La Tropical was Cuba's biggest beer, and enjoyed a monstrous market share before the island was engulfed in turmoil. After years of work, Manny has finally revived his family's identity in a huge new facility. Join Producer Steve an...

Not too long ago, two Broadway actors and craft beer podcasters created a beer to help fund a program for out of work theatre professionals around the country. That program is The Actors Fund, the show is The Happy Hour Guys, and that beer is Curtain Up--a hazy IPA bursting with citric hop goodness. Three breweries in Florida are slated to release the beer, and the first is Tampa's Bay Cannon Brew...

Here's our second of back-to-back episodes in Miami-Dade County! Homestead is a bit of a drive. I am firmly aware of this. Regardless, it is worth the trip to go down to Schnebly Winery and Miami Brewing Co., a full service tropical oasis right before heading into the Keys. They have it all: tropical wines, beers, two restaurants, and plenty of space... and iguanas. Don't forget the iguanas! We sp...