A true count is still tough to come by, but looking over the beer industry coming out of the economic morass of the past couple of years, things are looking relatively robust and getting back to being a growth industry. While the service industry was especially impacted in the downturn, the recovery now sees new challenges in the form of spikes in food pricing. But all told, we can see there are well over 8,000 breweries still churning out products, and this is something recommended if you make any sojourns this year – seek out the offerings of the local breweries.

By way of example, I’ll take you through my tour of sorts, recently experienced as I attended this year’s CPAC convention. That the conference was held for the second time in Orlando – situated almost perfectly in the center of Florida – meant that there was ample opportunity to seek out a wide variety of beers from across the Sunshine State. 

Orlando is in just the right shipping distance from both coasts, South Florida, and the Tampa area, and the busy commerce generated is tempting for most brewers. One brewer I know in West Palm produces most of their beer to be sold in the theme parks and surrounding tourist areas. Let us now embark into this fertile marketplace, and show the numerous options you can find in your own

Taking a Lengthy Tour Within the Border

On the first night in town, I met up with RedState cartoonist Jim Thompson, and our first challenge was finding an eatery open late enough after arrival. We found a chain steakhouse, and after asking Jim what his preference was, his desire for an IPA meant I knew where to turn. They had Reef Donkey American Pale Ale on tap, from Tampa Bay Brewing. 

The name derives from the Amberjack, a sportfish known for putting up a fun fight on the reefs with active jumping. Jim was satisfied with this option to the extent that he trusted my beer prowess for the duration of our trip.

At our condo, I stocked up with some more local options. One pick was Night Swim, from Coppertail Brewing, also out of Tampa. This is a sharp porter they augment with chocolate nibs in the vat, delivering a dry and subtle mocha flavor. Then I also lucked into a local favorite of mine. I grabbed a sixer of Last Snow, the ironically-named winter seasonal made in my area of Broward County. This is a prominent coconut/coffee porter that you have to sip slowly because it is that good.

Where we were staying was a condominium complex within walking distance of the convention center, and making things better — just two buildings down was an access street with some commercial fronts, including a true microbrewery, The Half Barrel Beer Project. Barely seating 20, this became a regular magnet for many in our working crowd from the Townhall sites. Their own beers were limited, but they also produced a homemade fruit-based seltzer on tap, and numerous other labels from across the state and the country.

The Sweet Cherry of Mine Sour was a sublime choice. The trick with sours is balance, and this one had that. The tartness is not overwhelming, so the cherry flavor comes through in a very drinkable option.

I plied our editor-queen Susie Moore with an Alcatraz Double Cold Brew, made in Palm Coast, Florida, just north of Daytona. The divine Ms. M was content with the one, as this imperial was a weighty blast at 8.8 percent, but it was not overpowered. The rich flavors in this stout came through, seeing it is brewed with slow-roasted coffee beans bringing that flavor right up front in this chewy delight. I had a couple of refills of this work of zymurgy.

Saturday afternoon, I had some brief time ahead of a podcast, so a session beer was chosen from another brewery steeped in the state. Walking Tree Brewery in Vero Beach is named after the mangrove, a native aquatic tree that can grow in saltwater. Their Pool Day  American Pale Ale was very drinkable for a non-IPA drinker, which I am.

The fridge needed some restocking so the mojitos during the broadcast were interspersed with an interesting find from Bold City Brewery, in the Jacksonville area. Killer Whale Cream Ale harkened back to times having Genesee back in the day, the difference here being this was notably and understandably fresher, so far more enjoyable. 

Saturday night’s foray back at the microbrewery had me compelling South Florida writer Tom Lauder to join our throng. He and I combed through the beer cooler featuring canned versions of other options, and I found a truly unique label. Arkane Aleworks is in Largo, immediately south of Clearwater, and they create a menu board filled with baked goods-themed brews, and what I beheld was unheard of. Grandma Fingers Pineapple Upside Down was nothing I have had before. The sour nature was muted, and there was, in fact, a distinct cake-like creaminess.

My podcast co-host on THE COCKTAIL LOUNGE podcast, @AggieRican was with me on many of our Florida foamy excursions. We found a truly local Orlando-brewed IPA at a gourmet hamburger shop. The Warrior Citra was another drinkable version, with a reliance on more fruitiness than hops, so it was a citrus mouthful. But Aggie and I might have found the ultimate Florida beer.

At the convention center patio bar, the drinks and cigars were flowing to the point we closed them down and had to migrate upstairs to the packed main lounge. There, on tap, was an option there was no way for a Glades-raised type like myself to avoid. Alligator Drool is made at a contract Brewery called The Brew Hub, out of nearby Lakeland. This was a passable IPA, but one that just had to be had.  After all, when you are known as the resident Florida Man, and the spirits director for social engagements such as we were engaged in, a beer like this looming across the granite top cannot be avoided.

It also managed to sum up the drinking experience. I was both on a work assignment that week, but also on a quest. I was immersing myself in regionals for days, and this label was emblematic of that of Florida exploration. There was a complete array of new brands, some new styles, and most important of all – a completely different batch of memories layered on top of all the others created each day. 

Reflections will remind of the beers, and thinking back on some brands will spur the memories of that week. The deeper layers of the experience now create a greater permanence and the remembrances are stronger as a result. Additionally, I now have some labels to look for here at the local level.