The Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Microbreweries
Florida

 

 

Cape Coral

Fort Myers

Tampa

Punta Gorda

 

 

Peace River Beer Company
1732 Steadley Avenue
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941) 655-8352

Peace River Beer Company is a block off of the main drag in Punta Gorda, FL.
Soon to be a microbrewery, most of their beers are currently made by Bury Me Brewing, as they both have the same owners.
Bury Me Brewing, a brewpub in Fort Myers, was successful enough that the proprietors looked for a larger location in which to brew more beer under a new label.
There are about 15 beers on tap. some unique to this location.
The tasting room has a bar that seats about 8 and a large seating area that seats about 50 more.
There is space outside for seating as well.
The brewing equipment had arrived the day before we visited and was being installed as we drank.

 

 

 

 

 

Scotty's Bierwerks
901 East Industrial Circle
Cape Coral, FL 33909
(239) 888-5482

Scottys Bierwerks is a brewery housed in a new industrial building in an otherwise desolate area of Cape Coral, Fl. The tasting room is modestly sized, but there is a large adjacent room with lots of seating.
The brewery space itself is open with a few tables and space for children and dogs.
A popcorn machine offers the only food available although food trucks make the rounds. Scotty's beer is European style, German and Belgian mostly with about 10 on tap.
One drinker stated that Scotty's hefeweizen was "far and above any other craft hefeweizen that I have tried (and I have tried a LOT since its (sic) my favorite brew).”

 

 

 

 

 

Millenial Brewing Company
1811 Royal Palm Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239) 271-2255

Millennial Brewing is a micro- brewery near downtown Ft. Myers. The location is a little strange in that it is a stand-alone warehouse- style building in the parking lot district near city hall.
Going in the front door, the bar is on the left and is perhaps half the length of the room.
The small brewing operation is in the far left hand corner.
There are some tables and chairs scattered about but the interior mostly consists of standing room.
The motif is Millennium Falcon, which might be connected to their name.
They have 10 beers on tap, each of a different style.
Millennial is known in town for their promotional gimmicks - for their second anniversary they hosted a WWF event in their parking lot !

 

 

 

Coastal Dayz Brewery
2161 McGregor Blvd
Unit E
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239) 204-9665

Coastal Dayz is a micro brewery in a modest strip mall in a mature neighborhood a few blocks from downtown Ft. Myers.
There are a few parking places in the back, but most regulars park in the supermarket lot down the street.
The bar is along most of the back wall. The buildout for the restrooms is behind some of the seating, making that part of the bar quit cozy. The rest of the room is bright and airy, with several tables and garage doors usually open to the patio.
Coastal Dayz has a 3 1/2 barrel cooker and 4 seven-barrel fermenters, although they have not yet made a double batch. They have a dozen of their own beers on tap and several guest ciders.
Food vendors provide sustenance, or you can bring your food in.

 

 

Fort Myers Brewing Company
12811 Commerce Lakes Dr #28
Fort Myers, FL 33913
(239) 313-6576

Fort Myers Brewing Company is a microbrewery off the beaten track near Ft. Myers.
Located on the backside of a warehouse in an industrial area, one needs a GPS to find it as the addresses aren't obvious.
It's fairly spacious, about 100' x 30', with the bar at the opposite end from the door. There are several picnic tables and lots of standing-around room.
The rest rooms are in the brewery which is in the remainder of the warehouse. Fort Myers had about 10 of their own beers on tap as well as perhaps 15 guests.
The menu consisted of a choice between hotdogs or popcorn.

 

 

 

 

Point Ybel Brewing Company
16120 San Carlos Blvd #4,
Fort Myers, Florida 33908
(239) 980-2764

Point Ybel is a small brewery in a strip mall in an older section of Ft. Myers.
Their tasting room, a large bar with a few tables scattered about, is open every evening.
The brewing operation is visible in the next room.
Point Ybel has five full-time beers, two guests, as well as several "one offs".
When asked about the competition, a local brewpub, the barmaid explained Florida law.
The brewpub served food, but no take away beer. Point Ybel, a microbrewery, could sell no food, but would sell and/or fill growlers to go.

 

 

 

Cigar City Brewing
3924 West Spruce Street, Suite A
Tampa, Florida 33607
(813)348-6363  ext 206

As if the beach were not enough, it's worth a trip to Florida just to visit Cigar City Brewing.
Cigar City is a classic craft brewery - a bit hard to find, situated in a light industrial building, limited seating, dart board.
Since they only serve beer and no food, it's technically not a brewpub, but food is secondary to beer anyway.
Most beers are in the 8% and above range - see what I mean about being worth it?
We tried the Jai Alai IPA (a keeper), Guava Grove (a bit sour for me), a very cherry- tasting scotch ale, and Marshall Zhukov's Imperial Stout (reason enough to make the trip).
Most beers are available to carry out: the IPA in a six-pack, Marshall Z's and a few others in bomber bottles, and most all beers in growlers.
Get a sitter for the kids and stop by before the place loses that new brewery smell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"They who drink beer will think beer ." ....Washington Irving