Brewery Review - Celebration Brewing

Celebration Brewing

How do we define one’s local craft brewery? What does it need to have? I have thought about this a lot due to my current need for a local in Central Florida.

So what do I need from my local? First, location, location, location…it needs to be located near where you spend a lot of your time. Second, naturally, it has to have some solid beer options. They don’t need to be unicorn beers. But you need to be able to find something enjoyable anytime you roll in. Finally, you have to feel welcomed. Yes, I know every watering hole should be that way. But let’s be honest, Oga’s doesn’t always feel comfortable, especially when they remind you of your time limit. While BaseLine is always easy and relaxing once one has a table.

Let’s start with location! While New York Beer Project is fairly close to the Magic Kingdom, there is a brewery just a smidge closer to most of Walt Disney World property. Celebration Brewing Company in Celebration has shown on my GPS as being anywhere between 8 and 12 minutes from my car sitting in Disney parking lots. It just can’t be beat for location, location, location for a Disney adult who needs to get out of the park fast, get something to eat or drink, and then get back to the action. Location…Check!

Second, let’s roll into beer. Reminder, everyone, alcohol rules are weird across states. So Celebration Brewing offers both their stable of beers and guest taps from across the U.S. I can report that, well, I’ve had a lot of them. I can’t report on second sips…as I’ve had eight Celebration beers, some with multiple pints, and counting. I’ve had flights and pints, with my general list so far:

A Celebration Flight

• “Storm Strong” is my unexpected favorite Celebration brew so far. It’s a big 9.5% ABV Belgian Strong Ale with 30 IBUs, and despite Belgian beers not being a favorite for me, a Strong can really sell me. This beer balances sweetness with a light funkiness dialed in. I would love to see what this would do in a barrel!

• “Superdelacashilistickrushelanidocious” is impossible to spell but is a gentle and approachable New England IPA with 35 IBUs and 6.7% ABV. It’s a nice place to start if you want to sample IPA, with a Disney Adult-loving name (which will be a recurring theme).

• “Front Porch IPA” is a piney IPA with a bite at 6.1% AVU and 68 IBUs. It’s got a bit which makes it a little less approachable for the new IPA drinker. But, I would argue this is the flagship, resin-packed IPA that every brewery needs.

• “Back Porch” is a Double IPA with 8.8% ABV and 70 IBUs. This is a blend of hop bite with a fruity aftertaste, with a little more punch for the IPA drinker who wants it to feel like Christmas on their palate.

• “Old Dogs New Trick” continues our IPA run, with an anniversary beer brewed with Ten10. It’s 9.5% ABV with 21 IBUs. And we have a new type of IPA, with the Milkshake IPA, which uses lactose to smooth out the bite along with blackberries. The description calls out soft vanilla, in an IPA, and I was like yeah this is going to be weird (in a bad way). No, this was different in a good way. It does a very nice job of balancing pine flavor with the sweet berries.

• “We Wants the Redhead” at 5.3% ABV and 21 IBUs is Celebration’s required Red Ale. It’s a malty beer with a little hop punch. For the newer beer fan in my group this is their go-to…but I think it’s because of the Disneyfied name!

• “Four Corners Kolsch” is a style that I don’t usually dig, at 5% ABV and 21 IBUs. For a hot day, it was very light and refreshing with some hop and spice flavor. It wasn’t just purely clean as you often expect from a Kolsh but something that had flavor. This is a good hot day beer, not that there’s ever a hot day in Florida.

• “Posh Porter” is a 6.7% ABV with 40 IBUs using Posh Pretzels and advertising the tones of chocolate. It is a nice porter that is very malty to me with some slight sweetness.  

As you can see, the beer names rely heavily on their closeness to the theme parks, Celebration’s community, and Orlando’s history. These names make it a little more fun for me, even if I can’t always spell them.

But that’s not all! Did I mention the guest taps? I’ve gotten a nice spread of guest beers here, including:

"Storm Strong"

• “Green Power” a solid Imperial IPA from New York’s Other Half Brewing Co., with 8% ABV and no IBUs. It’s a highly rated national beer that was hazy, fruity, and not overly hoppy. I find that many locations, including Celebration, tend to have an Other Half IPA on tap.

• “Nevermore” from Woven Water in Tampa is an Imperial Stout at 8.5% ABV with no IBUs again. It’s nice and sweet with some vanilla tones, and best, and oddly enough, for a Florida Imperial Stout, no lactose. I grab lactose-free versions as often as I can.

• “Juice Lord and Savior” from Magnanimous Brewing in Tampa is a Double Dry-Hopped version of their popular “Juice Lord,” which you can find in cans and taps all over the Orlando area. So I had to grab the variant. Like “Green Power,” it was juicy by not overly hoppy.

• I said, a local doesn’t need a unicorn. Yet, here we are. “Seven Notes in Black” is one of my favorite beers I have had in Florida, which includes Tampa, my friends. It’s a giant 14.5% ABV Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with no IBUs. This treat is malty, sweet, and has a additional sweet tone from living in a Rittenhouse Rye barrels and 20-year Elijah Craig barrels. And…I will likely never have it again as Hollywood, Florida’s The Hallway Tap & Brew has closed. I would say pour one out, but it’s a waste to spill any of this unicorn. You will be remembered!

"Seven Notes in Black"

There are numerous non-beer options available. For those looking for boozy drinks, members of my party have had seltzers, wines, specialty cocktails, and they have a regular cocktail menu, where I may someday try an Old-Fashioned if “Storm Strong” is not on tap and nothing else catches my eye. Everyone at every age will find something they can enjoy with their meals and conversation. You must have a conversation at a local.

Korean Noodle Bowl

Food at Celebration Brewing feels like just as much of an attraction. A staple of the family has become the Korean Noodle Bowl, which one member of the family claims is better than the nearby noods, at a lower price. I have had several burgers, which have been filling and enjoyable with me often choosing the rotating special. And rotation is a key here, as I often don’t know what I am eating till I see the weekly special. I do have to admit, in my quest to find the best pretzel in Central Florida, I slept a little bit on “The Big Twist,” which is nice and soft, but also topped with everything seasoning, a personal favorite. It is a contender for best pretzel! 

"The Big Twist"

The setting itself is bright and full of light from the windows. There are multiple seating types accommodating numerous parties.  Finally, being in a strip mall, there's a lot of parking! 

Who Drinks Here? Me I drink here. I think Celebration is my local now! It is simply just too close to the Disney parks, has a lot of beer and non-beer options that will satisfy nearly everyone in a party. Along with the drinks, there is a nice rotation of food, where I’ve never had the same thing twice. And finally, it’s very comfortable with the air conditioning pumping and welcoming staff to parties ranging from solo drinkers to entire families sharing in celebrations at Celebration.


In fact…I may just be there tonight!

The Celebration Brewing "Beer" Sign