Brewery Review - Brewlando

Brewlando

I love me an industrial brewery! One of my favorite breweries in the world is in a very industrial strip mall. One of my other favorite breweries was started in an abrasives factory. I love me some industrial beer! As I rolled up to the industrial-looking boxy strip mall that houses Orlando’s Brewlando, I was Han Solo walking back onto the Millennium Falcon, Chewy, we’re home!

All That Shiny Metal

I really like this space. It is super roomy with tall ceilings, with the bar side having a great view into the brewhouse. There are numerous seating types that can accommodate different types of parties, from long tables, bar-type seats, comfy seating areas, and even what appears to be private conference rooms. There are just so many party types I can imagine, and as someone who has run meetings at a brewery, I see so many options for formal and informal meetings. If this is industry, we can get some stuff done at this location! 


But hey, they have beer. Of course, for a new-to-me brewery, I grabbed a flight consisting of:

• “Jernigan’s Hazy IPA” a 6/8% ABV, 30 IBU golden but nearly see-through Hazy IPA. I found this IPA to be more bitter than juicy, and it reminded me more of a West Coast IPA than a hazy. It easily could be a flagship IPA that every brewery needs, nicely in the middle of the road and doing the job of being a foundational IPA.

• “Fuji Apple IPA” is another 6.8% ABV IPA with 65 IBUs. I liked this a little more than the hazy, finding it to have a nice combination of apple, fall spices, and some hop bite. This is the second fruity IPA I’ve had recently, and I liked the effort and interesting take on the style. 

• “Golden Night“ was a must-add to the flight since Celebration’s “Storm Strong” is becoming a go-to pour for me. I’ve clearly been in a Belgian Strong mood. The Night is a 8.5% ABV, 0 IBUs Belgian Strong. It’s a little funk, a little sweet, and should be named Golden Knight due to the connection to the University of Central Florida. Brewlando is the Official Craft Beer of UCF.

• “Magic City Milk Stout” has 5.2% ABV and 27 IBUs, which I got as a nitro version. It had nice dark bread flavors that were very strong and distinct. And the nitro made it smooth and creamy.

The Flight

I will admit, the beer was all pretty much professionally made. But none of it knocked me off my socks, with tones of apple at least making me curious. And when looking at Brewlando, it makes sense why the beer was finished, but maybe not edgy and groundbreaking. Brewlando makes a lot of beer.

Food, there was a food truck out back. I’m sure there were some miscellaneous snacks at the bar. But it was what I am used to, the Midwest, not Central Florida, a brewery with no food (because often their laws don’t allow food and drink to mix).

Brewlando does have an important history and footprint for the Central Florida beer scene. The brewery is woman-founded and owned, in let’s face it, an industry of dudes. Shara Pahtak, who is not a brewer but a businesswoman, has created an impressive record with a brewery with multiple tap rooms in the area, a relationship with UCF, and the foundation of the largest brewery in the area in just a few years.


Who Drinks Here? Golden Knights fans drink here. Those who can’t decide on what seating types they want drink here. Maybe those who want a meeting space near but not at the airport could shuffle in. Those who want to visit the largest craft brewer in Central Florida need to check off this tap room location.