Brewing Review - Half Barrel Beer Project

Half Barrel Beer Project has a special place in my heart. It was the first brewery that I visited in the Orlando area. It’s also the one that is the easiest for me to convince others to grab a quick pint at. It feels like there is always something interesting on tap for me and for others. If the taps don’t have what I want, the fridge is always stocked with something fun, cool, and new.

Half Barrel is a 12-minute, 6-mile drive from Universal Studios Florida. Best of all, it’s right next to the future Epic Universe. We use a visit to Half Barrel to catch a glimpse at the new hotels and the state of construction. When Epic is up and running, Half Barrel is truly the closest craft brewery to the park. in the last year, Half Barrel tore down some walls and added more space, maybe anticipating what’s going on across the street. I think this is an investment likely to pay off as guests next year focus many of their visits around the future 4th Universal theme park. 

Half Barrel Beer Project

The tap room is pretty compact, it used to be more so. It was all one relatively small room with a bar, some low tables, and some pub tables. But in the last year, they added space with more seating including a couch for a large party comfy space. There are a few patio tables out front. It is small but clean and comfy. The small room means that everyone in the main room can see games playing on the TVs above the bar. However, my drinking partner is convinced that the wifi is slow. It is located in a strip mall/apartment complex so parking is a bit limited. Overall the vibe is friendly and inviting with couples and friends engaged in lively debates over their glasses.

Let’s look at the beer! We recently slipped in after their 7th Anniversary party to grab a pint of celebratory recipes.

"Put the Pineapple Ice Cream in the Coconut"

• “Put the Pineapple Ice Cream in the Coconut” was the reason for our visit. My partner really enjoys their 2019 Orlando Beer Festival Judges Choice Award, “Put the Lime in the Coconut” which I’ve been stalking for months for them to put back on tap post brewery expansion. This version has Dole Whip in it. This house loves Dole Whip. Half Barrel has shown success with other Dole Whip beers in “No-Churn Pineapple Dole Whipped” which is one of my favorite Dole Whip-based beers in Orlando. I again stand by the argument that every brewery in Orlando needs a Dole Whip adjacent beer. “Put the Pineapple Ice Cream in the Coconut” was a delight. My drinking companion stole the whole chalice. I found it to be a nice combination of pineapple and coconut flavor where both shined and were distinct, with a slight sour pucker on the end.. Happy Anniversary, this is a great sour that fruity beer drinkers are likely to enjoy. The newest Dole Whipish beer has 0 IBUs and only is 4.2% ABV.

"No-Churn Pineapple Dole Whipped"

For my next two beers, I grabbed tasters. I mean… someone has to drive.

Two Tasters: "Dreamscape Daze" and "Pretzel Logic"

• “Dreamscape Daze” is an anniversary IPA that was dry-hopped with experimental hops from Michigan. Now, Midwest experimental hops can be a bad adventure sometimes. It’s not a region known for hops! This IPA has a 6.6% ABV and is listed as 0 IBUs, which is an odd bitterness for an IPA. Honestly, it has a lighter mouthfeel and the hop flavors to me were more spicey and herbal than piney. It was something that I would not typically grab, but I was glad I tried it and exposed myself to new flavors.

• “Pretzel Logic” is an Angry Chair Brewing milk stout with a big 11.5% ABV and 0 IBUs (a theme of the night. I have found a few great Angry Chair stouts on tap or in the fridge here. I recommend grabbing one, even the not barrel-aged cans when you can as they are full of complex flavor. This stout has a nice sweet and bready front when it hits the tongue and finished to me like a very traditional dry stout.

Honestly, it was a very successful weekday stop at a fun craft brewery.

While we have focused on beer, there are other options including several wines for those who don’t want beer. They have also expanded their food options in the last year, moving past what I would see as snack options to meals.

As I’ve said before, beer laws are weird. Half Barrel continues to show this with their taps which are generally 2/3rds filled with guest breweries and their packaged guest fridge where you can grab cans and bottles to drink on-site at home or hotel room. The selection does overlap some with GB’s Bottle Shop, which honestly has a slightly bigger selection. However, the advantage for Half Barrel is they keep the selection updated on their website. So you can know before you go what is currently stocked. If you are visiting Universal Studios, this is a great place to grab a can or three craft beers from across the nation for your fridge. I have been able to discover IPAs from California (which was collaborating with BlackStack), Toppling Goliath 4-packs, Lupulin Brewing stouts and IPAs, German Ayinger Octoberfest while in season, and so many other labels that I had wanted to try for years. Every time I go, I look across the table, declare that I’m going shopping, and then pick up at least one to-go beverage for later sipping.

Who Drinks Here? Craft beer fans who want to try a variety from around the country should stop in at Half Barrel Beer Project. I’d say you never know what you will find, but they do an excellent job of keeping their offerings updated online. If you are staying at a Universal Studios resort, this is a great grab-and-go spot to stock a room fridge. For those looking to visit and take a break from Epic in the future, this is a great potential spot to grab some food, pints, and air conditioning. And there’s a good chance that those Between Whips may find an alcoholic version of the famed Disney treat.

Venue Review - GB’s Bottle Shop

 

GB's Bottle Shop

State laws around liquor are weird. You never know what you are going to find or be able to do as you go from state to state. I lived for decades in a state that didn’t sell beer on certain days, from a liquor store. But everywhere else, drink up bro! There were limits to how much take-home beer one could take buy at a brewery if it qualified for off-site sales. Big breweries couldn’t let you take the liquid home. But they totally allowed all breweries to sell you as much THC seltzer as you wanted. State laws are weird. So as you enter Central Florida you may start to question what is and what is not allowed.

Here’s one of my happy discoveries, there are options for off-site sales that allow you to consume both on and off-site. The liquid you buy may be produced by that location…or it could be beers from breweries across the United States. I’m, finding, I love a good bottle shop/brewery refrigerator! 

GB's Glorious Taps!

GB’s Bottle Shop in Orlando is one of my favorites. The vibe is a hip tap room, though they are not producing and selling their own beers. Thought the outside doesn't scream, find your beer here!  It’s wide open, with plenty of space for friends. And best of all plenty of beer options, along with wine and mead. I had a party of four. Two of us wanted barrel-aged big imperial stouts. I had a handful of options, something that is often lacking in central Florida. I grabbed a draft of The Bruery’s “Black Tuesday”, a true big beer with a 16-hour brew that lived in bourbon barrels, bringing forth some awesome chocolate and dark fruit flavors. Truly this was not for the faint of heart with a 19.4% ABV, yes big big beers. For my second beer, I just went for a small beer that I had never enjoyed that had not kissed wood. I grabbed a Weldworks Brewing Company’s “French Toast Stout”, a sweet milk stout that brought forth maple, cinnamon, and vanilla…with its tiny 7.1 ABV! But again, there was something for everyone. Another friend grabbed a sour IPA, a style that I have never really seen. And it may have been a step too far for my companion. Maybe I will never see that style again. Our final party member snagged a Tripping Animals Brewing Company’s “Cosmic Bandito 2.0” fruited sour…which provided happiness. Again, a big tap selection with something for everyone. In our group, we grabbed beers from Florida, Colorado, and California!

 

The On-Site/Off-Site Guest Options

 

Room Temperature Beers to Go!

A big attraction here is the to-go offerings. There is a big refrigerated section, filled with beer from throughout the United States, which you can drink on-site or back in your themed resort room. And next to that is a huge selection of room-temperature cans and bottles to go. I bought three beers I had never seen on this visit, and a companion bought two. Even after I left, I was drinking my spoils at home. 

Enjoying "Lil Coconut"

Second Sips: I totally had to go back to grab a wish list draft and restock my home beer fridge. I was able to enjoy two Angry Chair Imperial Stouts. I really wanted their “Bourbon Barrel Aged Simple Math” with it’s 12 ABV of 17 months living in wood goodness. It was so coconut and worth the trip. I also grabbed a glass of Angry Chair’s “Lil Coconut” at just a small little 11.5% ABV which put out the rum and spice feels. And best of all I walked away with a four-pack of “Black Bouquet” a collaboration IPA between Phase Three Brewing and BlackStack Brewing. I truly believe BlackStack makes the best IPAs and collaborations reach the Central Florida area all the time even though BlackStack doesn’t distribute here.

Who Drinks Here? If you’re visiting a theme park, this is a great spot for you to visit to stock your room fridge. Just imagine a fun-filled and tiring day of touring a theme park. You get back to your room, grab a beer you can’t get at home, settle into a chair, and take a break from your relaxing. If you want to get away from the parks and are a hophead, the Ivanhoe area around GB’s Bottle Shop has several craft brewing tap rooms to visit. Treat yourself because you don’t know what gems GB’s Bottle Shop has stashed in their to-go offerings or on their revolving taps.