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.

Brewery Review - Rockpit Brewing and Distilling

Rockpit Brewing and Distilling

A free birthday flight! Yes Please!

Rockpit Brewing & Distilling has been on my radar for a bit. Their online menus, which I find in Central Florida, are not always as accurate as I desire; consistently had a stout that I wanted to enjoy. And with them having a cocktail menu, suggested some choices that the non-beer drinkers in my path would enjoy. 

The Brewhouse

Located within a nice, reachable distance from Downtown Orlando, this is a spot that is also a comfortable commute from Universal. The building is metal-sided and garage-like, with a parking lot that has limited spots. On the day I was there, some spots were also occupied by a food truck. Inside, there’s a lot of space, tables, and a bar. The space can fit many different-sized parties with room to spread out. The best part of the space for me is the metal. With Rockpit having both brewing and distilling under one roof, it’s a lot of metal for brewing fans to stare at while sipping their pints. 

The Flight

I got a birthday flight. Rockpit has this offer on its website. The beers I mined were:

• “Stupider” is a traditional IPA with a big 7.5% ABV and 100 IBU. This is really Rockpit’s flagship IPA for me. But that 100 IBUs was a big hoppy bite that I was not expecting.

• “Yankee Savage” was the other style of IPA I grabbed, a New England Hazy IPA with a slightly smaller 6.2% ABV and 34 IBUs. This is a nice traditional hazy that does give off some beer funk.

• “Never Go Full Tropic” is the Wheat style beer you expect from a Florida brewery. The Wheat style does pop for me, with this reminding me of a banana-led version of Funky Buddha’s “Tropical Floridan.” This Wheater comes in with 5.4% AVB and no IBUs.

• “Blackstrap Con Leche” is the 6% ABV and 30 IBU Milk Stout that I was craving. You really do get the nice dark malts popping flavor with some sweetness from the lactose. Florida loves lactose in their stouts. But this is a version of a lactose-adjoined stout that really works well, as the brewery is trying to imitate a sweet coffee, and they make it work.

"Blackstrap Con Leche"

The non-beer fans in my party grabbed cocktails. And I do have to say that these moonshine-based drinks are really affordable, especially when you compare cocktail prices to theme park property. The two snagged cocktails in my group were the “Blueberry Lemon Thyme Gin Smash” with gin, lemon juice, blueberry juice, and some thyme by our gin fan. And the sweet Pina Colada fan grabbed “Toes in the Sand” with Flordia Cracker Sugarcane Moonshine serving as their local pina. The iconic scene to watch was the two drinkers swapping their cocktails, preferring each other's original choice instead of the cocktail that typically suits them.
 

"Toes in the Sand"

There are two vibes here for me. The first is local. This taproom feels like a local hangout spot. Mugs hang on the wall for regulars. Rockpit feels like everyone knows your name taproom if you visit on the regular. The second is manly. Diving deep into my mind, I used to be part of a group that was determining how to bring male customers through our doors. One recommended strategy was to decorate our location with heavily male-influenced images, like hunting. Rockpit has a miner's theme with dark woods and used metals. It’s a spot where it feels like a dude would feel super comfortable. It’s like a man cave with beer. 

"Blueberry Lemon Thyme Gin Smash"

We were there on a Saturday, and there was a Smashburger truck on site. But there is also BBQ provided by their neighbor Cecil’s BBQ., so one can grab and drink and meal. Being Midwestern, we grabbed some cheese curds, which, without seeing a kitchen on-site, I did see staff walking out a side door to grab our yummy cheeses.

Who Drinks Here? I feel like locals definitely drink here. Also, I think this is a spot where dudes can feel super comfortable. I also think if you are looking for affordable cocktails, Rockpit Brewing and Distilling is likely for you.

Beer Review - Acadia Fog Hazy IPA

"Acadia Fog Hazy IPA"

When I visit the Polite Pig, my beer selection is always on my mind. I have to admit, I make the decision late, as I typically grab the seasonal, so I’ve not spent a lot of time yet with Ravenous Pig core beers. But on an evening with out-of-town friends, I found myself not in the mood for the seasonal and for once grabbed one of the regulars.

“Acadia Fog Hazy IPA” is a 7% ABV, 26 IBU dark yellow juicy juicy-looking pint. I found it very soft and light with a low-key citrus touch. I found it it be very approachable, with it really reminding me of the lightness of “Gathering of Clouds.” With the 26 IBUs, it had no bitter bite. I almost wonder if “Acadia Fog Hazy IPA” is the base beer that is used as a starting recipe for the earlier sampled double hazy.

True confessions, I get real frustrated by tasters who go real deep on flavors.  When you see bourbon tastings that give off vanilla and tobacco, yeah that's not me.  Often with beer and IPAs they tell you have the differences between tangerines and oranges, which to me are not that different as tones in beer.  Now, I can tell the difference between oranges and grapefruit, and I like a grapefruit hazy a little bit more than an orangey one.  Is it possible that when I say light citrus, what I am really saying is tangerine?  All I know is this beer is not a grapefruit juice, which I would honestly prefer.  

I also considered the Porter, a preferred darker malty style for me. But the heat drove me away. The lightness of this Hazy was a nice, refreshing choice. But I would be cautious with the number you drink, as that 7% is sneaking in on you with its lighter flavor tones, convincing you that you’re not drinking a mid-level ABV brew.

Who Drinks This? Our guest is an IPA fan, and this is what she reached for. “Acadia Fog Hazy IPA” is likely one of the starting points for IPA fans who need smoked goodness. I’ll also argue that those who want to investigate Hazy IPAs would likely find this a good first sip.

Beer Review - Gathering of the Clouds

"Gathering of the Clouds"

I wanted to people-watch.

I wanted something dark and having lived in a barrel.

Instead, I got something Hazy and I found a nice starter beer for those who want to explore IPA styles.

We had friends who had never been to Disney Springs and wanted some good food before they went back to the chilly Midwest. Coming from the Midwest, we figured they’d like some BBQ, and Polite Pig is an easy winner especially since we could just walk in. I was hoping that maybe “Blantons Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout” was still on tap. That was a dream lost in the clouds and instead, I found the newest seasonal “Gathering of the Clouds”, a beer very unlike a barrel-aged stout.

“Gathering of the Clouds” is from Polite Pig’s sister brewpub Ravenous Pig Brewing Company and is a 10 IBU, 6.5% ABV Hazy IPA, of the big Imperial Double New England Variety. I see the words double and imperial and worry many will run away from this brew as a storm in a glass. It is not. Honestly, it’s what I would call a light hazy beer, despite being an imperial. Most imperials would creep up to a 10% ABV, this is nearly half of that. It’s not overly hoppy, though you can sense some hop going to citrus, not pine. But it’s also not overly juicy. Is Light Hazy a new phrase, because I feel pretty good about it! The dark golden color that obscures all light is truly hazy and what I would expect and hope to see in this style.  

Who Drinks This? You want to try out a hazy IPA but are a little scared, give “Gathering of the Clouds” a quick whirl. If you like IPAs and hazys, I think this is worth a pint to experience what the whole range of Hazy IPA can offer.

Brewery Review - Tactical Brewing Company

This is not a drill!

Tactical Brewing Company keeps popping up on my list of too-visit Central Florida craft breweries. As a lover of Imperial Stouts, they seem to be one of the few breweries that always have an Imperial on tap. And those beers generally seem to be rated fairly well. It is an Orlando-based brewery that seems to brew good beers and have something I want.

Tactical Brewing Company is located in a target-rich area for beer hunters. The building feels like you are entering an up-and-coming shopping and dining district full of activity and new buildings. It feels modern, open, and welcoming. It is not a barracks. The brewery itself has a modern feel, full of light, though a little cramped when full and loud. The founders are veterans, passionate about their beer and creating “Strategically Chaotic Beer” which could explain why an Imperial always seems to be on tap as it’s not a style for everyone! The tap room also has military embellishments and decorations in an understated manner that would welcome all beer nerds including the hipster kids. It is a nice balance of representing the brewery and its values, but not a spot only painted in greens or red, white, and blue. The bathroom, yes I mentioned the bathroom, was super clean and strategically chaotic in its decorations which made me laugh.

The Way We Rust

But, how is the beer? This was not my first stop! Being someone who advocates always drinking responsibly, I ordered just “The Way That We Rust”, a 12.5% ABV Imperial Stout with vanilla, cocoa nibs, and pecans. The battle plan was executed well, giving me a lot of sweet and nutty flavor. It was more than enough for me to say, yes, I will return to have more of their Imperials. It is nice to have an option in Orlando that is consistent with this style. My drinking companion, who does not enjoy Imperials, found “The Way That We Rust” to be sweet enough that she enjoyed it. For her enjoyment, she grabbed “Mo Muggles Mo Problems”, a Butter beer-inspired sour with a crushable 5% ABV. It may not have been my favorite boozy butter beer with some sourness coming through. But it may not be fair to compare it to a seltzer-style butterbeer, where the style adds nothing to the flavor making the brewing technique easier to camouflage. 

Haze Cult: Ahhhroma

Second Sips: I returned on a Saturday to chase down an Imperial Target. I grabbed the “Seeker in the Dark” an 11% ABV collaboration with Cerebral Brewing in Denver. I know I go around hyping bourbon barrel beers, but rum-enhanced imperials can be really sweet fun. This stout was aged on rum-soaked amburana and had flavors of toasted coconut, cinnamon, clove, and star anise. If you don’t like black licorice, well you’re wrong, but everything about matched my order of battle. I found it really sweet, and enjoyable, but since I had recently had a Bourbon County Stout Biscotti variant, I didn’t bring a bottle home. I also grabbed a “Haze Cult: Ahhhroma” an IPA with only one hop, Ahhhroma, which was solid and drinkable but not my favorite hazy.

I may not be ready to say that Tactical Brewing is my favorite craft brewery in Orlando…yet. But it has all the markers of a potential favorite that I can include in my drinking plans with it serving as an outpost where you can recon for other beer operations!

Who Drinks Here?: If you are in Orlando and want to add a beer search to your vacation, Tactical Brewing Company is a good base to launch your attack from. It is near other locations where you can continue your campaign, making it a good waypoint. The menu has a lot to offer at almost any time, including for Imperial fans like me. And the vibe is welcoming. Or if you just want to sample what the Orlando beer scene has to offer, Tactical is a good target.

I may not be ready to say that Tactical Brewing is my favorite craft brewery in Orlando…yet. But it has all the markers of a potential favorite that I can include in my drinking plans with it serving as an outpost where you can recon for other beer operations!