Venue Review - GEO-82

Wow, this was a hard reservation to get. Disney adults must be excited to drink with no kids. I haven’t had to stalk a reservation this hard unless it’s ‘Ohana on a holiday for years! When I had to give up my first reservation due to an emergency, a kind cast member was unable to find me a replacement at any time in the future. Luckily, a few days later, I was able to grab a last-minute resy that someone must have dropped.

GEO-82 is the new hotness. At least until we get The Beak and Barrel in the Magic Kingdom. As a Disney fan, the draw of GEO-82 is to share some sips inside Spaceship Earth, as one looks towards the World Showcase. And let’s be honest, this is an idea that should have been stumbled upon a while ago, it’s easy money. 

Spaceship Earth Vibes

GEO-82 is located right at the back of Spaceship Earth. As a guest, it’s easy to see the windows that look out onto the gardens behind Spaceship Earth. But it’s also a little bit difficult to find. The entrance is in the exit for Spaceship Earth…well, one of the exits, with the entrance on the World Discovery side. One will find a fairly indistinct hallway that then leads to a small desk and the beginning of theming. From this check-in area, one is taken to a lobby up a set of stairs that is highly themed with images and homages to the history of Spaceship Earth. Also at this stop, a guest is handed a cool lavender-scented towel, which is refreshing and delightful. It begins to feel like a high-end experience as one cools off with their towel (I apologized to the server who took mine away) and soaks in the vibes of comfy seating and golden Spaceship Earth tiles. Yes, the tiles inside are gold to pay tribute to the original Spaceship Earth plans.

The lounge is not large, with comfortable seating for small groups. There is a handful of seating types between the windows looking out towards the World Showcase and the bar. Everyone will want seats next to the windows, seats that have been reserved for fireworks views at night. But everyone can see out towards the greeny and the showcase from inside. We would like to come back at night, perhaps for a fireworks experience, which will require us to sell blood or take out a medium-sized loan. 

“Peach Shrub Whisky Smash”

My sipping companion doesn’t like drinks that taste of pure alcohol, are overly sour, or super bitter. So I was worried that we wouldn't find something that she would enjoy. At the server’s recommendation, she got a “Peach Shrub Whisky Smash” advertised as Toki Suntory Whisky, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Peach and Mint Shrub, and Bubbles. Luckily for her, the whiskey was hidden by a gentle sourness and gave her something she could enjoy. I did worry that the specialty cocktails would all be options that she would find off-putting, but the bottles displayed behind the bar made it clear to me that they could likely make her a cocktail from scratch if nothing on the menu was pleasing to her. 

The Shapeship Earth Ice of the “Brown Butter Old-Fashioned”

I dove into bourbon. First, I grabbed the “Brown Butter Old-Fashioned” consisting of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon, Brown Butter, Maple, and Hella Cocktail Co. Mexican Chocolate Bitters. I don’t see myself as someone who stands in fields and finds heather and leather notes in whiskey. No, I’m the guy who likes Bourbon because its barrels can make a nice temporary home for dark beers and I want to be reminded of that boozy sweetness. I found this old-fashioned to have a nice little whiskey burn balanced out by the sweetness of the brown butter and bitters, with a nice sweet chocolate note. I think the maple helped tame the beast also, but I didn’t walk away saying, “oh yeah, that maple was nice!” It was a very nice old-fashioned, and maybe my second favorite on Disney property after “The Tempting Tigress” at the Nomad Lounge.

Disney Select Bourbon Flight

Second, yes, there was a second; I treated myself to an experience. This is likely a once in a lifetime for me. I may get the old-fashioned again, but I can’t support myself routinely spending $49 on 8 ounces of bourbon. I mean, I didn’t even get tones of vanilla and aisne or stone fruits (which I generally have to Google). But I treated myself to the Exclusive Disney Select Bourbon Flight. It is an experience as you try different presentations of the same liquor. My server said that the “Stagg Private Barrel” is the favorite of the bourbon fans, with me calling it spicy, which means alcohol burny. And I imagine that this spiciness is what real bourbon fans really dig. I preferred the “Uncle Nearest Single Barrel” which I found to be the smoothest. The “Blanton’s Gold Single Barrel” scratched a to drink off my bucket list since Blanton’s and my favorite bourbon, “Buffalo Trace” are very similar. But I didn’t need to get up and chase an allocated bottle. Finally, I found the “Woodford Reserve Private Barrell” to be tastier than I expected, as I don’t drink a lot of Woodford bourbons, which made me rethink that choice. Honestly, I’m glad I did this once, as I don’t often get to sip from private or select barrels; it’s just not an experience I think I would duplicate anytime soon.

We do need to be clear, these cocktails are pricey. But they are also in line with the experience that you are having, the location you are sitting, and the view provided. One just needs to be prepared for the expense.

I did notice behind the bar three different bottles of different-aged Pappy Van Winkle bourbons. I mean for the three of us who watched Secret Wars on Disney+, this is how we drink like Nick Fury. It’s also an unicorn bottle of bourbon for many sippers, a liquid I have never sampled myself. I texted a friend who thinks he’s a bourbon guy, asking what bottle he would still be chasing. He immediately stated, Pappy. So I did ask the server what a sample of Pappy would cost and if it’s available. The resounding answer was yes, I mean Disney has always been willing to take Disney adult money. I was told based on the age, it would cost $150 to $400 for two ounces. That is a pretty steep pricetag, but I also think it’s fair for what I have seen other bourbon bars that I have been at sell a sample from the bottle.

Funghi Flatbeard

There are five small bites on the menu. Some of them are not to my tastes. It does sound like the chef’s selection of cheeses or meats, can we just call it charcuterie, is the item that will fill larger parties and picky eaters. We grabbed the Funghi Flatbeard, which was such good mushroomy goodness. But, like with many things at GEO-82, it’s a $15 price tag for a few bites when split between two. But it is so so good if you like mushrooms!

Beer, why would you come here for beer? It’s an honest question. Beer is nothing special, and in fact, a handful of beers that one can find throughout Walt Disney World, including Yuengling's “Traditional Lager” and Lexington’s “Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale” which just don’t feel like special brews for such a high-end, highly desired reservation.


Who Drinks Here? Disney adults who love Epcot and want to feel classy while sipping high-end cocktails without the pressure and presence of children drink here. Those guests with a reservation have to want a cocktail to get the most out of the experience, as beer is much cheaper and more interesting outside of GEO-82. I can see visiting again for an anniversary or special event, which should only be shared with adults, but I don’t see GEO-82 as my go-to location.

Beer Review - Summerfest

"Summerfest"

It’s not my favorite!

It may be your favorite uncle’s!

But as a completionist, it’s my job to sample all the seasonal brews at Baseline Tap House at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Despite the fact I’ve had a taster before and handed it off to a friend!

BaseLine’s seasonals generally rotate between Sierra Nevada brews. Some of these are real hits for me. Sadly, I knew that the summer seasonal, “Summerfest” is a 5% ABV, 28 IBU, golden pilsner. That little bit of IBUs gives this a clear and refreshing pilsner that is refreshing when cold. But for me, that little bit of flavor still makes it a slightly bitter beer that tastes of beer, and just not my general taste.

Honestly, you can likely get “Summerfest” in most markets, like most Sierra Nevada beers on tap at BaseLine. It doesn’t get me excited to pass on other options on the tap list, like “Celebration IPA” which I bought several pints of last winter and bought six packs for at-home enjoyment. I even got out of sorts with that brew, as my brother-in-law, who does not appreciate a good IPA, drank my last can. Because, at the end of the day, my brother-in-law would have loved “Summerfest” and not made those faces that screamed to me flavor!

Who Drinks This? Honestly, my brother-in-law, who likes a nice crisp pilsner, would probably enjoy this pint and see the little bit of IBUs as a nice variation from his favorite macro beers. Otherwise, those who only want a light flavor and a refreshing beer on a theme park day will likely enjoy this brew.

Beer Review - Wrexham Lager

 

"Wrexham Lager"

I’m Between Pints and Between Disney, and sometimes I wonder how I can bring my theme park experiences home. One of those activities I engage in is consuming media on Disney’s streaming platforms. Being a Deadpool fan and a sports fan, but not soccer (football to some of you), I still find myself watching Welcome to Wrexham. Sure, it’s no Ted Lasso, but much like mustached Kansan, they do a solid job showing only the soccer plays that matter instead of the 87 minutes of running back and forth.

From the beginning of Wrexham, “Wrexham Lager” has been front and center as a beer option that those who support the Red Dragons. And I wondered if I would ever be able to sample one, as it seemed like it would also be a Welsh regional-only brew. Then, in 2024, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased a majority stake in this brewery. And we all know what this means…world domination! I would soon be able to sample a Wrexham pint.

Wrexham Lager was founded in 1882 by two German immigrants in Wrexham. And as we know, Lager is a bit of a German specialty. In the early 1900s, “Wrexham Lager” was globally exported and was the only lager on the RMS Titanic. But in the 20th century, other brands grew, tastes changed, the city of Wrexham hit an economic decline, and in 2002, “Wrexham Lager” ceased to be brewed. But in 2011, a former employee bought the brand for a pound, and restarted brewing “Wrexham Lager” as a homate and hope for a better Wrexham. Which, of course, leads us to 2024, when Hollywood invested in the brewery and made it famous globally on Disney streaming. And suddenly, there’s an announcement that it will be imported to the U.S.

“Wrexham Lager” is categorized as a pale lager, with the can noting it is subtly hopped. It also states that it’s been brewed since 1882, but we also know that it did take a sabbatical. It has a crushable 4% ABV with just 11 IBUs. I found it to be clean, with some hop flavor that was pleasant on top of the beer flavor of beer. I liked it for a lager, which is not my preferred style. But if I needed to select a lager, it would be something I would consider if I had everything else on the list. I could easily see this tall can being a lightly hopped refreshment for a hot day or a sporting event.

And this should be good, since it’s from a respected American craft brewery! The can also states that this liquid was brewed at DESTIHL in Normal, Illinois. DESTIHL is a brewery I best know for some really solid hoppy IPAs and some crowd-pleasing barrel-aged imperial stouts. DESTHIL’s motto is “Support Flavor. Boycott Bland.” And I would say even in this contract brewing situation, they are living up to their promise. But if you are drinking “Wrexham Lager” in the United States, just remember it’s an import brand made in the U.S., not shipped from across the ocean directly from Wrexham and the pitch…much like many other big-name import brands.

Who Drinks This? Honestly, I think if you like lagers, this is definitely worth your time. It’s not priced outrageously, and the hop is showcased well without becoming an IPA. It can also be a fun add-on to binge-watching Welcome to Wrexham on a Disney-owned streamer and having a fun day of learning more about the Wrexham community. I just wonder in a time of Deadpool global domination, I wonder how long before this lager shows up in a Disney park?

Between Pints Unofficial Orlando Brewery Rankings

 

When I realized I was going to be spending a lot more time in Orlando, I knew I wanted to know what breweries to visit.  My search was honestly meh.  There were several outdated websites, those that included the airport (sorry not for me) and generally not a listing for those who wanted craft beer.

I am thrilled that I can help solve this problem for theme park fans with the new Between Pints Unofficial Orlando Area Brewery rankings.   

This tool will constantly be updated as I add brewery reviews, and sadly if any close.  So make sure to check it out every few weeks!

 

 

Venue Review - The Burning Blade Tavern

The Burning Blade Tavern

I like some Wizarding World of Harry Potter beers. The Hog’s Head is my favorite hangout and sip location. But with the announcements of Universal Epic Universe, it wasn’t The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic that I most wanted to visit. It was, shockingly enough Dark Universe. I hate scary things! As I previewed Epic Universe, on my own dime, I will agree that Darkmoor is wonderful, immersive, and a place that I wish to visit again. Among the attractions in this spooky land is The Burning Blade tavern, with theming and specialty beer. While my family had attractions as their must-dos on our preview day, it was this pub with its distinctive burning windmill that I most wanted to hit.

The Burning Blade Tavern was my second stop in the Dark Universe. “Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment” was stop number one…and well worth it. I was excited after hitting that attraction, and now my heart pounded as I saw the unburning blades of the windmill (spoiler, I never saw them burn). It skipped a beat as I opened the door and found…a giant crowd! The inside was dark and crowded. The side and back wall featured a long bar, with a lot of disorganization to order with some monster heads behind the bartenders. There was a smattering of tall tables. It was a bit overwhelming. But boom, mobile order! I put in our order, walked up to the bar, trying to find where one could pick up the order, which said it was ready, and was told to go outside. Outside on a patio, I found a few more standing tables, one window that did not indicate a mobile order pickup, and a long line. It’s that line I was told I could pick up from once I was informed my order was ready! So, I had gone mobile to stand in another line, which may have been longer than the inside lines. Only because my party had multiple people were we able to hold a table while I waited to pick up our food and drinks.

A monster hunter did enter the patio while I waited, and he was very entertaining. Not Igor entertaining, but definitely still fun. And it was needed as the process I used to save time didn’t save any time.

"Reaper's Reserve"

For me, what I have been dreaming of is “Reaper’s Reserve,” a brown ale with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. It’s a no IBU, 5% ABV offering. Now I know it’s never winter except in Hogsmeade in Universal, but it screamed Winter Warmer to me. Crooked Can brews the ale of the monster hunters, like many Universal specialty beers. I found the brown liquid to be almost purple in the right lighting, which gave it a spooky feeling. The taste was a light flavored light brown ale malty flavor with some baking spices, especially cinnamon. It was nice and enjoyable. Now my non-beer drinking companions in the group made “ugh” faces as they sipped. But as a dark beer fan, I found it enjoyable and something I would consider again. But I can see how a brown ale doesn’t scream refreshing in the heat.


The table also grabbed a “Darkthrone Mead,” another exclusive drink. It’s a blackcurrant boysenberry vanilla mead with a pink peppercorn infusion. It is a 12% ABV with no IBUs. It’s also a Florida creation, coming from Brewlihan, a meadery in Oakland Park, FL. It was a sweet and refreshing drink that “screamed” of berry jammy flavors.

For food we grabbed three items to share. The “Hunter’s Garlic Stake” is a garlic butter pretzel with a garlic dipping sauce. Honestly, it was a solid, but not my favorite, pretzel-like treat. We grabbed the “Staked Grilled Chicken,” a char-grilled chicken skewer with garlic naan, tzatziki, shaved cabbage, and a salsa roja. This was our least favorite item. It was so wet, with water sitting on the spinach and naan. Finally, we shared “Burning Cheddar Bites,” which are crispy fried jalapeno cheddar bites with a sriracha ranch. These had mixed reviews at the table, with the spice level either being too much or just right. We also found that we had to attack them with one bite. We know it’s a preview, and we as a group kinda hope the quality improves a smidge. At the moment, we would grab the Stake as being the most pretzel-like.


Who Drinks Here? Monster Hunters…Monster Hunters drink here. I love Dark Universe, and I hate scary things! I like the vibes that the Burning Blade may provide in the future as the newness wears off, some operations change, and maybe some tweaks to the food. It was a preview day, so things will change. I think most drinkers will find “Darkthorne Mead” to be a refreshing, safe choice, served in a small glass to fight the big ABV. And for those of us collecting all the specialty beers, “Reaper’s Reserve” must be enjoyed!


But sadly, it’s not the Hog’s Head of Epic Universe! Yet!

Beer Review - Volcano Blossom

 

I just wanted a beach beer. And instead, I got a mystery and a reminder of the problems of crowd-sourced data!

We headed off the the bay…Volcano Bay. And with a planned long day of fighting the fearless river and a water coaster, I knew that I would be picking up Volcano Bay’s specialty beer!

"Volcano Blossom"

“Volcano Blossom” is a no IBU, 5.5% ABV Pilsner. It’s a brew from Orange Blossom Brewing Company exclusively for Universal's third park, Volcano Bay. I found it fine. It’s a beer with no bite, and some slight fruity sweetness. It’s a lightly sweet beer that tastes like beer.

But here’s in the controversy. I had this beer around five years ago. And this pint reminded me of those first sips…beer flavor with no hop bite and nothing exciting to my palate. It’s a nice, not overly heavy beer that fits a theme park where you want some refreshment that won’t hold you down on a water slide. But, when I went to enter my sips into Untappd, I found two “Volcano Blossom” entries, and both exclusive to Volcano Bay. Somewhere, somehow, a second entry was set up by a beer fan for an exclusive Cigar City “Volcano Blossom” with an IPA style. Basically, it’s reported as a fruited “Jai Alai,” which, like the Pilsner version, is actively being rated on in the app. But let me reassure you, this IPA version does not exist. I assume you can likely find “Jai Alai” in the park. But “Volcano Blossom” is, as Orange Blossom Brewing reports on their website, is a Pilsner, brewed by them, and exclusive to the park. There is only one “Volcano Blossom.” I do wonder if, once upon a time, there may have been an IPA version from Cigar City. But if so, it’s not now, and it’s not when I visited Volcano Bay the first time over five years ago. What likely happened is a drinker enjoyed one or two, thought it reminded them of “Jai Alai” and dropped in an entry for the beer they imagined. But we got to stop rating the fictional Cigar City brew. 

 
Who Drinks This? You like Pilsners, including macrobrands, and are having fun at the beach, this is for you. If you are a Pale Ale or IPA fan, you may find the lack of bite a little underwhelming. But you’ve joined the islanders, and you need to enjoy their beer at least once. It will keep you in the mood and allow you to fight the waves!

Beer Review - The Triple

"The Triple"

It is the beer that cannot be named. Because if you order it with the Harry Potter trademarked name fans prefer, you won’t get one! Also, it’s not technically a brew but we’ve reentered the world of potions and beer blends.

I wandered into the Hog’s Head, one of my favorite attractions in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Now, I needed a line beer for Hagrid’s! But I wanted something different and since I have drank all of the specialty wizard beers and wanted something new, I grabbed a “Triple.” Now, this blend can be ordered as “The Triple” or “Three-Layer” or “Triple-Layer” beer. They will all get this potion mixed up for you. I felt more magical than my buddy who ordered a “Yuengling Lager” for our slow stroll to the motorbikes

The pint is a blend of two beers and a cider. The bottom layer is “Strongbow Cider”, the middle is a “Hog’s Head Brew,” and it’s topped off with “Guinness Stout.” Now you can mix this all up, but me, I drank this three-brew potion sip by sip, letting the layers mingle together while still keeping their black, amber, and yellow stripes distinctly clear and clean. But the middle and bottom both have some sweet tones to balance the malty start. 

"Yuengling Traditional Lager" and A "The Triple"

Overall, the flavor starts malty as you dip into the stout. But before the malty liquid layer is gone, you begin to hit some sweetness. The cider sweetness seeps into the ale in the middle even more as they mingle together longer. Then you get a nice sweet punch at the end, where the ale mellows out the sweetness of the cider just a pinch. It’s a journey in a plastic pint.

It’s a journey in a plastic pint. You get different taste experiences with the first sips and the last sips not matching. And the middle becomes a muddled up potion of different yet pleasant flavors.

Who Drinks This? Honestly, if I am at the Hog’s Head, I think I would choose a “Hog’s Head” or a “Daisy Root.” This is for someone who wants to experience something new or already has a taste for it. But I think if you want a pure Wizard beer…well, 2 of these brands have international audiences. It’s fun and sweet, but to me, it’s more for a mood than fitting a wizarding theme!