The best Florida breweries

Wicked Barley Brewing Company serves (in their own words) Naughty Ales for Noble Souls, and we can get on board with that. The brewery is known for its core collection of beers, including a gorgeous German-style lager called The Left Leg, and a double IPA called the Eradicator, an apt name if ever there was one. Throughout the year, the brewery hosts events including Hawaiian-style luaus, fish fry’s, holiday brunches, and more, as people from around the city drive and boat to Wicked Barley for these events. Yes, we said boat, because the brewery has its boat dock where you can hook up and get lunch before setting sail again.

Dunedin Brewery is Florida’s oldest microbrewery, where each beer is made in batches that amount to 14 to 20 barrels at a time. The taproom at Dunedin Brewery serves a variety of beers, from stouts to shandies, and one of our favorites is the Lemon Whit with its notes of bright citrusy lemon and deep coriander spice. Yummy. The taproom also serves typical bar food like fried pickles, nachos, and tacos, all of which are great with whatever beer you enjoy.

Orlando is home to many breweries, but the Crooked Can in the Winter Garden neighborhood deserves special attention. Located inside Plant Street Market, you can grab a pint of beer and walk around in search of the perfect food to complement your beer (we suggest Hunger Street Tacos), then take everything out to the side patio to enjoy the Florida sunshine. The Florida Sunshine Lager is one of the core beers here, with a light, crisp taste that’s perfectly refreshing on a hot day. 

Grayton Beer Company in beautiful Grayton Beach has a perpetually-busy brewpub and a taproom. The brewpub is open every day of the week and serves a rotating list of 15 or more Grayton Beer Company brews. The tap wall has over 20 beers, along with plenty of games like darts, cornhole, and giant Jenga. If you are traveling with little ones, fear not, the Taproom is child-friendly (and pet-friendly for fluffy visitors). The brewery’s 30A Beach Blonde Ale is what put them on the Florida brewery map, but everything here is delicious.

You’ll find J. Wakefield Brewing smack-bang in the heart of the Wynwood Arts District. The location drives the vibe in the taproom, where local artists have created a massive Star Wars mural with the famous characters sitting around at a cantina, and the outdoor patio is themed after The Empire with a mural of Darth Vader. If you have ever fancied having a beer with Admiral Akbar, this is the place for you. Known for its sours, J. Wakefield is renowned for using local ingredients and barrel aging. Be sure to try the El Jefe, which is a tropical coconut-infused Hefeweizen. Nope, no typos. 

Centrally located between the beach and the ballpark is Civil Society Brewing. The brewery is all about family (and beer, obviously), and each of the large fermenting tanks is named after family members of the brewmasters. The tap list here showcases a variety of beers, including many collaborations with other breweries in the area. The Beach.Boat.Repeat Blonde Ale is a fan-favorite. Can’t get enough of the brewery? You can also take home a selection of beers in 32-ounce crowlers. That's a growler in a can, for the record.

Playalinda Brewing Company has two distinctly different beer experiences for locals and travelers in Titusville. First up is The Hardware Store, a 100-year-old renovated hardware store just a few minutes from Kennedy Space Center, Canaveral National Seashore, and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Beer from out of this world? You bet. The second spot is the Brix Project, Playalinda’s brew-pub located in a renovated lumberyard. No matter which location you choose, be sure to try the Tropical Wonderland American Wheat Ale, inspired by a former nature-centric theme park in these parts.

With a variety of delicious core and seasonal beers, Green Bench Brewing Company is the spot to be in St. Petersburg. The brewery has a reputation for being a beer-laden science lab as much as a typical brewery, thanks to the fully operational laboratory on-site that the team uses every day to ensure each batch of beer comes out perfectly. If you're after something a little more simple, consider the Bench Life Premium Lager or the Postcard Pilsner, which are both made with US-grown Mount Hood hops.

Proof Brewing Company was Tallahassee’s first craft production brewery, opening its doors in 2012. The Proof Brewpub is known for its wide selection of beer on tap, along with sharable Southern cuisine like fried oysters and pulled pork sliders. On the beer side of things, there is something for everyone. That means everything from hazy IPAs to a chocolate-sweet stout treated with coffee. If one or more of your troupe isn't into beer, the cocktails and sangria should do the job.

Swamp Head Brewery's environmentally friendly approach remains unique among Florida brewers. Throughout the year, the brewery hosts carbon-neutral events as well as sourcing all ingredients locally or domestically. After your perfect pint is crafted, all of the spent grain from the process becomes cattle feed. Be sure to check out some of the partner food trucks that are slinging out all types of food for hungry patrons. Those who want to enjoy a beer at home can also order 12 and 16-ounce cans to-go.

Coppertail Brewing Co. is known for its impressive tap list that features over 20 beers at any given time, with a core four that are always on the menu. Those beers include a porter, pilsner, IPA, and Trippel. Brewery tours are also available, taking you behind the scenes to see how the beer is made and learn some secrets about the century-plus-old building in which magic is brewed. History and beer? Yes, please.

If you’ve ever had a beer at an Orlando theme park, it was probably made by Orange Blossom Brewing Co. The brewery is known for its Volcano Blossom, only available at Universal’s Volcano Bay, and the Bloomsday Pale Ale that you will find at Raglan Road Irish Pub at Disney Springs. You can also find the beer in other restaurants, tap houses, and arenas around the Orlando and Lakeland area, as well as throughout the state.