Moving to Orlando, Whats there?

[cyberwollf]

So I got my official assignment notification today. I'm headed to Patrick Air Force Base in April, Whats in the Orlando area beer/homebrewing wise?

Kinda spoiled here in Dayton, OH. A great LHBS within walking distance and a great homebrew club with +25 in attendance at the monthly meetings and brewouts.

 

[kh54s10]

Disney, Epcot, Seaworld. Attractions, Attractions more Attractions and tourists.

There is an attraction which has many bars in one building. Like a beer mall. Never been there, think it's still there.

Probably BMC heaven though.

 

[acuenca]

Disney

There are a couple of local brew pubs
http://www.orlandobrewing.com/index2.php
and
this guide
http://www.orlandobeerguide.com/big-river-brewery.html

Plus you'll be close (1 to 1.5 hours) to tampa and there's cigar city brewing etc.

In terms of LHBS there's a couple

http://www.heartshomebrew.com/home_brew_beer.cgi
http://www.liquidbread.com/

Hope that helps!

 

[ArcaneXor]

Knightly Spirits for great craft beer selection (at least at one of their locations).

 

[SpaceCoastBrew]

These are some good spots along the space coast:

Cocoa Beach Brewing Company is just north of PAFB on A1A (http://www.cocoabeachbrewingcompany.com/).

Sunseed Co-op in Cape Canaveral has a really great beer selection to choose from. As does Florida Wine and Spirits.

Florida Brewing Company is currently located in Melbourne, just south of PAFB, but is moving to Cape Canaveral early next year.

A1A Aleworks is located in St. Augustine. And a new place Mile Marker Brewery just opened up there as well.

And this homebrew store just opened up in Melbourne:
http://www.brockshomebrew.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?display=home

And here is a local homebrew club in the area too:
http://www.saaz.org/cms/

Good luck in the move.

 

[cyberwollf]

Hows the beer distribution? Im gonna miss Founders

 

[SpaceCoastBrew]

Distribution isn't bad, it's finding places that will actually bring different stuff in. Another bar/place that isn't bad is World of Beer. They're in Orlando, Viera, Tampa and several other places in the state. They're little pricey, but they've got a big selection: http://wobusa.com/

 

[remilard]

Went there recently. House of Beer was pretty good, Red Light Red Light looked better online but I didn't go. A coworker really liked World of Beer.

From what I saw distribution is not great but not horrible. Everything is a long way from each other (reminds me of San Diego) so you will probably only be going one place a night and you will probably get there in a car.

If I was moving there, it would be a downgrade in beer scene (from Kansas City, which isn't that great) but ultimately you'll be okay. At least you are a homebrewer and less dependent on craft beer than some people.

I really like Cigar City and it seems easy to get in Orlando at the bars so that is a big plus.

 

[beersteiner2345]

Don't forget toll roads for everywhere you want to drive.

Don't want to be discouraging, but Orlando really sucks. The nice thing is that there are TONS of super nice places just outside the city you can get to in 1-2 hours.

As for brewing, Cigar City makes some fantastic beers.

There's a homebrew shop in downtown Sanford too if you live up that way, and they have TONS of great German food at the brewstore. I believe it's called Hollerback's Willow Tree Cafe. It's where my buddy buys his stuff.

It ain't all bad, but just being honest, I would rank Orlando right behind Miami as the worst city in Florida. Traffic everywhere, toll roads, everywhere, cheesy attractions, stupid tourists that don't know where they are going, and the residents all drive like arses too because they are all pizzed at the stupid tourists. lol

Aside from that, you're close to beaches at Cocoa, great fishing at Titusville, Ocala National Forest, Tampa, and TONS of state parks.

 

[SwampassJ]

Hookers at the grey hound terminal.

 

[cyberwollf]

Hookers at the grey hound terminal.

All the upscale hookers hang out at grey hound terminal, right?