Brewsletter January 2024
Dear Florida Avenue Brewing Co. Family,
As 2023 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. This year has been filled with challenges and triumphs, and your dedication has been the driving force behind our success.
As we approach the holiday season, I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. May this festive time bring you joy, laughter, and the opportunity to recharge for the exciting year ahead.
Looking back, I am proud of what we have accomplished together. Your hard work, creativity, and commitment to excellence have positioned Florida Avenue Brewing Co. as a leader in the industry. As we step into 2024, I am confident that we will continue to achieve new heights and set even higher standards.
Let’s embrace the coming year with optimism and enthusiasm, knowing that our collective efforts will shape the future of our company. Your dedication is the key to our success, and I am grateful to have such a talented and passionate team.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment and hard work. Enjoy the holiday season, and here’s to a fantastic 2024 filled with growth, prosperity, and shared accomplishments.
Warmest wishes,
Toni and Anthony Derby
Florida Avenue Brewing Co.
Public Event News
General Knowledge Trivia | Every Tuesday Except The Third Tuesday (Themed Trivia) | 7:30pm – 10pm | Tampa
We’re excited to partner with Timeless Entertainment on a weekly General Knowledge trivia night in Tampa! Our satellite taproom is working hard to build up their regular business and we’re hopeful that this weekly event will bring in new and familiar faces.
Craft Brew Comedy | Wed 01.17.24 | 6:30pm – 10pm | Wesley Chapel
For those team members who may be new to Florida Ave., we host a Craft Brew Comedy night quarterly with our beloved host, and resident funny guy, Comedian Chuck Glass. The tickets are priced fairly reasonably for the talent we book, and we open up the full menu for dinner service during the show in Brewers Hall. Your guests would love to know more about this one – please share!
Mean Girls Trivia Night | Tue 1.23.24 | 6pm – 10pm | Both Locations
Our themed trivia nights have been wildly successful and have been gaining momentum and notoriety in the area. If you have a fun theme idea that is sure to bring in a crowd, please share with our events team!
Galentine’s Day Beer & Chocolate Pairing | Tue 2.13.24 | 7:30pm – 9pm | Wesley Chapel
Disney Trivia Night | Tue 2.20.24 | 6pm – 10pm | All Ages | Both Locations
Tampa Bay Beer Week | 03.2-10.24
Shamrock Shakedown | Sun 3.17.24 | 12pm – 4pm | St. Patrick’s Day | Both Locations
Friends Trivia Night | Tue 3.19.24 | 6pm – 10pm | Both Locations
Taproom News
The Big Game (Superbowl) Package Sale | Sat 2.10 – Sun 2.11.24
WESLEY CHAPEL TAPROOM
5 Star Reviews
Goose Soars to Perfection, Wins Hearts, and Secret Shops!
“Forget “honk if you’re hungry,” our man Goose (yes, that’s his real name!) is making the beer sing with a perfect score on our recent secret shop! Don’t let it go to his feathers, though – Goose has always been a team player, a hospitality maestro, and a friend to guests and staff alike. If you have not met Goose he is a character for sure. He has a wife and two kids (one named after Tom Brady the “Goat”, as he likes to remind everyone). He uses the free time he gets and flexible schedule to make sure he is able to be present in his children’s lives, and we love that we are able to make that opportunity happen.
This 100% score didn’t just magically appear, it took some serious wing power! Goose handled curveballs like a seasoned pro, from swapping tables under a rogue fan to pairing brews like a seasoned brewmaster. Pre-bussing faster than Tom Brady could himself, recommending flavors that sent his guests to flavortown, Goose did it all with a smile and a quip. The guests themselves said they were happy campers.
But Goose’s magic wasn’t just about efficiency – it was about heart. He built rapport, turning strangers into friends one “enjoy your meal” at a time. He even pulled off the bonus-point feat of connecting in a unique way.
This 100% isn’t just a feather in Goose’s cap, it’s a whole flock! It’s a testament to his dedication, his passion for making everyone feel like the VIP of the coop, and his ability to make our brewpub as warm and welcoming as a down comforter on a chilly night.
So raise a glass (or three!) to Goose, the server who proved that excellence isn’t just brewed, it’s served. Go forth, Goose, and keep setting the gold standard! And to the rest of our team, remember, Goose showed us the sky’s the limit – let’s all keep flying high!
P.S. We hear Goose is still searching for the perfect package beer pairing for a Tom Brady touchdown. Any suggestions, brew fans? Let’s help him score another win!”
Brewsgiving Brunch Buffet | Took Place On Sun 11.19.2023
First ticketed brunch event – expecting to do one in spring and summer
Secret Santa Breakfast Potluck | 12.17.23
L to R, back row: Elle, Andrea, Jose, Maddi, Dani, Lauren, Alex, Ben, Harry, Chelsea, Ami, Jeremy
Front row: Mary, Tonise, Dawn & Shaun
TAMPA TAPROOM
A note from our Tampa GM, Christian
“The Tampa Taproom is looking forward to starting the new year off with some fresh beer from our new up and running brewhouse. With the help of our new addition Vinny, we hope to produce some unique liquid that can pique our patrons interest, draw ideas for fun events, and diversify our landscape of beers for years to come! Cheers everyone!”
5 Star Reviews
Production News
A Message from Ian Williamson, Packaging Manager
“I want to extend a huge thank you to my packaging team. Julie has been amazing in being the first person in the building to get things going; Mike has tinkered and gotten our machines purring like kittens; Chris has come in and in only a couple of months become my go-to for getting beer out the door. Heading into 2024, we are positioned for big things because of their hard work over the last few months.
Drawing inspiration from my family’s history of growing strawberries in Plant City, I teamed up with Scott to craft “Let Us Eat Cake”, a strawberry shortcake lager. Inspired by the impending strawberry season, this treat blends a clean and crisp rice lager base with jammy strawberry and creamy vanilla notes. Available on draft and in 16oz cans, it’s a sip of my heritage and a nod to Plant City’s signature dessert.”
Upcoming Seasonal Beer Releases
Sunset Vibes | Guava IPA | (Feb-April)
This year the ABV will be 6.3%.
Berried Pleasure | Strawberry Lemonade Sour | (Feb – July)
New Taproom Brews
Kodiak Jack Brown Ale – An easy drinking medium bodied brown ale is available on tap now! Notes of dark chocolate and dark caramel.
Flying High Again – A robust porter aged on toasted coconut, ambruana wood spirals, and coffee beans from local roasters at Zeal. Great reception on this beer thus far, great balance of sweet and roasty.
Somewhere in my Memory – Barleywine aged in two types of barrels. Some aged in apple brandy barrels, some aged in bourbon barrels, then blended together and treated with real madagascar vanilla beans. Bottle release for 12/20/23…maybe we put some in kegs for the future…hmmmm.
Lunch Packer – A treatment from the mind of Ian Williamson: Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam with our Rollin Dirty as a base. Quickly sold out, but maybe he knew how good it was and made some more. (He did!)
Employee brews on the horizon
Ian’s “Let Us Eat Cake”…I’ll let him tell you about it, but I want it now! Releases early January
Manny is next on deck for a recipe, we’ll see what he comes up with.
New Employees/Spotlights
Vinny Giusto came to us from The Brutalist/King State. He is heading up production at our Seminole Heights location and got his first brew in the tank this week! The beer is a kolsch called “Double Headed Gator”. He plans to make a Hazy IPA called “Sitting in the Clouds”. Certainly looking forward to those! Welcome aboard, Vinny!
Jeff Dominguez, the brain behind “Flying High Again” is now training on the brew deck! Production is up, so we needed another person to keep our taps flowing with fresh, delicious liquid. Good Luck and Congrats, Jeff!
Other News
Both 12 pack varieties of “You’re My Boy, Blue!” and Florida Ave mixed packs are now available in the taproom as well as many local retailers.
19.2 oz cans of Luminescence and Dead Parrot are also available in our taproom. Joining the Family of 19.2 oz offerings will be “Big Boy, Blue!”, a 10% blueberry wheat beer with mango. See it on our shelves sometime in January and likely in retail coolers in our area!
LAB NEWS
Brought to you from the lab by Ami Parrino
Style Spotlight: Double IPA (DIPA)
This robust beer style, an amplified version of the classic IPA (India Pale Ale), is characterized by an abundance of hops, both in flavor and aroma. With a higher alcohol content, typically ranging from 7.5% to 10%, DIPAs deliver a potent yet well-balanced experience, showcasing a harmonious interplay between malt sweetness and a barrage of hop-driven citrus, pine, tropical fruit, and floral notes. Very much an American style, the history of Double IPA reflects a desire among brewers to push the boundaries of traditional IPA recipes, resulting in a beer that stands out for its bold flavors and assertive bitterness. For food pairings, look for intense flavors that can stand up to the wave of flavors in the glass– BBQ, clothbound cheddar, and carrot cake (don’t knock it until you try it) are all wonderful pairings for a DIPA.
This compound is a natural byproduct of fermentation, originating from the conversion of sugars by yeast. It imparts green apple-like flavors and aromas and is considered acceptable in trace amounts, but excessive levels are considered an “off-flavor.” Acetaldehyde is primarily produced during the early stages of fermentation when yeast is actively converting sugars. Our team closely monitors these levels, ensuring that they decrease as fermentation progresses, resulting in a clean and well-balanced beer. Understanding and controlling acetaldehyde is crucial for maintaining the high quality of our beer. By focusing on precise fermentation conditions and yeast management, we ensure that our beers exhibit the desired flavors without any unwanted characteristics. It’s this dedication to excellence that defines our commitment to crafting outstanding beers for our valued customers. Cheers to the art and science of brewing!
Sales News
Steph got married!
Kitchen News
Get to know our new Sous Chef, Alex!
How long have you been working at Florida Avenue?
I’ve been at Florida Ave for 3 months
Where are you from?
I’m from Vermont originally, but moved to Florida for college and never moved back.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I like the people I work with. It has been nice to get to know people from all aspects of the brewery. The beer is also a nice perk 😃
Favorite menu item?
It’s hard to pick just one thing, but if I had to I’d say the egg rolls and anything dipped in the beer cheese.
What do you like to do away from work?
I enjoy going to the farmers market, watching football and cooking and baking at home.
Favorite place you’ve ever visited?
Favorite place I’ve visited would have to be Venezuela. They have some of the best food I’ve ever had.
Favorite kitchen station to work?
I’d probably have to say sautée, but it’s fun to work them all.
Private Event News
Book weddings in 2024
Between Tampa and WC, we had 158 private events, including 33 in December, 3 weddings, and our first bar mitzvah!
Thank you, Olivia! We will miss you!
I’m sad to share that our beloved Event Coordinator, Olivia Fernandez, is leaving our team. Her last day at the Brewery will be January 5th. Olivia, thank you so much for everything you’ve done to help us grow our events business. It’s been such a pleasure working alongside you for the last two and a half years. Your attention to detail and leadership skills will be sorely missed. I appreciate you and all that you’ve given to Florida Avenue. I know you will go on to do great things! All my best, Amanda
