Bitters are often called the spices of the cocktail world. Although alcohol is a primary ingredient in most cocktail bitters, they are treated differently than other alcoholic products under federal law and the laws of Florida.
Continue ReadingCraft beer festivals are tremendously popular in Florida. The multiplication of beer festivals throughout the state has caused the state’s principal regulator of alcoholic beverages–the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (the ABT)–to take a closer look at how beer festivals are operated. Like all activities involving alcohol beverages, Florida beer festivals are subject to a confusing web...
Continue ReadingNothing goes better with fresh brewed beer than a fresh cooked bratwurst–or pizza, or a burger, or a million other foods. So why don’t more Florida breweries have restaurants attached? For some breweries, it could be because of one of the several myths that persist about that perfect pairing: brewery and restaurant.
Continue ReadingThere are only so many hoppy, reserve, barrel-aged names to go around. This means that more and more otherwise happy, brotherly-loving brewers, vintners and distillers are taking aim at each other over company names and product names that may or may not be infringing on one another. Before deciding your next beer MUST be named Brewers’Law Lager, or whatever,...
Continue ReadingStarting a new beverage manufacturing business takes more than a good beverage, it takes money. Selling ownership shares in your business is an attractive source of start-up funding, but it’s risky. When you take money from investors in exchange for ownership, two things are true. First, your investors expect you to deliver on your promises about the success of...
Continue ReadingBrewpubs are breweries too, right? We think so. Even though the Floria ABT separates its reporting on the retail sales by Florida production breweries (CMB license) and Florida brewpubs (CMBP license), we don’t have to. For the first time, Florida breweries and brewpubs are all together in The Florida Breweries Report.
Continue ReadingThere were no new brewpubs who joined the rank of active Florida brewpubs in March 2014. McGuire’s Irish Pub and Brewzzi again top the monthly sales rankings, but newcomer Tomoka Brewery and Fermentation Lounge had big months. Sailfish Brewing Company made the jump to the production brewery roles. It’s all on The Brewpub Report. Notes about The Florida Brewpubs Report...
Continue ReadingAs Florida-made craft beer, spirits, and wine continue to grow in popularity, Florida beverage manufacturers may find it hard to keep up with demand. Every growing manufacturer must ask: Should we expand? Deciding to expand involves answering a slew of questions, all while keeping existing production on track. This article reviews four primary questions a manufacturer must answer when...
Continue ReadingIt’s not just production breweries that are driving the growth of Florida’s brewing industry. There’s a lot of good beer coming from Florida’s brewpubs. To help Florida brewpubs and their supports stay informed about the industry, and as a companion to The Florida Breweries Report, we are launching the Florida Brewpubs Report.
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