The Sunshine State is home to more than 200 craft breweries, which excel at creative concoctions and have put the state on the map for unique beers.
There are so many that customers will never be far from a premium beverage, and the majority offer taprooms or brewery tours, which can easily be included in an itinerary for older families or couples.
One of the most famous craft breweries can be found in the centre of the state, at Tampa Bay’s Cigar City Brewing, where the Jai Alai IPA and Florida Cracker Belgian-style White Ale have amassed a cult following. Cigar City hones in on Tampa’s Latin culture and tobacco-manufacturing history, and many of its beers are crafted using local ingredients. Crack open a beer at its three taprooms, including one at Tampa International airport.
Clients can also follow one of three suggested itineraries on the The Gulp Coast Craft Beer Trail. They feature more than 35 breweries in St Petersburg and Clearwater, and are a great way to explore the region.
In south Florida, try the organically certified microbrewery Tequesta Brewing Company, or for something quirky, head to the Funky Buddha brewery in Oakland Park near Fort Lauderdale. Visitors can sip a vast variety of beers, including seasonal favourites based on sweet potato casserole, cookies and cream and blueberry cobbler.
Visit the taproom to taste Funky Buddha’s wares and tuck into the delicious food, tour the brewhouse or join one of the regular sampling sessions held at local partner stores.
Customers heading north should stop at the Proof Brewing Company, located in a former Coca-Cola bottling building in Tallahassee. Advise them to arrive with an empty stomach and fill up on the Proof Brewpub’s innovative Southern cuisine menu, washing it down with the Mango Wit, which is made with organic mangos.
Like many of Florida’s craft breweries, The Swamp Head Brewery in Gainesville takes pride in its sustainable brewing practices, and visitors to its Tasting Room will discover how ingredients are sourced locally and spent grains are used to feed local cattle feed.
Beyond beer
If clients favour spirits then it’s easy to match a destination to their favourite beverage, as there’s an array of craft spirit distilleries in Florida.
If they’ve enjoyed winery tours on previous holidays, these artisan distilleries provide a similar experience, allowing them to enjoy their favourite tipple, watch it being made and pick up a souvenir bottle.
St Augustine Distillery holds the title of the most visited craft distillery in America, running free daily tours and tastings. It’s famed for its bourbon, rum, vodka and gin, and the gift shop is the perfect place to stock up on boozy presents.
At Florida Cane Vodka in Brandon sugar cane is used to make small batches of vodka, including the Miami Mango and Key West Lemon varieties, which are flavoured using local fruits.
Direct gin aficionados to Big Cypress Distillery to try their bestseller, Magic City Gin, and join a tour of the first craft gin distillery in Miami. There’s also the pirate-themed Loaded Cannon distillery in Bradenton on the central east coast, which boasts a broad selection of spirits and runs a variety of tours and classes.
Culinary prominence
No ice-cold beverage would be complete without a generous helping of food, and Florida has a booming culinary scene.
While clients can easily fill up at fast food and chain restaurants across the state, there are also an array of farm-to-fork and net-to-fork specialists, alongside popular farmers’ markets, experimental restaurants and food truck markets. Many of the breweries and distilleries also have in-house restaurants or local food trucks.
In summer 2022 the inaugural edition of the Michelin Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa was released, with inspectors finding 14 one-star restaurants, and awarding L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Miami two stars. In addition, the Michelin Guide inspectors found 29 restaurants worthy of the Bib Gourmand designation, which recognises great food at great value.
The dishes to seek out include the Floridian staples of stone crab, key lime pie, fried gator and a classic Cuban sandwich. Get more inspiration by watching Visit Florida’s new playlist of videos in its You’ve Gotta Try This: Chef’s Edition collection, where some of the state’s top chefs share their favourite dishes.
