From festivals to taprooms, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches are a hop-heads’ playground.
When Pedro Menendez de Aviles first sighted land way back in 1565, on the feast day of San Agustin, he paid tribute by naming the coastal hamlet after the patron saint of brewing. Modern-day, a collection of craft breweries are keeping the tradition alive by creating some of the most delicious libations around.
There’s never been a better time to explore Florida’s Historic Coast© craft beer trail—a cold brew on a summer day? Kick off the journey at Old Coast Ale’s Brewery and Taproom on Anastasia Island, with brews ranging from juicy IPAs to a coffee-infused brown featuring local roasts. Head beachside for a taste of beer and barbecue at Bootlegger Beach Brewing at Jack’s BBQ and Brewery. St. Augustine Beach’s only craft brewery harnesses the beach vibe and serves up a refreshing 100 Oranges and the popular Hot Honey Brown.
Venture over the Bridge of Lions into Historic St. Augustine for a stop at Ancient City Brewing Co.’s Downtown Tap Room, right on the Plaza de la Constitucion. The offerings are based on historical recipes and capture the essence of the Nation’s Oldest City, especially the award-winning Matanzas River Red Ale and Castillo Coconut Porter. Ancient City Brewing’s original beer lounge, the Brewhouse, is located west of town on Agricultural Center Dr.
A jaunt over to Granada St. in the heart of historic Lincolnville, Dog Rose Brewing Co combines shuffleboard and darts with employees who love talking beer. Whether it’s a traditional American Lager or their take on a Flanders-inspired red ale, the brewers at Dog Rose have a painstaking commitment to showcasing the finest ingredients with style.
Bog Brewing Company in the West King District brews a variety of classic beers, barrel-aged farmhouse beers and lagers, Belgian-inspired ales, and seasonal favorites like the Smoked Datil Ale, which showcases the region’s famous hot peppers. Travel north to find 2nd Bay Brewing, Along the St. Johns River, Northwest of St. Augustine in Fruit Cove, 2nd Bay Brewing, is the area’s newest and only craft beer producer. This humble home-brew turned medal-winning creative pours an impressive selection with punny names like Happy Pilsmore and James Blonde.
The Floridian in downtown St. Augustine carries an impressive rotating selection of beers from throughout Florida. Ponte Vedra Beach has two new hotspots for beer enthusiasts. The Ponte Vedra Tap Room taps kegs crafted in Jacksonville down south to the Florida Keys. Really Good Beer Stop scours the world for the best libations, pouring custom beverages from the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and beyond. They also pay nod to Ponte Vedra Beach with their in-house golf simulator.
St. Augustine Experience’s Beer & History Crawl offers guided history tours paired with cold beers. Many of St. Augustine’s most popular pubs are associated with ghostly specters. Enjoy a malty beverage with a side of spooky on a haunted pub crawl, offered by GhoSt Augustine, Ghost Tours of St. Augustine, and St. Augustine Land & Sea Tours.
St. Augustine celebrates craft beer on an even larger scale with must-do hoppy events! The Annual St. Augustine Craft Brewers’ Fest on Saturday, May 4 features unlimited samples from over 25 regional and local breweries, food trucks, live music, kids’ activities, and brew merch. The St. Augustine Food + Wine Festival, May 8-12, celebrates all local makers, including craft beers paired with deliciously crafted bites. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm’s CROCtoberfest – Brew at the Zoo on October 5 invites guests to roam the zoo at night while sampling beer from local breweries.
Still not a beer lover after all that? Florida’s Historic Coast has the Southeast’s finest craft distilleries, including The St. Augustine Distillery, City Gate Spirits, and Sailbird Distilling Company. St. Augustine is also home to the San Sebastian Winery, which creates magic with Florida’s muscadine grapes and The Tasting Tours, which takes curious visitors on curated tours of St. Augustine’s finest food and wine hotspots.
Florida’s Historic Coast is ready to welcome visitors with unforgettable experiences. Whether it’s a beachside resort or an intimate bed and breakfast you seek, don’t miss exclusive lodging offers for Spring and Summer 2024. Use the helpful trip planner to craft the perfect trip, breweries and all.
Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach: and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach.
