Soucing Suds: Pinglehead's Ambitious Monk

'Sourcing Suds' is a monthly column featured in BUZZ Magazine recognizing beer that’s locally brewed and served. Join me each month as I highlight a local craft beer and where you can find it on tap! 

Source: Brewer's Pizza

Nestled in an unassuming plaza along the busy intersection of Blanding BLVD and Wells Rd in Orange Park, beer lovers and foodies alike can find indulgence in Orange Park’s only Brewpub: Brewer’s Pizza. Brewer’s has become a local favorite for those who live on the west side of Jacksonville, and a worthy destination for those who don’t.

The pizzas are handmade with fresh dough and marinara (both made on site) and fresh-cut ingredients. This is pizza done right. No corners cut. Just good food! My recommendation: order a Florida Smacker—a customizable personal thick crust pizza that is lip-smackingly delicious!

In addition to the handmade pizzas, Brewer’s is home to Pinglehead Brewing Co., where patrons have been enjoying aggressively flavored beers since 2011. "Pinglehead beers are brewed for beer-lovers seeking aggressive beer flavors and styles," said Chief Beer Officer, Steve Halford. Beer with Attitude, as Pinglehead’s slogan goes. 

Suds: Ambitious Monk 

Ambitious Monk, a spring seasonal from Pinglehead, is a Belgian Tripel that clocks in at 10.4% alcohol by volume. It pours a straw-yellow in color and gives off a sweet candy aroma with hints of Belgian yeast aromas. 

Ambitious Monk is dangerously drinkable. Notes of clove, apples, and bubble gum coat the palate. Lots of bubble gum! As the beer warms, the alcohol comes through a bit more and some of the Belgian spices begin to pick up on the palate. The finish is sweet and tart with the yeast characteristics lingering.

This is definitely a beer that is more appropriate as a "sipper," and not one I would recommend drinking too...ambitiously.

Brewer’s Pizza is located at 14b Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL 32073. Open daily at 11am.

Sourcing Suds: Veterans United Craft Brewery

'Sourcing Suds' is a monthly column I write for Buzz Magazine acknowledging a locally owned beer joint that's serving up locally brewed beer. The people and places pouring for us are what make the craft beer community what it is. Join me each month as I highlight some of the great places and beer found right here in Jacksonville!

Source: Veterans United Craft Brewery

There’s a new brewery in town! Veterans United Craft Brewery opened its doors in August with a huge celebration filled with music, food trucks, and, of course, plenty of beer! Since their opening, they have been making quite the wave around town. There are more than 30 locations where Jax beer lovers can find some VU brew, and that list is surely growing.

Founder and former Naval Flight Officer, Ron Gamble, was on hand during their grand opening night, and was even giving free tours to those who came out to support. Gamble's passion for brewing comes out in the tours. He was quick to share his story with the crowd of about 20. He mentioned how he had been home brewing since the late 90's and always wanted to open up his own brewery.

The facility is state-of-the-art and spacious. With room to grow, Gamble's brewing system was designed with the long-term in mind and his personal commitment to the success of the brewery is observable. Nothing about Veterans United seems rushed or ignored. The taproom is beautiful, the people are passionate, and the beer is enjoyable.

At the time of the grand opening, there were three different VU brews being served in the taproom and around the city. That number has already expanded with more set for release soon! In fact, Veterans United recently unveiled plans to release their Cup-O-Joe Oatmeal Espresso Stout, a signature beer that will be tapped in conjunction with the inaugural launch of their Mug Club.

Photo compliments of vubrew.com

The Mug Club launch will take place on September 20^th. For $60, patrons can take advantage of this special opportunity and enjoy benefits such as a personalized mug for the taproom with discounted beer pours, a founding edition t-shirt, and invitations to exclusive events from the brewery. For more information, go to www.vubrew.com/brewery.

Suds: Hopbanshee IPA

Hopbanshee is their flagship IPA and a beer that I found myself really enjoying during my visit. This is an approachable IPA and one that I expect will be a crowd-pleaser.  At only 66 IBUs, this can be considered a mild IPA by modern standards. Notes: Strong hop aroma, Citrus flavors balanced by a malt sweetness. Clean and refreshing finish. Mild and drinkable.

IPAs, for some, can be intimidating. Not Hopbanshee IPA. I have already told a few of my non-hop-loving-beer-drinkers that Hopbanshee is a beer they must try. They've agreed, and I will be sure to update once they sample it for themselves.

Veterans United Craft Brewery is a place you need to prioritize visiting. The taproom provides a welcoming environment, the beer is good, and the company is even better. If you see Ron there, be sure to approach him. You'll be glad you did, and you'll probably walk away with an understanding of the incredible passion he brings to this business. Oh, and be sure to tell him I sent ya!

Veterans United Craft Brewery is located at 8999 Western Way #104 Jacksonville, FL 32256. The taproom is open Wednesday-Sunday. Order a pint while you’re there or a growler to go! Be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. 

Thanks for reading the Beer Apostle and for supporting craft beer! Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter and Facebook! Cheers!

Sourcing Suds: Brew Five Points

Sourcing Suds is a column by the Beer Apostle, Brian Little, recognizing beer that’s served and brewed locally. Join him each month as he highlights different craft bars and brews! 

Source: Brew Five Points

Brew Five Points is a craft beer and espresso bar that recently opened in the historic Five Points area of Riverside. I recently sat down with owner, Jack Twachtman, who shared his philosophy around Brew. “Our concept is a reflection of this neighborhood. We are all about celebrating the craftsman—everything from our drinks to the art and even our furniture. We are all craft.”

Brew will focus on craft beer and espresso. “We are bringing an atmosphere that’s focused on community where you can try a local beer, or have a craft cup of espresso. We welcome everyone,” added Twachtman.

The focus on craft beer and espresso makes this the perfect spot to begin and end your day. Before work, stop by and try one of their espressos and pair it with one of their artisan breads and toast. After work, grab a local beer or try one of their hand-mixed beer cocktails.


Suds: Big John's Apricot Wheat, Bold City Brewing

Slightly cloudy, this beer gives off a nice yellow hue with a creamy head. The aroma is predominantly of grain and wheat with subtle notes of apricot and lemon. The flavors follow the nose, but the apricot is definitely more pronounced on the palate. There's a nice citrus spritz on the finish, which offers a clean and crisp feel. Light, drinkable, and refreshing. This is a perfect summer beer brewed and served locally.

Brew Five Points is located at 1024 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Visit their Facebook page for special events and special tappings.

To see more from the Beer Apostle, visit www.thebeerapostle.com. Follow us on Twitter (@beerapostle) and Facebook (@beerapostle).

Sourcing Suds: Grape and Grain Exchange

'Sourcing Suds' is a monthly column I write for Buzz Magazine acknowledging a locally owned beer joint that's serving up locally brewed beer. The people and places pouring for us are what make the craft beer community what it is. Join me each month as I highlight some of the great places and beer found right here in Jacksonville!

Source: Grape & Grain Exchange

During the prohibition years, "speakeasies" referred to bars and establishments that illegally sold alcohol. Such places were secret and often hidden. Only people in-the-know knew where to find these places. And people literally had to speak easy, or quietly, about them for fear of being caught and arrested.

A sliding bookshelf reveals a "hidden" entryway to the Speakeasy

Luckily, prohibition ended in 1933, and a modern-day speakeasy often refers to a retro-style bar. Jacksonville has its very own retro parlour and speakeasy, and it's located right in the heart of the San Marco shopping and dining district. Grape & Grain Exchange (GGX) opened in November of 2012 and has been providing Jacksonville with craft beverages ever since.

When asked about the focus on "craft beverages," owner, Bob Smith replied, "Craft has been an often over-used and slightly ambiguous term lately, but I look at craft the same way Webster does."

Webster's Dictionary defines craft as the following:

¹craft

 noun \ˈkraft\

: an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands

: a job or activity that requires special skill

GGX not only provides craft beer, wine, and spirits, but customers who visit will experience the "craft" of bar tending and serving as well. "When people come to The Grape and Grain Exchange we want them to feel at home, and we want them to leave feeling like they just learned something useful no matter how long their stay. I like to think of GGX as the classroom and The Parlour Speakeasy as the stage. You can come and learn about craft beverages in The Grape and Grain Exchange and then see them in practice in The Parlour," added Smith.

Owner, Bob Smith, pours a pint of Cigar City White Oak Jai Alai

If you're looking for an authentically craft experience, Grape & Grain is an absolute must! "The idea of craft beverages is already super popular, but you would be surprised how many people still feel intimidated by it. We try to take the intimidation out of the equation, basically, booze should be fun," exclaimed Smith.

GGX carries a large variety of hand-crafted, small batch liquors

This retro-style parlour and speakeasy offers a true variety of craft beverages. There are hand-distilled liquors, local wines, and of course, craft beer. At the time of my visit, GGX had Cigar City's White Oak Jai Alai on tap. One of my favorites from the Tampa brewery.

Suds: Cigar City White Oak Jai Alai

Cigar City, in many respects, is the godfather brewery of Florida. Thanks to their Hunahpu's Imperial Stout and Jai Alai IPA, Cigar City was one of the first local breweries to put Florida on the map, and has garnered national respects and accolades over the past several years.

White Oak Jai Alai takes the original IPA and ages it on American White Oak. The wood adds a nice smoothness to the beer, bringing hints of vanilla and oak to the otherwise citrusy and tropical IPA. I pick up grapefruit, apricot, orange, and a hint of coconut. While the White Oak does mellow the hop flavors a tad, there's still plenty of hop notes to please the average IPA-lover. White Oak Jai Alai finishes with a citrus kick, sweet tropical flavors, and mild hop-bitterness.

The Grape and Grain Exchange is open Tuesday - Sunday 12pm-12am. The speakeasy opens at 5pm and typically features local jazz and blues artists.

Mark your Calendar: GGX hosts beer and liquor tastings on the last Friday of every month. These events are first-come-first-served and require a small fee of just $10 to participate.

Thanks for reading the Beer Apostle and for supporting craft beer! Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter and Facebook! Cheers!

Sourcing Suds: Dahlia's Pour House & People's Pale Ale

'Sourcing Suds' is a monthly column I write for Buzz Magazine acknowledging a locally owned beer joint that's serving up locally brewed beer. The people and places pouring for us are what make the craft beer community what it is. Join me each month as I highlight some of the great places and beer found right here in Jacksonville!

Source: Dahlia’s Pour House

Dahlia’s is located off King Street, in a historic building in the heart of Riverside’s booming “Beer District.” Strictly a beer bar, Dahlia’s has one of the largest selection of beer in Jacksonville, boasting 85 taps and over a hundred different cans and bottles. And if that’s not enough, they are currently the only bar with a selection of meads on tap!

Andrea Dahlia opened the doors to this beer oasis in July of 2012 with the intention of creating a laid back bar that could also be serious about its beer. “I want people to be able to come and try a lot of beer and styles that they may never have had before,” said Dahlia. “In addition to our beer, we have games and events that allow people to interact and meet other local beer lovers.”

Not only is Dahlia’s a fun place to hang out and grab a pint, they do a lot to support the local beer community. With the recent trend of Jacksonville breweries canning their beer, Dahlia’s has made it a point to have a wide selection of local cans. “Cans are easier to carry and distribute, and the flavors of the beer are preserved better,” said Dahlia.

With the focus on local canned beer, I decided to order a can of People’s Pale Ale, by Intuition Ale Works.

Suds: People’s Pale Ale


Intuition currently cans three of their brews (Jon Boat, People’s Pale Ale, and I-10 IPA). In addition, they're getting ready to launch a fourth canned product: King Street Stout.

People’s Pale Ale is the flagship offering from Intuition, and, of course, it’s available at Dahlia’s.

People’s Pale a crisp and refreshing beer that offers a solid combination of citrus hops and caramel malt flavors. It’s approachable and easy to drink. The lemon and grapefruit flavors from the hops play a prominent role on the palate. The finish is slightly bitter and mildly sweet.

Mark your calendar: Dahlia’s Pour House will be kicking off their second anniversary in style. Join them on July 12 for a celebratory event that will feature tappings of local and special kegs every hour! And in case that’s not enough, each beer will be served at a discounted price!

Dahlia's Pour House is located at 2695 Post Street at the intersection at King. Check out www.dahliaspourhouse.com/ for a list of weekly specials and events.

Thanks for reading the Beer Apostle and for supporting craft beer! Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter and Facebook! Cheers!