Local craft brewers gear up for Oktoberfests, new releases | Around the Brew Bend
As Tallahassee's biggest brewery, Proof stays pretty busy. But the rest of 2018 is going to be nuts.
If there's a local craft beer event the rest of the year, Proof will be there. That starts Friday at the 20th Annual Elder Care Oktoberfest at the Centre of Tallahassee and Saturday at the 2nd Annual Tallahassee Oktoberfest at Township.
On Oct. 13, Proof will be at the Inaugural Tallahassee Beer Festival, also at the Centre. And Nov. 10, they'll be pouring at the Brews By The Bay in Panacea.
In between all that, on Nov. 2-3, is the Big One: The 6th Annual Tap Invitational, which Proof hosts. Tap Invitational is Florida's only beer festival that features just Florida breweries, and Proof's expecting a record crowd of nearly 50 all-star Florida breweries. (Pssst! As we wrote this column Monday, there were fewer than 50 VIP tickets left and General admission tickets were selling crazy fast. If you snooze on this and it sells out, you're gonna be bummed).
But Proof ain't done. Oh, no, no, no ...
On Oct. 4, Proof's next latest limited edition can release will be Tropical Uprising New England IPA, which won a silver medal earlier this year at the Best Florida Beer Competition and was rated as one of the Top 50 IPAs in America by Paste Magazine.
Proof's been on a heater lately with their limited edition can releases with each selling out quickly. (Photo: Proof Brewing Company)
But wait. There's more.
As you may know, Proof's soon moving from Railroad Square to 1320 South Monroe. And there have been a lot of developments on their progress lately, including that they still anticipate to open in January 2019. Visit 1320SouthMonroe.com to stay up-to-date.
One last thing: Proof's recent Oktoberfest release, "Prooftoberfest," is gone in the tap room. But good news: The new Publix Greenwise location at 625 W. Gaines Street will be selling it exclusively in both cans and on tap. Greenwise is set to open Saturday, Oct. 6.
P.S.: OK, we lied ... one more thing: Proof owner Byron Burroughs was named Leadership Tallahassee's 2018 "Distinguished Leader of the Year" last week. Congrats, Byron — well-deserved!
GRASSLANDS WAVES TO GREENWISE
Speaking of Greenwise, they'll be GrassLands' new next door neighbor. And because you could literally carry GrassLands beer next door, this should be a wonderful craft beer relationship to watch unfold. GrassLands will have two taps at Greenwise, and is planning to brew several special beers that can only be found at Greenwise.
More immediately, GrassLands is releasing a new beer Friday: "RVB," which stands for Raspberry Vanilla Brown ale. And they'll be pouring four beers at Saturday's 2nd Annual Tallahassee Oktoberfest at Township.
Also, there are rumors a of new "Yoga on the Lawn" program and weekly cornhole tournaments coming to the GrassLands' beer garden.
But you ain't heard that from us ... *wink*
LAKE TRIBE CANS ARE HERE!
A month ago, we broke the news that Lake Tribe had purchased a canning line and was about to debut two of their core beers in cans. Well, that happened last weekend, and "Red Cloud IPA" and "Satsuma Wheat" are now available for purchase in the tasting room.
This Friday and Saturday, Lake Tribe is also holding its "Oktoberfest Weekend," featuring the return of its tasty Oktoberfest beer, "Ode Zu Scheidler." They'll have food trucks and live music both nights.
Lake Tribe will also be pouring at the Tallahassee Oktoberfest on Saturday, and — like Proof — will have a specialty beer available soon in Greenwise: "Wise Choice IPA." More details on that to come soon.
DEEP DEBUTS "SHALLOW DIVE"
The Elder Care Services 20th Oktoberfest wanted to do something special for its anniversary, and Deep obliged: "Shallow Dive German Kolsch" — a beer Deep brewed just for Friday's festival — will make its debut at the celebration.
But fear not: If you don't make the Oktoberfest, "Shallow Dive" will be featured in the tap room this weekend alongside another Deep beer: "Chamber Goat Coffee Blonde," which is a fan favorite that's brewed with local Tallahassee-based Lucky Goat Coffee.
Is Deep going to be available in Greenwise, too, you ask? You bet.
Deep has brewed a special beer just for Greenwise ("New Hotness," a double IPA with habañero peppers) and its beer will be featured on the taps in the store. Greenwise will also carry Deep's recently released cans, "Spear Pressure Golden Ale," and "Reef Dweller IPA."
Lastly, Deep — like GrassLands, Proof and Lake Tribe — will be pouring at the Tallahassee Oktoberfest on Saturday.
OLOGY RIDING HIGH
Fresh off their Great American Beer Festival appearance — where local favorite Passionfruit, Blood Orange, Raspberry "Juice Lab" climbed into the Top 10 on Untappd stats — the crew from Ology now shifts their focus toward Oktoberfest. On Oct. 6, Ology will be open at 11 a.m. for an Oktoberfest celebration featuring branded steins, fun competitions, food, and the brewery's first lager: a refreshing Helles.
GROWLER COUNTRY CELEBRATES 4 YEARS
Growler Country, which was recently named the No. 1 Craft Beer Bar in Florida by CraftBeer.com, will celebrate its four-year anniversary Oct. 6. It will coincide with its Oktoberfest celebration that day featuring German beer offerings from Tallahassee's local breweries and the tapping of a cask.
Growler Country was THE first standalone growler fill station in Florida, so we are lucky to have them here in Tallahassee. Happy early birthday, GC!