Visit Local Breweries, Brewpubs and Brewhouses
I mentioned on FaceBook that I was interested in organizing some brewery crawls/tours. No response from anyone but that is okay. I started Tour 1 on my own. Here is a list of the places I want to visit, either with a group, or with my friend Mac who said he was interested in a few, or just going out on my own. I divided into 6 tours, but it looks like Tour 1 will be done soon.
On Friday, I stopped by Hell 'n Blazes Brewing Company in Downtown Melbourne, located in the same building that use to be the Christmas Cottage. There is talk that the place is haunted but that is a different story. What I did not realize is that they now serve food as well as the great beer they brew on the premises. So I went back on Saturday, after chasing Zombies around the downtown area.
The early Zombie walk was a family thing for kids and adults. One guy looked just like a character from the Walking Dead TV show. You could get your photo with him after the walk, at Hell 'n Blazes.
I decided to stop for a flight of beer and try the food. As I was drinking my first flight at the bar, the couple next to me ordered the poutine. Within a few minutes it was gone. I told them I assumed it was great because it was consumed very quickly. They said it was delicious so I ordered the Smoked Brisket Poutine and a second flight. A flight is four four-ounce beers so it equates to one pint.
If you have not been here, they have a big bar and dining area, lots of TVs, and a game room in the back with a jukebox and four TVs. They have foosball and the game shown here...
I guess to give it that manly look, there is a deer or two on the wall...
There is a lot of food on the new menu and lots of beers to try. I give the place a 3.0 (Great) and plan to become a regular (remind myself to walk every day!)
Trying to find the Zombies again, I headed down to Quarters Brewery and Arcade. It is located in downtown Melbourne also, at the site of the closed Island Pasta Restaurant. Interesting story, the place is owned and run by two young men (Brock & Tyler) who grew up in South Burlington Vermont. My friend Joan Holdman Breen told me through FaceBook that she use to work with Tyler's mom.
I was at the bar, the place was slow with just a few patrons, so I had one of their brews, a Double IPA that was very good. The bartender/server (he was by himself in there) was very talkative so I asked him if he was Tyler. He said he was so I relayed the info about Joan and my Vermont connection. He grew up loving Long Trail, Magic Hat and especially liked Otter Creek Brewery from my hometown. He is also is the brewmaster for Quarters. He and Brock ran Brock's Brewery Store that has blossomed into Lost Shirt Brewing Company, the third place on my Tour 1. My friend Mac knows Brock real well.
My view from the bar...
In addition to their brewing love, the two guys are also into traditional arcade games, hence the name Quarters and the working games that line the walls of the brewery.
The only Cider on tap is Woodchuck Cider from Middlebury, my hometown. Here is their beer list, slightly out of focus...
As an aside, I want to mention that Mangetsu Korean Restaurant is now open on New Haven Avenue. I liked the place but it was torn down for the new Wawa to go in. I am glad they got to reopen...
Watch out for Zombies and let me know if you want to try any of the breweries in the list. It is lonely being retired!
| Brewery | Tour | Location | Miles from BJ |
| Quarters Brewery and Arcade | 1 | Melbourne | 2.8 |
| Hell 'n Blazes Brewing Company | 1 | Melbourne | 2.9 |
| Lost Shirt Brewing Company | 1 | West Melb | 3.0 |
| Cocoa Beach Brewing Company | 2 | Cocoa Beach | 14.3 |
| Bugnutty Brewing Company | 2 | Merritt Island | 18.1 |
| Florida Beer Company | 2 | Cape Canaveral | 19.7 |
| Dirty Oar Beer Company | 3 | Cocoa | 17.8 |
| Playalinda Brewing - Brix Project | 3 | Titusville | 31.6 |
| Playalinda Brewing - Hardware Store | 3 | Titusville | 36.1 |
| Intracoastal Brewing Company | 4 | Eau Gallie | 1.1 |
| Mash Monkeys Brewing Company | 4 | Sebastian | 23.1 |
| Pareidolia Brewing Co. | 4 | Sebastian | 23.2 |
| Walking Tree Brewery | 5 | Vero Beach | 34.8 |
| American Icon Brewery | 5 | Vero Beach | 35.9 |
| Orchid Island Brewery | 5 | Vero Beach | 36.2 |
| BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse | 6 | Melbourne | 2.8 |
| Charlie & Jake's Brewery Grille | 6 | Melbourne | 7.5 |
On Friday, I stopped by Hell 'n Blazes Brewing Company in Downtown Melbourne, located in the same building that use to be the Christmas Cottage. There is talk that the place is haunted but that is a different story. What I did not realize is that they now serve food as well as the great beer they brew on the premises. So I went back on Saturday, after chasing Zombies around the downtown area.
The early Zombie walk was a family thing for kids and adults. One guy looked just like a character from the Walking Dead TV show. You could get your photo with him after the walk, at Hell 'n Blazes.
I decided to stop for a flight of beer and try the food. As I was drinking my first flight at the bar, the couple next to me ordered the poutine. Within a few minutes it was gone. I told them I assumed it was great because it was consumed very quickly. They said it was delicious so I ordered the Smoked Brisket Poutine and a second flight. A flight is four four-ounce beers so it equates to one pint.
If you have not been here, they have a big bar and dining area, lots of TVs, and a game room in the back with a jukebox and four TVs. They have foosball and the game shown here...
There is a lot of food on the new menu and lots of beers to try. I give the place a 3.0 (Great) and plan to become a regular (remind myself to walk every day!)
Trying to find the Zombies again, I headed down to Quarters Brewery and Arcade. It is located in downtown Melbourne also, at the site of the closed Island Pasta Restaurant. Interesting story, the place is owned and run by two young men (Brock & Tyler) who grew up in South Burlington Vermont. My friend Joan Holdman Breen told me through FaceBook that she use to work with Tyler's mom.
I was at the bar, the place was slow with just a few patrons, so I had one of their brews, a Double IPA that was very good. The bartender/server (he was by himself in there) was very talkative so I asked him if he was Tyler. He said he was so I relayed the info about Joan and my Vermont connection. He grew up loving Long Trail, Magic Hat and especially liked Otter Creek Brewery from my hometown. He is also is the brewmaster for Quarters. He and Brock ran Brock's Brewery Store that has blossomed into Lost Shirt Brewing Company, the third place on my Tour 1. My friend Mac knows Brock real well.
My view from the bar...
In addition to their brewing love, the two guys are also into traditional arcade games, hence the name Quarters and the working games that line the walls of the brewery.
The only Cider on tap is Woodchuck Cider from Middlebury, my hometown. Here is their beer list, slightly out of focus...
As an aside, I want to mention that Mangetsu Korean Restaurant is now open on New Haven Avenue. I liked the place but it was torn down for the new Wawa to go in. I am glad they got to reopen...
Watch out for Zombies and let me know if you want to try any of the breweries in the list. It is lonely being retired!
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