My parents moved to St. Augustine Beach, Florida about two years ago which coincided with the rise of the area’s homegrown craft beer scene.
During my six week Florida visit this year, my dad and I decided to try each of St. Augustine’s breweries. It was a fun excuse to get out of the house and a great way to explore different sides of St. Augustine.
Each brewery is truly unique and I was impressed by the quality of beers. Highly recommend checking all of them out – whether in a brewery crawl or over the course of multiple weeks. Skol!
Ancient City Brewing
Brewery: 3420 Agricultural Center Dr., St. Augustine, FL 32092
Tap Room: 18 Cathedral Place, St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 429-9654
Opened:
2015
Must Try Beer*:
Castillo Coconut Porter, American Porter, 6.8%
Take Home Options:
Growlers; Select beers in cans from local stores
Ancient City Brewing is St. Augustine’s most established local craft brewery and to date, the only one with a canning operation. Yet, its brewhouse retains the start-up brewery feel that craft beer lovers like myself, are drawn to. Its brewery and bar are housed in a large open warehouse with the tanks and canning table visible while simple wooden indoor and outdoor seating provide a place to rest between playing corn hole and darts.
I loved the Coconut Porter so much that I ordered it multiple times during my most recent trip to St. Augustine, Florida. The balance of the summery coconut tasting notes with the wintery, rich, warming porter base make it a year-round beer. My father, who leans towards lighter beers and found the Porter too rich for his tastes, found Galleon’s Golden Ale to be the perfect easy drinking beer. We both, somewhat surprisingly, agreed that the Honey IPA was a winner.
On the Sunday afternoon my dad and I visited, the brewhouse was a mixed crowd that included full families hanging out, solo locals watching football games in the bar area, and couples. Our bartender was knowledgeable about beer and enthusiastic about Ancient City Brewing. When things slowed down, she even showed us the brewing operations up close.
*Note: Breweries rotate selections and come up with new brews and we all have different beer tastes. If the recommended “must try beer,” isn’t available, or isn’t your taste, just ask your beertender for recommendations.
Website & Social
Website: www.ancientcitybrewing.com
Instagram: @ancientcitybrewin
Facebook: @ancientcitybrewing
Photos of Ancient City Brewing
Bog Brewing Company
218 W King St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 679-3146
Opened:
2016
Must Try Beer:
Smoked Datil Ale, Smoked Ale, 5.1% ABV
Take Home Options:
Growlers
Bog Brewing Company is a local brewery that intends to stay a local brewery. It takes a creative, playful approach to beer, consistently trying new ideas and collaborations with other breweries. It turns out really good craft beer in the process.
Their Smoked Datil Ale is a great example of Bog Brewing Company’s approach to craft beer. It sounds like a beer that you’d try for the novelty because it incorporates St. Augustine’s famous datil pepper, but it’s a very drinkable beer that you can readily enjoy a whole pint (or two) of.
The brewery is nestled in the West King Street neighborhood, an area of St. Augustine that has gone from a struggling side of town to hip and happening. Bog Brewing Co. has no doubt played a role in the West King Street revival. Well before the end of the work day, my dad and I found the bar bustling with friendly locals and visitors eager to compare notes on favorite brews.
Website & Social
Website: www.bogbrewery.com/
Instagram: @bog_brewery
Facebook: @bogbrewery
Photos of Bog Brewing Company
Dog Rose Brewing Company
77 Bridge St., St. Augustine FL 32084
(904) 217-3355
Opened:
2017
Must Try Beer:
Roadside IPA, American IPA, 6%
Take Home Options:
Growlers
Dog Rose Brewing Company is the brainchild of the former head brewer at A1A Aleworks and his wife. Dog Rose’s website aptly sums up its brewing philosophy as “world class straight forward beers, true to style and tradition.” The brewery has a few core beers that are offered year-round while rotating its other selections based on what it is brewing at the time.
In a world of wildly creative beers, Dog Rose’s classic approach is refreshing. Sometimes I’m in the mood to gamble on trying a chocolate, jalapeño, black IPA, but other times, I just want to enjoy well crafted beer like Dog Rose’s Road Side IPA. Its lighter offerings are also nice for when I’m with someone who isn’t typically a beer drinker.
The brewery is nestled in the historic Lincolnville area of St. Augustine. The art on the walls gives a quiet nod to the building’s former identity as an art gallery. Seating is available at the bar or at tables throughout the open, spacious building. The brewing operations are on site and viewable. I thoroughly enjoyed an impulsive stop at Dog Rose Brewing Company with my dad on a Friday afternoon as well as visit with a friend later in the evening.
Website & Social
Website: www.dogrosebrewing.com/
Instagram: @dogrosebrewing
Facebook: @dog-rose-brewing-co-196557320836404
Photos of Dog Rose Brewing Company
Old Coast Ales
300 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 484-7705
Opened:
2017
Must Try Beer:
Tugboat Smoke, Smoked Beer, 6.7%
Take Home Options:
Growlers; Crowlers
Old Coast Alesis, to date, the only St. Augustine brewery located on “The Island,” i.e. Anastasia Island (St. Augustine Beach). It’s housed in a former auto garage, though you’d never know it based on its modern bike focused design. Old Coast shares the building with Osprey Tacos, who, like a good neighbor, will deliver your tacos to you in Old Coast Ales.
I was impressed by every. Single. beer I tried at Old Coast. On an initial trip with my parents, I went with the Kookburra Coffee Brown, which is named after a local coffee shop and infused with their coffee. It still tasted like beer, not coffee, which is my personal preference. On a subsequent trip, I did a flight of four: Port of Call (Porter), Tugboat Smoke (Smoked Strong Ale), Ol’ Horner (English ESB), and Empirical IPA (IPA).
Old Coast reminded me of the breweries in San Diego, California where I fell in love with craft breweries during my six years there. Maybe it’s Old Coast’s proximity to the beach, or its family and dog friendly vibe, or the tacos next door, or the expertly crafted beer. Regardless of the exact reason, it’s a brewery and taproom that look forward to living at – err, I mean hanging out at – on future trips to my parents in St. Augustine Beach. Florida.
Website & Social
Website: www.oldcoastales.com/
Instagram: @old_coast_ales
Facebook: @oldcoastales
Photos of Old Coast Ales
Ready to tour the breweries, and other wonders in Florida’s oldest city? Research ideas and search for deals with TripAdvisor for St. Augustine, Florida, and keep an eye on flight deals to nearby Jacksonville, Daytona, and Orlando airports with Skyscanner.
