From cozy and rustic to cool and trendy, each place brings a unique personality to the Greater Gainesville brewery scene.
Swamp Head Brewery
Gainesville
What’s on tap?
- Four year-round core beers
- Four to five special releases weekly
Brewer’s Favorite
- Stump knocker American pale ale
A wooden boardwalk extends into the natural scenery at this aptly named brewery, leading patrons into the serene pavilion resting over lush wetlands filled with wildlife. Look out for various birds, deer and even the resident alligator, Growler.
Living through their motto, “Inherently Floridian,” Swamp Head pioneered the way for Gainesville’s craft beer scene since its inception in 2008. Its massive 30-barrel system provides statewide distribution of core beers. The tasting room features 28 taps and attracts everyone from families to college students for a pint of their liquid magic.
While embracing sustainability, local sourcing and preservation, Swamp Head has been known to challenge traditional beer expectations. How is this for getting creative? The rhubarb pie beer includes ingredients rhubarb, vanilla beans and brown sugar for a beer as sweet and rich as it sounds. Partly cloudy blends notes of melon, passionfruit and pine. This brewery certainly keeps it interesting and makes sure beer-lovers’ palates never get bored.
Cypress and Grove Brewing Company
Gainesville
What’s on tap?
- Six signature beers
- A rotating assortment of new releases
Brewer’s favorite
- Crane song Japanese style lager
Besides beer
- Red and white wine selections
- Various seltzers
History flows through the taps and is etched into the foundation at Cypress and Grove.
Aptly named for its location in the charming Grove Street neighborhood, Cypress and Grove breathes life into the restored early 20th-century ice plant. It has an original 400-foot well that taps right into the Floridan Aquifer and serves them the main ingredient for their beer. Haunts of the old ice plant live in the brick room, with visible ice pick marks embedded in the floor and tables made with reclaimed rafters.
Observing German purity standards, Cypress and Grove brews special releases in addition to signature beers, such as the lost in Oz double hazy IPA — a juicy beer with notes of citrus and passion fruit — and the apple of my eye apple ale, made with pressed fresh apples. They host a monthly community collaboration, where they partner with a local brewery, coffee shop or other establishment to combine new flavors into their beers.
First Magnitude
Gainesville
What’s on tap?
- Five year-round beers
- Rotating assortment of special releases
- Guest taps
Brewer’s favorite
- Drift session brown ale
Besides beer
- Ciders
- Red and white wine
For the designated drivers
- Kiwi strawberry seltzer
- Cream soda
- Blueberry and blackberry kombucha
- Root beer
Named for the first-magnitude springs that surround Greater Gainesville, this brewery is all about taking care of their community and the environment — and washing it all down with great beers even colder than the local springs.
Located just off the Gainesville-Hawthorne trail, this is a common stop for cyclists in search of a cold, refreshing drink. Whether sitting inside their open-air warehouse or outside in the fenced-in beer garden, this brewery is a fun, relaxed place to enjoy great beer while supporting environmental awareness efforts. It is the Southeast’s first carbon-neutral brewery and has, to date, raised more than $60,000 to support the Florida Springs Institute’s educational efforts through their 7.2K Springs Run event.
This beer mecca brews more than 100 unique beers a year, featuring exotic new flavors. For example, the mango lassie was a milkshake sour with flavors of mango, cardamom, rosewater and milk sugar, while the very popular saltwater intrusion combined real guava and passionfruit puree for a delicious, tropical sour ale.
High Springs Brewing Co.
High Springs
What’s on tap?
- Six core beers
- 10 to 13 special releases or local guest beers.
Brewer’s favorite
- Midnight train porter
Besides beer
- Ciders
- Seltzers
Nestled in the arms of charming downtown High Springs, this family-friendly brewery brings delicious beer to Greater Gainesville. With its surrounding nearby natural springs and other recreational activities, High Springs Brewing Co. attracts anyone looking to quench their thirst after a sunny day on the river. Drinkability is their mantra, and their refreshing beer selections and open-air environment make this the perfect place to unwind.
When four brothers bonded over their passion for craft beer and a love for their community, High Springs Brewing Co. was born. The brewery celebrates the town’s rich history and industrial heritage with their refreshing beer. This bike-friendly brewery often hosts live music, food truck events and other food pop-ups.
Blackadder Brewing Company
Gainesville
What’s on tap?
- 12 in-house brews
- More than 20 guest beers and ciders
Brewer’s Favorites
- James’ Brown — an imperial brown ale
- Pink rider — a pink peppercorn and hibiscus saison
Besides beer
- Guest red and white wine
For the designated drivers
- Cream and lime ginger sodas
- Root beer
With its wooden tables and wrought iron chandeliers, this enchanting Tudor-style taproom transports guests into a centuries-old English tavern. The smell of malted barley and fermenting yeast permeates the room as tradition and innovation flow from the taps. Challenge someone to a game of darts, keep the kiddos entertained with some board games or cozy up in a comfy chair around the fireplace while sipping on one of their Belgian-inspired creations.
Brewer Chris Hart regularly adds exciting ingredients to the mix, churning them out of his three-and-a-half-barrel system. Some of these bold, interesting flavors include elderflower, Marsh Rosemary or locally grown hemp. Ciders and wines are also available.
Big Top Brewing Company
Gainesville
What’s on tap?
- Five core beers
- More than five specialty releases
- Assortment of sours, hoppy and dark and roasty beers
- Gluten and sugar-free beer
Brewer’s favorite
- Ashley Gang imperial IPA
Besides beer
- Two ciders
Hang out under the dangling Edison bulbs, exposed brick wall or outdoor beer garden at Big Top Brewing Company, which brings a next-level trendy vibe to Gainesville. The convenient downtown location and unique beer menu makes Big Top a perfect stop for a post-work brew or a fun night out.
Joining the local brewery scene in 2018, this Sarasota-born brand embodies their mantra, “Let every sip defy what you thought possible in beer.” Big Top delightfully challenges even the most daring beer enthusiasts with their creative concoctions. Some fun new releases hit the taps this year: the choco banana hard water, made using banana purée and chocolate, and the Busa rice lager, a traditional Japanese lager brewed with a rice cereal mash and barley mix.
Testing out the options in the eclectic beer selections might work up an appetite. The food menu offers a variety of savory appetizers and handhelds, as well as brunch on weekends.
Daft Cow Brewery
Alachua
Daft Cow Brewery was expected to join Greater Gainesville’s craft beer scene in early 2022. The building project in San Felasco Tech City was nearly completed with opening slated for May, as of press time.
Owner and brewer Scott Brown is excited to bring his fun, relaxed concept to the area and become the next neighborhood taproom. With a 3 ½-barrel system, the brewery will specialize in English and Irish style beers and some new American styles as well.
For updates, follow Daft Cow Brewery on Facebook and Instagram.
By Laura Parrinello