A great way to cool down after a long day at the beach or relax after a long day of work is with an ice, cold beer. And one that’s brewed right here in the Bradenton area? Doesn’t get better than that. Bradenton has recently become a hot spot for craft beer and breweries – with many brew master’s coming to the gulf coast area to open taprooms for our enjoyment. We’ve recently visited four of the top local breweries and taprooms to share about it and highlight our favorites. Spoiler alert: We loved them all.
Darwin Brewing Company and Taproom
Darwin Brewing Company was born in 2012 out of a Latin American gastropub, and proudly brews culinary-inspired ales and lagers evolved from native flavors of Florida and the Americas. Darwin brews are always available on the 14 taps at the DBC taproom. They’re conveniently located right across the street from McKechnie Field / LECOM Park in Bradenton, FL which makes it the perfect place to stop before (or after) a Pirates Spring Training Game or Marauders game. One thing that stands out about the DBC family other than their delicious brews (seriously, we loved every one we tried.) is their commitment to local partnerships and charities. They aim to be a part of the community and work with local organizations and creators to provide the best product and service possible, while frequently giving back to worthwhile causes. We’ll drink to that.
Our favorite: Circa 1926 Tangerine Wheat.
Motorworks
Motorworks Brewing boasts the largest beer garden in Florida, complete with a spacious deck built around a magnificent 150+ year-old oak tree, a 3-hole putting green, 2 bocce ball courts, over a dozen cornhole sets, life-sized jenga, a live music stage, 22 ft. projection screen and more. Their beer is delicious but what stands out most about Motorworks is the fun atmosphere! Also located near LECOM Park, Motoroworks is a great place to join friends for a fresh pint of beer. They always offer 30 craft beers on tap, a full liquor bar, and an expansive wine collection along with yard games and live music. Another unique thing is that Motorworks partners with local restaurants and food trucks to provide delicious offerings all day. Their servers will take your order and deliver the meal directly to your table providing a full restaurant experience with the unique tastes of rotating food truck partners.
Our favorite: V Twin Vienna Lager
3 Keys Brewing
3 Keys is a craft brewery and family-friendly eatery featuring a weekly evolving selection of small batch, handcrafted beers in an inviting and relaxing atmosphere. Their menu consists of interesting and wholesome appetizers, sandwiches, tacos, burgers and pizzas made daily from scratch. (We recommend the tacos and the trivia nights!) They have great food specials, music, activities and community events each week. The standout about 3 Keys is their friendly owners and staff are often there and love to talk shop about beers, travel, and trivia. They’ve travelled all over the country trying different breweries so their experience is extensive and hands-on. Not to mention, their beer names are quite comical… as is much of their branding. Their website boasts “Kids, dogs and well-behaved husbands are always welcome!” As a family-owned business with quite an interesting story, that is clearly reflected in their beloved 3 Keys Brewery.
Our favorite: Chocoholics Anonymous Oatmeal Stout.
Good Liquid
The Good Liquid Brewing Company is a husband and wife owned/operated craft microbrewery located on 14th Street in Bradenton. This US Navy Veteran and Licensed Nurse duo is worth visiting to hear their story and sip their favorite beers. Their love for each other and love for good liquids is clear, they’ve got some great products. With the variety of brew houses, they can produce large enough batches of the year round favorites as well as small, seasonal and experimental brews. This also allow them to brew many styles of beer, too. They also offer frequent community events like trivia nights and food trucks and don’t want to limit their visitors to only beer-enthusiasts. Good Liquid Brewing’s mission is to use their knowledge, experience, science, and passion to hand craft a liquid for everyone… even the non-beer drinkers.
Our favorite: Porter.
Have you visited all four? What other great local Bradenton breweries or beers have we missed?
Cheers!