Sitting Back and Enjoying Two of the Forgotten Coasts’ Breweries

Years ago, when I was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Dave and I ran the Brew to Brew from Boulevard Brewery in Kansas City, Missouri to Free State Brewery in Lawrence, Kansas.  It was a great run—a relay race—and the t-shirt was awesome.  The t-shirt was made in the most obnoxious colors available and for some reason, I absolute love that shirt.

Anyway, we are a long way from Kansas, but I have found two breweries who could cash in on the Brew to Brew concept.  The best part… they are only about 6 or so miles apart!  10K with beer, anyone?

First up… Oyster City Brewing Company

Take a trip with me to Apalachicola, Florida (“Apalach” to the locals, by the way), and you will find Oyster City Brewing Company.  The beer…well, it is everywhere. Indian Pass Raw Bar?  Oyster City.  Even the Red Shed outside of Tallahassee (one of the best lunches I have had in recent memory, by the way) heavily featured Oyster City.  And for good reason… it’s delicious.

The brewery is not much to look at.  There isn’t really a place to belly up the bar, so to speak.  There are, however, outside tables under the awnings, and it does have a bit of a German beer garden feel to it.  There’s no frills… just beer (and shwag, if you are into that).  My favorite Oyster City Beer is definitely the Helles—wait, are we in Germany, after all?  It’s crisp and refreshing.  Second favorite is the Mill Pond Dirty Blonde.  I actually drank a can of it while golfing at St. Joseph’s Golf Club (which is a fun place if you find yourself in Port St. Joe) and found it extremely refreshing.  At the actual brewery, I enjoyed a Franklin County Kolsch.  I love a kolsch and this one did not disappoint.  Dave particularly enjoyed the Hooter Brown—made with local Tupelo Honey.  As the slogan says… the beer is “made by the water” and there is a ton of heart and local flavor in Oyster City Brewery.  

And Now, on to Eastpoint Brewery

If you get in the car in Apalach and drive on 98, across the bay, you will find yourself in Eastpoint, Florida.  About a mile into town, on the right side of the road is Eastpoint Brewery.  Maybe not much to look at on the outside, but do yourself a favor and stop.  The best view is off of the great back deck, onto the bay.  Dave and I sat for at least an hour, just watching the fish jump and the birds swoop down into the water to collect their own supper.  But, lets’ talk beer.  I enjoyed the Eastpoint Blonde and it was absolutely delicious.  I rank it right with the Oyster City blonde, definitely.  Dave enjoyed the Irish Red and proclaimed it the “best beer of the trip.”  Plus… on the weekends, they have pizza, handmade right there on the pizza boat.  We did not have any of the pizza, but I will tell you, it smelled absolutely amazing.  

All in all, two great, un-pretentious breweries a mere 10k from each other.  You will have a great time at either of them; whether you enjoy a porter, a lager, or just some excellent scenery, you could do a lot worse than Oyster City and Eastpoint breweries.  Cheers!