Hop to it! Celebrate National Beer Day at these 8 Fort Myers, Cape Coral breweries
We are ready to raise our mugs and celebrate National Beer Day on Friday.
If you want some background to go with your beer, April 7 is the day the Cullen-Harrison Act went into effect in 1933 to reverse the prohibition on selling beer.
But enough of that dry stuff. Here’s a quick look at a few of our favorite local breweries and what they have to offer on this hoppy day and weekend.
Specialty beer, live music at Fort Myers Brewing
Lee County’s first microbrewery is going all out with specialty beer releases, food and live music from noon to 11 p.m. Friday.
Try the Best Florida Beer 2023 four-medal winning flight — High 5 IPA, OYA Double IPA, Red Tape Amber Ale and Barrel-Aged Brown N’ Out (the last was recognized at the 2023 Best Florida Beer Professional Championships) or opt for a Hazy 5 or Last in Lime (a salt and lime Mexican lager).
Food trucks include Cositas Gourmet, Farmer’s Corn, King’s Taco’s & Burritos and Mobstah Lobstah.
And if that’s not enough, Hot Buttered Nuggets will make its Fort Myers Brewing debut at 7 p.m.
Cheers!
Fort Myers Brewing Co., 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, Fort Myers; 239-313-6576; facebook.com/fmbrew
Try IPAs at Coastal Dayz
Owner Alex Tatko is hopping it up from 1-10 p.m. Saturday with the SWFL IPA Fest. Sample the IPAs Southwest Florida distributors have to offer at this one-stop shop.
There will be offerings (in limited quantities with some special releases) from the following breweries: Palm City, Riptide, LaBelle Brewing, Scotty’s, Ankrolab, Fort Myers Brewing, Point Ybel and of course, Coastal Dayz with its Purple Peeps Milkshake IPA.
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The event is free. Brews will be sold in full pours, half pours and flights. The IPA challenge features a flight of all eight brews for $17.
Coastal Dayz Brewery, 2161 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; 239-204-9665; coastaldayzbrewery.com
Millennial Brewing selling $5 beers
Can you say special beer night? From 4-10 p.m. Friday, downtown Fort Myers’ first craft brewery will have 14 beers on tap for $5 each, ranging from Clever Girl West Coast IPA to Tripel Deke Belgian Tripel ('90s movie reference alert) and everything in between. The Get Fried food truck will be there too from 5-9 p.m.
Then head back over Saturday for the Easter Jeep Street Fest from 6-10 p.m. Rocky’s Wings and More is there from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. as is Sweet Drips from 5-9 p.m.
Millennial Brewing, 1811 Royal Palm Ave., Fort Myers; 239-271-2255; millennialbrewing.com
Food Truck Friday at Scotty’s Bierwerks
The Cape Coral brewery is hosting a Food Truck Friday from 5-9 p.m. with three Beer Day-worthy vendors ― Double Dee’s Cheesesteaks; Tia’s Kitchen; Cosmic Creations: Cupcakes & Charcuterie. Wash it all down with one (or more) of the 18 draft beers brewed on-site, including the best-selling hazy IPA — a cloudy-looking New England-style IPA that's fruit-forward and hoppy with hints of grapefruit, the blond ale and the original Irish red (the first Scotty’s beer to win an award). Shaun Miller provides live music from 6-9 p.m.
Beer Yoga comes in at noon Saturday as does the Cuban Connection (until 8 p.m.) for National Empanada Day (be still my heart)! Restaurant workers get $2 off beer and wine on Saturday as part of Scotty’s Industry Night.
Scotty’s Bierwerks, 901 Industrial Circle, Cape Coral; 239-888-5482; scottysbierwerks.net
Point Ybel Brewery celebrating 'beer day'
If you haven’t tried the Pineapple Snook Bite IPA at this high-quality, small-batch brewery yet, Friday is a great day to try it before it goes away. The hazy flagship IPA with fresh juicy pineapple comes in 6 or 16-ounce drafts or a 32-ounce crowler.
Not a pineapple fan? The Snook Bite IPA has a lovely citrus and passion fruit aroma and flavor. Another flagship beer is the Sanibel Red Island Ale with hints of toffee, toasted bread and caramel. With the No Manches food truck from noon to 7 p.m., it’s a cozy place to celebrate.
Point Ybel Brewery, 16120 San Carlos Blvd., Suite 4, Fort Myers; 239-603-6535; pointybelbrew.com
A tall order: Check out Eight-Foot Brewing
If you haven’t seen Eight-Foot’s temporary new digs in Cape Coral, what are you waiting for? This small brewery specializes in unique beers ― like Dunkle Weiss to Wheatwine ― which consistently rotate.
Nguyen Street will be serving Asian fusion food starting at 5 p.m. Friday to get you fueled for trivia at 7:30 p.m. Sounds genius to me.
Eight-Foot Brewing, 1520 SE 46th Lane, Cape Coral; 239-984-2655; eightfootbrewing.com
Savor beer, food, live music at Crazy Dingo
Honestly, even if there is nothing special going on here, there is always something special going on here. It’s in the middle of Southern Fresh Farms and that’s worthy of a National Beer Day stop for sure.
Grab a hazy dingo or one of the other dozen or so small-batch beers (it’s blueberry season!) and toast the day (and a cow or two) from 5-9 p.m. Friday with live music from Keith R. and food by Cajun Gringos| Mad Brunch.
Or go Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for live music by Chris Bepko and Mad Brunch food. Closed Easter.
Crazy Dingo, 8500 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers; crazydingobrewing.com
Beer, family fun at Palm City Brewing
The 10-barrel brew house has lots to celebrate this weekend with its 6 Years in Paradise Anniversary Party from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. There will be food (Eat Bold, Fat Thor’s Smashburgers), merch, beer releases, DJ Memphis, an outdoor beer station and more. A free Easter Egg Hunt for kids 10 and younger gets things hopping at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Begin festivities Friday from 3-10 p.m. with Infusion Friday ― a unique twist to a beer on draft. Closed Easter.
Palm City Brewing, 7887 Drew Circle, Suite 130, Fort Myers; 239-362-2862; palmcitybrewing
Robyn George is a community content editor and food writer for The Fort Myers News-Press. Send scoops and news to rhgeorge@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Celebrate National Beer Day at 8 Cape Coral, Fort Myers breweries
