Fort Walton Brewing Company

Relatively new nano-brewery located in a small storefront with a large outdoor beer garden. It is just off a fairly major road in Fort Walton Beach, on the edge of a residential neighborhood. The building was formerly a homebrew shop named Hop Heads, but the owners decided to make a go of brewing. It is not clear to me if they are still selling homebrew supplies or not, since I only went to the beer garden and did not go inside.

This brewery opened about the same time the COVID-19 virus hit, with all the accompanying restrictions, but the staff seems to have found ways to survive. With all of that going on, it was not until recently that I was able to check them out. They often have food trucks outside and I went for some takeout food and some 16 oz cans of FWB beer to go. If you call or text ahead of time they'll have your beer order waiting.

Florida currently doe not restrict bar and restaurant occupancy and the night I was there the beer garden was hopping after dark. It was a simple outdoor space with a nice atmosphere featuring soft lighting, trellises for shade in the heat and propane heaters to keep things warm if needed (which were needed that night). Beer was available at a pass-through window on the side of the brewery and I don't think there was table service. The staff are extremely friendly and enthusiastic, and have been since the homebrew shop days.

I've been watching their tap-list since opening and I've been impressed with their wide breadth of styles and the original spin they put on recipes. I've only had one of their beers so far. It was their Imperial Stout called Baby It's COVID Outside, and I was excited to try it, both for it's name and because it's one of my favorite styles. It was just so-so, unfortunately, but I wish the staff the best and I will be back to sample more at this cool little place.