Visiting Orlando in 2020? Look Here First!

Cycle is newer (about a year) to the distro scene, 3 sons might have beers in distro up here by April since they just signed on with a distributor. Unfortunately it won’t be the stouts that everyone gets excited about that they distribute. Angry Chair even distributes, but again rarely any stouts.

 

We're headed to Universal this weekend (staying at the Lowes Sapphire Falls). There is an older locked Universal thread from 2018 so figured I'd post a new one to see what's new and worth checking out at the parks (we got the multi-park passes for 3 days) and Citywalk. We're getting in really late tomorrow night and have dinners planned with friends and family Sat/Sun night and aren't renting a car, so probably won't venture out to places like Elllipsis, although it's on my list next time I visit my folks in Winter Park. Any suggestions for spots in the parks and Citywalk are greatly appreciated!

ETA: I've seen the Universal blurb in the Visiting Orlando thread, but hoping there might be more options

 

I stayed at Lowes Royal Pacific a few years ago and there was not much around. I recall the beers at NBC Sports Brew & Grill were the best options I found. Florida Beer Company does a special beer for Toothsome Chocolate Emporium (if it's still there) called Too Chocolate Stout. It was very sweet and very rich.

Outside of the parks and in the area was Dead Lizard Brewing which was only 3 1/2 miles from our hotel. Half Barrel Beer Project is also not too far away and opened a few months after our last trip down so can't comment on the quality of the beers but seems to have good reviews. I didn't have transportation when down so couldn't venture too far but there are a couple Whole Foods in the area. Just be sure to check date. I got back to the room to discover a couple of the local beers I picked up was 6 months old.

 

Thank you! Tap list at the NBC Sports looks solid.

 

There isn’t much for beer inside the parks. Some local breweries make two beers for the Harry Potter areas. One is a Red Ale at the Hogs Head inside Islands of Adventure and the other is a Coffee Porter that you can find at the restaurant or bar on the Universal Studios side. The Simpsons portion of the park also has a Duff Beer inside Moes Tavern.

At City Walk your best bet for beer is the NBC restaurant or Cowfish. If you like Old Fashions the Chocolate Factory has a good portion of their cocktail list dedicated to them. I think the Chocolate Factory and Cowfish probably have the best food in Citywalk as well.

If you have the chance to grab an Uber Half Barrel Beer Project always has good taps and their can/bottle selection is top notch for how small they are. It is very close to the Universal area.

 

Thank you, I'll see if we can swing by Half Barrel. I'm quite excited to drink a Duff inside Moe's Tavern, even if it's just a basic pale!

 

Yeah HBBP is the move. Small but people are cool and good beer

 

I’ll echo Gene’s take on these two for the area. If you insist on venturing to Dead Lizard they run a perpetual Groupon that will save you $$ on a couple of flights. I took advantage of the Groupon last time I checked DL out, and it wasn't worth it.

 

I've never been there. Guess I've made the correct decision lol

 

Gonna be in the Tampa area, more specifically Bradenton the 9th-12thish of Feb. Other than cigar city, what are some good places I can uber to? Won’t have a car unless I rent one which I’m not keen on doing.

Kinda wish I was gonna be in town for Wakefest. There was a guy looking to split his VIP ticket at face value

 

Wait a Tampa thread not the Orlando one? You sure?!

 

Visiting in two weeks. It looks like Ellipsis cans - would they generally cans available on a Saturday night (when I'm flying in)? Do they have a list of available cans anywhere?

 

They currently use a mobile canning system so weather or not they have cans available is dependent on the timing. They usually sell out fast. They do have a Crowler machine.

 

Ellipsis are pretty good at answering IG.

Not sure about Facebook

 

Hoping to get around to some stops this afternoon. Parish - Ghost in the Machine is one of my bucket list beers and I was surprised to see it available in the area on Untappd. Do they normally distro around Orlando? It appears to be on tap at Half Barrel and looking through their IG I see they got a couple bottle drops a few months ago. Anyone know if what's on tap is somewhat fresh or a couple months old from those drops?

 

I have picked up Ghost in the Machine at Total Wine in Altamonte Springs, it was about a month old if memory serves when I picked it up. Also have seen it at ABC liquors in Lake Mary if you’re looking for bottles. (Can’t speak for Half Barrel taps)