Hey BA, first post here and I am wondering about the availability of some Florida beers. I am headed down to the Orlando area in a few weeks and was hoping to take back a few decent IPAs to CT with me. I don't have any experience with Florida beers so was looking for some advice for decent IPA/IIPAS that shouldn't be too hard to find in the Orlando area. I will be sharing a rental car with a few other people and most likely wont have time to drive around too far, also some people with me will be under 21 so visiting breweries is probably out of the question. The only beer I really know about is Cigar City's Jai Alai but i'm not sure if thats something where I can just walk into any random store and pick up so any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Very similar thread not far down that will probably be a big help: http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...beer-options-please-rate.269444/#post-3427231
(But yes, you can walk into most stores and nab Jai Alai. Publix is my usual source...just be sure to flip the six-pack upside down and check the dates. At the risk of sounding snobby, JA falls off pretty quick and I usually pass on anything more than a few weeks old. As long as you're someplace where the stock turns over fast, you'll be good.)
What @baconmcnuggets said - definitely check the dates. I walked into an ABC in early February and found a 6pk of Jai Alai that was mixed & matched from two different sixers. One was from last summer. You don't want that mess. Publix is usually pretty good here in Orlando w/ fresh Cigar City. My local store most recently had Jai Alai 10 days off canning, but I've also walked out with 3 days off, too.
I found three day old at Orlando Trader Joe's once and celebrated like I'd won something. (Yo, if loving fresh hops is wrong, I don't wanna be right.)
Look for Intuition I-10 IPA. Brewed in Jacksonville. Very tasty. Not sure how well it sells in O-town though so make sure you check the dates on the bottom of the can.
Due South's Category 5 DIPA is a solid choice (and definitely better than their Category 3 IPA, IMHO). I'm also a big fan of Jdubs' Up Top IPA & Funky Buddha Hop Gun.
