So I have never been to Fort Meyers FL before. Could anyone fill me in on what craft breweries I need to drink that distributes to this area as well as beer bars. I looked on the places and there really wasnt a whole lot. Also any restaurants and cool things I should do please let me know. Much appreciated.
This guy was just asking a similar question last week and got some good responses - http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/fort-myers.252409/
Yes. Here's what I posted in the other thread: Your best bets: Craft Beer: Point Ybel Brewing - San Carlos Blvd on the way to Fort Myers Beach - my favorite local brewery - always a good selection of beer with a very friendly/knowledgeable staff Stillwater Grille - at the corner of Cypress Lake (Daniels changes names west of 41) and McGregor - solid food and best beer selection in the area - 48 beers on draft Momentum Brewhouse - about 20 minutes south of Fort Myers in Bonita Springs off Bonita Beach Road - very good brewery that opened last fall Fort Myers Brewing - close to JetBlue in the industrial park near Comcast in Gateway - another good local brewery that is improving all the time Naples Beach Brewing - a bit of a drive down to Naples, but it's worth checking out if you're in the area on a Friday/Saturday - very well made craft beer Old Soul Brewing - off 41 near Page Field/Edison Mall - up and coming brewery that opened a few months ago - my experience has been hit or miss, but worth checking out World of Beer - Bell Tower Shoppes at the corner of Daniels and 41 - always have a large number of beers on tap and in bottles - service is typically poor, but is a decent place to watch sports Total Wine - the only real bottle shop worth mentioning - service typically sucks, but the selection is very good - watch out for bottling/best by dates as some things sit around far too long Restaurants: 11:Eleven Cafe - San Carlos Blvd on the way to Fort Myers Beach in the same plaza as Point Ybel Brewing - amazing little cafe specializing in grilled cheese sandwiches Stillwater Grille - see info above Fat Katz - near JetBlue Park on Daniels just west of I-75 - has excellent casual dining with a solid craft beer selection Nice Guys Pizza - College Parkway bridge to Cape Coral - really good pizza with a good craft beer selection Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery - right down the street from nice guys - delicious sandwiches of which my favorite is the pork belly grilled cheese Zushi Zushi/House of Brewz - Fort Myers Beach - decent sushi place with a very good beer selection. This House of Brewz is MUCH better than the one at Gulf Coast Town Center
Great list, I agree with everything you have said. I wish I would have commented on it a few months ago. Here are a few updates from my three beer soaked years in Fort Myers, just in case anyone decides to take a break from winter and needs a beer... No. 3 Craft Brews and Beer Bar - No. 3 Craft Brews and Beer Bar is a real PNW style bottle shop, meaning you can purchase beer to go or consume product on-premise like a bar. I moved to the Pacific Northwest (Vancouver WA) to open my own bottle shop, literally three days after No. 3 opened, but I have heard nothing but great things both from customers and the my former competition (I used to work for the independent AB house) and my former coworkers. Bury Me Brewing - Has relocated from the House of Brewz in Gulf Coast Town Center (honestly, not sure if that is still there) to Cleveland Avenue, not far from Old Soul. Bill the brewer/owner is an awesome human being, makes great beer and from the pictures I have seen on Facebook has a charming little place opened up. Old Soul - Has continued to improve and is the most innovative brewery in the area in my opinion. I am good friends with the entire family and expect great things from them in the near future. I have watched them since before day one and while there were a few kinks, they are worth a second try! Naples Beach Brewing - Opened up their tap room at the end of the summer. They had always made some quality beers, but they also recently hired a good friend of mine and very accomplished brewer Mike. I absolutely can not wait to check them out on my next visit. I would expect big things from them in the future. Cape Coral Brewing - They had recently opened when I left and I had not had enough of a sample to give them a fair assessment prior to their opening. Nice people, the beers I did try were pleasant and I imagine they have done some good things in my absence. In North Fort Myers, Firehouse Sports Grill on 41 is your best bet. Joe and his daughter Sabrina often purchase beer based on their tastes, which if you are seeking good beer, that is a great thing! For good beer, atmosphere and food, but not crazy beer nerd beer, Downtown is the place to go. The Lodge has a solid, rotating selection of craft and local brews. Ford's Garage generally does not go for the crazy beers and usually does not have a sour, but they have a good sized, quality, rotating selection. Spirits of Bacchus does not have much of a bottle selection but the drafts are constantly rotating and always solid. Plus it is just a generally cool place to hang out. My favorite bar for late night beer shenanigans is Cowboy Up. Bobby and Kip do a great job providing a balanced, rotating and most importantly quality selection of bottles and 19 drafts. Great, people and if you are out looking for good beer after 10pm Cowboy Up is just plain fun. City Tavern always carries a solid variety of beer, great food and live music. For fine dining Twisted Vine Bistro is youre place. It boasts an incredible wine cellar, fine food and a small but very high end draft/bottle selection to match. In general all the bars downtown offer a good selection of craft beer. While none besides Fords are really "beer bars" one will certainly find something tasty to drink. I am sure I have missed many things, like Palm City Brewing (which I am not sure if it is open yet).
Old Soul's The Sweetness Chocolate Imperial stout is something special and they try to keep it online in their tap room as much as they can. I have had some great stouts from Naples Beach brewing but have no idea what they are currently running with. I also know that the owner/brewmaster Rob from Fort Myers brewing completed an internship at Stone Brewings brewpub and has made an excellent RIS, whether it is available at the moment or not, I do not know. The sheer variety of beers Point Ybell makes, leads me to believe they will have a solid stout option on hand, especially this time of year.
