J. Wakefield Brewing "Kickstarter"

From instagram it looks like they are brewing today.

 

I totally believe in this guy and will wait for everything to go thru. I'm confident that he will deliver and then some. I'm sure that he wants to do it right and not cut corners and I respect that. In the words of Bart Scott, "Can't wait!" Cheers to JWB and the struggle.

 

I am sure those of you who bought the OG memberships were expecting something sooner, and I'm sure JWB was expecting to deliver something sooner as well... Unfortunately the process of opening a brewery takes MUCH longer than anyone ever expects... Just look at Angry Chair in Tampa, they have been trying to get off the ground for just as long or longer than JWB, and they just opened up last month. It wasn't because they were taking their time and dragging their feet, it's because equipment takes forever to be delivered, permits take forever to be approved, inspections take forever to be completed, licenses take forever to be granted, etc.

 

I have to strongly disagree with you here. No other Florida brewery does berliners like JWB. None, by a long shot. I also believe there will be no disappointment, even out of the gate.

 

There won't be any disappointment, JW is the man, but to say he makes the best, by a long shot, is a stretch. Other than PFDF and MM, Cycle's Berliners are just as good.

 

Ecto cooliner was good, and shake field is also good. They are not great. what cycle berliner is as good as jwb?

 

Am I the only one that didn't like PFDF? Oh well, more for everybody else.

 

Agree with you here. Though sours, even more than almost any other style of beer, are very palate specific. Oh well, more PFDF for other people! I do have to say that I let the hype build that beer to be epic before I tried it and when you let that happen there will only be a couple beers in the world that can stand up (Coffee BCBS, Beatification, Pliny, MBCP, etc).

 

Loved Nothing... some sours really do it for me but the Florida Weisse movement hasn't been my thing.

 

I appreciate you differing opinion. I am excited every time a new and innovative brewery opens up but I am also apprehensive when The Hype Monster rears it's ugly head. I do have to say CCB has done some interesting sours recently, Cycle has done ecto cooliner (not my bag but somewhat similar to the profile JWB tends to have in my palate's memory) and Wakefield. 7veneth Sun has also done some very interesting and innovative sours but in very small batches. The problem with basing your entire portfolio on sours though is that it's hard (for me at least) to enjoy a couple sixer's of sours on the beach, at a picnic, watching a movie, et cetera. And it's selling a couple sixers to regular customers on a weekly basis that keeps the doors open and the side/barrel projects around. The only other way around that I have seen is to do awesome side projects and price them through the roof (The Bruery, Cascade, etc.). Not sure what his business plan is but he is doing something right to be able to open a brewery without any debt based on promises. Oh well, hopefully he does great just remember to give him a chance and maybe buy a couple sixers of his IPA too (or whatever keeps the doors open).

 

The hype is real.

If Funky Buddha has taught me anything its that just because the smaller batch brews are mind-blowingly phenomenal, that doesn't always translate to a larger scale. For the sake of my fellow BAs, I hope I'm wrong. But to put Wakefield, who is essentially a homebrewer, on the level of Shaun Hill, as of this moment, is pushing it. It's the difference between potential and kinetic energy. In five years this conversation might be different.

I respect your opinion, but setting your expectations that high more often than not is a bad move. It's better to be pleasantly surprised than sorely disappointed.

 

This is a fair assessment. We should curb expectations going in. It takes a while to fully dial in on a brewing system. I'm expecting good beer at first, but not his best. That will most likely take some time and experience in his new digs.

Does it make me any less excited? Uh, hell no.

 

Taste is obviously subjective, but RJD comes to mind. And I loved Ecto! As I said, JWB is great, I haven't had one of his beers that I disliked, just happen to like Doug's beers a bit better.

 

The buddha lounge and 7venth sun make as good if not better Berliners then jw...

 

This is the main thing people should be focussing on....it will take time to get right on a large scale..

 

I kinda wonder why 7venth Sun doesn't get mentioned more, concerning Berliners. That crew has some really good stuff being produced, but sometimes they seem like the forgotten brewery in Florida.

 

Because we're keeping them a secret. SHHHHhhhhhhhh.

 

You're absolutely right, brewing on a large scale is another ball game and something most anyone should understand. I just think he has the talent and drive to do it successfully. I am not going to go in expecting perfection out of the gate but I am going to stand by my statement earlier -- I think we'll be able to have this conversation again well within five years and JWB will have joined the ranks of the most respected breweries in the country.

 

I agree with 7th Sun being solid, but haven't been impressed with the FB Berliners I have tried. JWB's sours were the best at Hunahpu Day for the past few years. Cycle used to a lot more Berliners in the past, glad they are starting to do them again.

 

Weisse geek time?! I'm in!

Unlike most things in the beer world, his stuff lives up to the hype, imho.
Everything I've had from DeGarde is a step down in comparison, but it's the closest you can get to his stuff, followed by the criminally underhyped Night Shift seasonal berliners (Mainer Weisse is the best, and this year's batch just released this past week).
None of the other FL stuff is as good: The 15 7venth Sun berliners I've had haven't broken 4 stars, (besides the Green Bench collab, 2nd stage). FB's have been decent, and the first batch of Ecto at the fest was way better than the crowler batch... Overflow and Latestart are promising too..

He was by far the best in show at Cajun Cafe Sour Fest and Florida Weisse Bash.
Sunshine Dreamsicle, Can Eat A Peach For Days, I'm Your Huckleberry, Dragon Fruit Passion Fruit, Miami Madness, Ain't Yo Mama's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, Kryptoweisse, Moral Imperative - were all incredible and would easily be on my "If you could only drink X beers for the rest of your life" list

I couldn't kickstart him fast enough, considering it's only once a year his stuff is on draft at special events, the wait for the brewery to open has gone unnoticed to me. (Plus, paid for it so long ago, it's going to feel free when it finally happens )

 

Look familiar? Lol @LIQUORBARREL

 

its a world of difference between the buddha Berliners in Boca at the lounge and at the brewery in Oakland Park...the lounge berliners imo are some of the best ever made...ever

 

Seriously. I wish I could give this more than one thumbs up. JW may indeed turn out to be the beer Jesus that some seem to have crowned him as, but comparing him to RR or even Hill Farmstead shows a serious lack of perspective. The guy has a LOT left to prove. I'm sure he knows that all to well (probably loses sleep over it, I know I would), but his internet fan club has gone completely off the rails.

 

Yea...its probably that same drive he has to properly communicate and come through on his promises with his supporters who paid $300 each for this brewery ...give me a break...

 

We get it. You don't like Wakefield and you're a huge homer for FB. Stop reminding us.

 

Hard not to be a homer for the ONLY brewery in your county, but i think i have a pretty open love/hate relationship with FB...
Wakefiled on the other hand brews some really great beers, ive had a good # of them, but I would like the quality his business to match the quality of the beers...

 

JW Sours/Berliners are world class. Any who disagree have a questionable pallet.

 

While we all circlejerk about how flawless J Wakefield is and how the berliner are the greatest things ever, I'm gonna say that while most of the berliners I have had were delicious, there was one that I had that was a bit acetic and had above threshold levels of ethyl acetate (it tasted like nail polish remover, if you guys don't know what that means). Most of his beers I've tasted have ranged from good to outstanding though, I'm just saying he's not flawless.

 

lol..Miami Splice?

 

Oh, forgot about that one. That wasn't acetone, that was cheese. That reinforces my point though.

 

So are you saying that 99.9% Awesome isn't a 100%?

 

Stopped by yesterday to get my glass and got a nice little tour and some samples. So psyched to have bought in.

 

Just throwing it out there once again: If any out-of-towners need a trustee I would be more than happy to do so. Get at me via BM for more info.

 

What's sad, is that I felt the same way. Then I remembered I spent $200 to join the SpringHouse Barrel Reserve Society, and it has been a monumental failure. That money could have went towards this, which I can almost guarantee will be a better investment.

Feelsbadman

 

I was given the Vine Club membership at Wynwood Brewery and it looks to be great.

 

???????

 

Well 2014 has passed.
Wonder if anyone is getting beer in 2015 or if their $300 has been flushed down the toilet.

I actually feel bad for those people that participated and hope that this guy hooks them up for the jerking around it seems like they are getting.

 

I'm sorry, but what exactly are you talking about? You haven't been following the progress at all if you think no beer will be poured in 2015. So- nothing to feel bad about, no one's been 'jerked around'. The guy is about to open his brewery (if he hasn't already). Check out his status updates. Please explain to me if I've missed something.

 

I was talking about the poor schmucks that signed up for the society in 2013 that thought they were getting bottles or something, not about the locals getting to partake at the facility.

I did not sign up, so I guess I am not getting the updates.
Have they announced their plan to get bottles out or make it right?

I just feel bad for them, that is all as I have been following this thread on and off out of curiosity.
I had a moment of weakness in the new year.

 

I paid my 300 and don't have any regrets. I stopped by the brewery 2 weeks ago and was given nothing but top notch treatment. A solo tour guided by Jonathan and samples straight from the fermentors. Also I know kegs of his IPA were given to local bars to give out as samples free of charge. His Berlinerweisse will be pouring at MBCP day and bottles will be coming soon. I feel worse for the people whom didn't buy in.