Progress. . .

It may not look like a brewery yet, but it's getting there!

Hey there folks, it's been a while. . . but progress is progress and these things take time.  In November The Little Giant Brewery was unanimously voted by the Bradenton Planning Commission to move forward.  Great news!! The next step is to present our case for good beer in front of the Bradenton City Council on December 14, 2012. This is exciting stuff!

In the meantime we've been working on getting moved over to our new location near Mckechnie Field in downtown Bradenton.  Baseball and beer will never be enjoyed this much anywhere, I promise.

But let's get back to what is most important ----- BEER! We've been working on our traditional Dusseldorf-style Alt Bier as of late, as well as the Dry Stout.  They've been well received so far and your  opinion is appreciated -- so come over to the brewery and try some!

Until then, support your local brewery!

Anna Maria Bayfest

Anna Maria Bayfest is this Saturday -- always a good time. The best part is you can go on a beer hunt if you so choose. Little Giant Oktoberfest and Swabbie's Stout will be served somewhere on Pine Avenue. When you find it make sure to let out an "Oye, Oye Oye!!!" from the top of your lungs. People may look at you funny at first, but will appreciate the spirit of the thing. Hint: think porch party.

Yes, We Will Rise Up & Conquer the Beer Wilderness!

No Seriously.

The Little Giant Brewery was born of humble beginnings in a beach shack in Anna Maria. . .  A shack that could have and problably should have been condemned . . . a place known to support the life habits of Black Widows(of the arachnid variety, not the scary human kind).  And lo, though we also were aware of palm rats in the rafters, they never got indulged in our grain stores, and for that we are grateful.  Times are changing though and we are moving to another kind of wilderness.

Soon we will vacate our current home(a very clean place, fyi) off of Whitfield Avenue and head north into the beer wilderness of Bradenton.  I, for one, enjoy the wilderness and intend to make it as habitable as possible for other beer lovers and other kind folks.  Keep in touch on Facebook & Twitter for updates as we work with the Bradenton City Elders in bringing a pretty decent catalogue of beers to the region. We appreciate your support!

Very Merry Jerry Day

Next stop for The Little Giant Brewery? Very Merry Jerry Day, a benefit for WSLR 96.5FM.  The event is  2-6pm Sunday August 7 at the Sun-N-Fun off of Fruitville Road in Sarasota.  Much music, much beer, many friends, and the music of The Grateful Dead!!!

Little Giant Black I.P.A. at the Cask Beer Expo

Little Giant participated in the Cast Beer Expo at the St. Pete Coliseum this past Saturday.  The good thing was there were so many great cask-conditioned beers from Florida and Georgia represented.  The even better thing is that The Little Giant Brewery Black IPA took the honor of #1 Cask Ale in the judged competition. Not bad for a little artisanal brewery down here in Manatee County.

Independence Weekend & Beer

Here at LGB we live by the higher ideals of Independence and Self-Determination.  We will bring you the finest independently brewed ales and lagers that your palate and liver desire.  We also proudly depend on the farming families who provide us with the freshest hops and the maltsters that allow us to turn barley into liquid gold. So to those fine folks that fly under the radar while we brewers reap all the publicity above ground and under -- we salute you & your efforts, Cheers!

There's a busy and super-social weekend coming up so swing by the brewery on Friday or Saturday July 1 & 2 for a Tour of Frothiness.  We'll be closed on July 3 & 4 for special events, not to mention some much needed beach time.

So above you find a very, very crude and almost rude sketch of our logo.  If anybody can draw my little satyr with big beer mugs better than this brewer -- you may be showered in glory.  Sounds scary, I know but it will be worth your while.  Get back to me on that one.  This brewery is a community effort on many fronts, particularly the illustrative front.

Go find The Little Giant Brewery on Facebook, Twitter, LittleGiantBrewer@yahoo.com or at 2230 Whitfield Park Drive Sarasota, FL 34243.

O.P.P.

I'm not sure what O.P.P. means to you, but I know what it means to me. And I'm down with it.

So I'm sitting here watching my wort cool down on one of those beauteous but sun-baked Florida afternoons, wondering just how warm the water is coming out of our Manatee County water lines. I'm also wondering if beauteous is a word or if I just made it up. I think Lord Byron called an ale "beauteous" once, but don't quote me on that. Maybe it was Charlie Papazianhttp://www.examiner.com/beer-in-national/charlie-papazian.

Regardless.  Rather than fret the wort's going in the fermenter a bit warm I figured I'd check in with you all.

Hold on. . .

Ok, had to finish up the cool down/cleanup. Everything is good today at Little Giant Brewery. The Overhead Peeler Porter is a hell of a great beer to brew, and doesn't give me any guff during the vorlauf and lauter. I can't say the same about the American Wheat which is a little more fickle. But as the old saying goes: "It won't be easy, but it will be worth it." The porter weighs in at 16 Plato --1.066 specific gravity for you Old Schoolers out there.

As for the American Wheat, it's making it's way to a benefit concert http://wslr.org/wslr-events/ by our local non-profit community radio station WSLR 96.5FM(in stereo).  Be there.  That's all I'm saying.

That's it folks. . . beer is being brewed and I think it's about time for a pale ale.

Mahalo.

Summa

Wow, it's been months since I've written here. Strange, since my undergraduate degree is in Literature -- you would think I would be more inspired. Anyway, here comes another missive of questionable

quality.

I am asked, often, why small brewers don't install air conditioning in their breweries. Two reasons: 1) It's dang expensive, and I'd rather spend my monies on quality raw materials. And 2) I reply with a question -- "Do you realize how big my beer-gut would be if I didn't sweat so much?"

All in good time my peoples. For now, we sweat together we imbibe together we have good times.

Today in the brewery I'm kegging a sweat-beating Kolsch-Styled Ale that is both super-super refreshing and flavorful. Imagine that -- you can brew a beer that fills the demands of both our blazing Florida heat and our refined palate. This beer was inspired by my German Butcher friend who bribed me with a 5-pound slab of double-smoked bacon. That's all it takes, Folks, for me to dig deep and crank out some love with Weyermann Malts and Bavarian Spalt hops.

Spring Fever

Who has Spring Fever?

Well, if you haven't caught it yet come out to The Florida Brewers Guild Beerfest 2011 and you will surely be inflicted. The FBG Beerfest takes over Centro Ybor on Saturday March 5 from 2-6pm(or so). It's the only place where all the members of the Guild gather as a mighty & frothy force for one fantastic afternoon. Check out the details at Floridabrewersguild.org.

I've been involved with this particular beer orgy for ten years and I guarantee you a good time will be had -- even if you're a designated driver.

This years' Little Giant Brewery lineup will include Illicit IPA, BillaBock, MacDaddy Scotch Ale, Overhead Peeler Porter & one other golden and lovely libation that I'm keeping secret until the other beers run out.

OK for now, come visit the brewery when you're done working. . .

Well, I'm excited

Just finished brewing the 69th batch at Little Giant. Just thought you might find interest in that. I mean I'm excited -- 69!!!! wooo. . . .  Bock Bier. . . .