Keep Keepin' On

Hey there good people,

We hope your new year finds you floating down a river of fine-frothy goodness.

Over here at 301 7th Street East we are hammering through all of our tasting room projects. Before you know it the taps will be flowing with Little Giant's finest offerings. Let's shoot for April.

Here's some progress pics:

Keep Keeping' on Folks. Enjoy every beer and keep in touch with us. Selah.

Progress and the passing of a member of the Too Much Fun Club

Hey there good people!  And you are good people, after all Hunter S. Thompson once said "Good people drink good beer."

Much much is going on at the brewery at 301 7th street east in Bradenton.  Making progress toward a fall opening and a dripping a lot of summer sweat as well.  But this entry is more about the passing of an infamous Anna Maria resident and friend of the brewery.

Mark Alonso passed away on July 12 at the respectable age of 87.  If you lived in Anna Maria you probably know him as the eccentric Spanish artist  who rode around in one of his three or four wheeled jalopy bikes while being pulled by Fritz the boxer dog.  He had his workshop in a shack at 105 Tarpon Street where the Historic Green Village now stands(they tore down the shack and plopped a historic fisherman's hotel on top).

Some of you may also know the shack was the original home of The Little Giant Brewery.  I shared the space with him which was quite a trip and about as interesting as it gets on Anna Maria.  Here you had the brewery and the birthplace of many a strange and twisted pieces of "Art." Probably the biggest debate about Mark was whether or not the birds he created were actually "art."  I choose to think so.

Mark led a really, really interesting life, especially compared to all the Fat Cats in Anna Maria who called him crazy when he ran for City Commissioner. He was born in the Basque region of Spain in a town called Guernica. He was young when Generalismo Franco gave the go ahead to his buddy Adolf Hitler to bomb the city to ashes during the Spanish revolution.  Mark was one of thousands of kids to be shipped off to England before the bombing.  

While he was working in the merchant marines he jumped ship in New York City and enlisted in the US Army where he served in both WWII and the Korean Conflict.  He was a smart and creative guy who told me a few good tales about "battlefield engineering" i.e. creating bridges over creeks using burned out automotives to move troops and supplies during the months after D Day. 

When we discussed our most recent wars he gave me a piece of insight that only he could come up with: He said "Michael, the difference between France, Belgium and Iraq is that when we liberated Europe we made love to the women and the countries. There was love! No one in Iraq is making love to the women!"  Hahaha. Truth.

After the wars he worked in remodeling in NYC. One day during Anna Maria Bayfest, Mark, I and a neighborhood kid were delivering a keg to Pine Avenue on the back of his four wheeled bicycle(while being pulled by Fritz the Wonder Boxer). We were talking about women. particularly who the famous and beautiful ladies were back in NYC during the old days. He talked about remodeling a kitchen for Rita and Refinishing cabinets for Marilyn. I was like "Rita who? Marilyn who?" Well, Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth of course! What a life this guy led!

Despite Marks vast appreciation for the beauty of women, he was happily married to one of the sweetest people I've met, Mirem who was also from the basque region. Here's a pic of them sitting by the trolley stop in front of the Rosedale cottage by the brewery.

There he is smoking his pipe full of "grass." Haha. He made these little pipes that had a closed stem that he would stuff with grass from the yard. I guess he just chewed on the stem since it wasn't a functioning piece of paraphernalia.  Good stuff, good joke, good guy. 

We spent many an afternoon in the shack, he melting Gorilla Glue onto coconut birds that had stone crab claws for beaks, me stirring the mash and filling kegs. In the end the shack was torn down and he moved back to Grand Rapids Michigan where his grandkids lived. But on the last afternoon of the brewery and art shack we had an open house with a keg of Little Giant Billabock.  He had his first drink of beer in 48 years(48 years!), and that was one of my favorite memories. Especially when he said "Michael, this is what you've been doing this whole time? This is good!" And he took one more long swig...

We lost a big bucket of "Island Flavor" this week.  Cheers to Mark Alonso!!!

Keep It Moving, Keep It Frothy.

Hey there good people,

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all who have served this country in places far and near.  The sacrifices you make personally, physically and in your families are much appreciated.

So, here at LGB there is much movement in a forward direction these days with construction and frothy/quaffable beverages.  

Major construction is underway at our building(301 7th Street East, Bradenton). Basically we have a new building in the area of the tasting room -- new roof, new steel walls, etc. It's the skylights I enjoy the most. Oh, and the fact that it doesn't rain inside anymore! 

We're moving through the plumbing stage now and on the flip-side of that we'll start constructing the bar and bathrooms(the real heart of any tasting room, haha).

Beer-wise we poured at The Lucky Dog Beer Festival at McKechnie Filed this past Saturday. Much fun was had and our Sunshine Mountain Saison garnered a really fun quote by a patron:

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20140524/ARTICLE/140529793/2055/NEWS?p=2&tc=pg&tc=ar

“It tastes like I'm skipping through a field of flowers on a mountaintop with my best friend,” Edel said laughing. “It's really good.”  

I couldn't have said it better myself, but then again, I am constantly climbing Sunshine Mountain. Have fun, Folks!

Them Changes

Hey there good people,

Don't get used to this picture, because them changes are about to blow through like a Polar Vortex... OK not exactly, because we are in Florida and there's a high temp of  67 here today. And there are no clouds in the sky. So Special.

The great news is: We received our construction permit from the folks down at the City of Bradenton building & planning, so you can guess what that means --- we're heading to the Florida Brewer's Guild Festival in Tampa this weekend to serve our tasty brew!!! Haha. 

https://floridabrewersguild.ticketbud.com/beerfesttampa2014


But seriously, construction is majorly getting into swing next week -- and we are more than anxious to construct a fine fine beerhall for you all to enjoy some exemplary & frothy beverages of exceptional character and quality. 

So, if you're like us, you may now let out a giant-sized "YEEEEEEEHAAAAAW!" Hopefully we'll see you up(or down) in Tampa this weekend. 

And, as always, thanks for all these years of encouragement!

Getting a bit closer

Hey there Good People. 

I feel confident that anyone visiting this page is in fact "Good People."  After all, as the Good Doctor Hunter S. Thompson said: "Good people drink good beer." Sage.  The man was sage. 

Here's a link to a nice & fresh article from the Bradenton Herald regarding the burgeoning brewery scene in Bradenton(can I get a shout our for alliteration?).  

These are exciting times for good beer lovers throughout Manatee and Sarasota, no doubt!

http://www.bradenton.com/2013/10/31/4801682/camaraderie-not-competition-is.html

Leaps & Bounds

Hey there Good People,

Patience and fortitude will surely pay off for the beer lovers in our area.  We are going from two to seven breweries in Bradenton/Sarasota this year. Awesome!  Here's a piece SNN6 news channel is running this week about our rising craft brewery scene.  Pretty sweet.

The Little Giant Brewery project is moving along quite nicely.  We recently joined forces with an architectural firm down the block from the brewery to work on final construction plans.  Good folks for sure who are equally as excited as we to add something special to our little neighborhood by the river.  Once we finalize the plans for our tasting room and beer garden we should start rolling along fairly quickly.  There's even talk of having a little dog park on site where the old volleyball court was(from when the building was the Gulf Coast Marine Institute).  Our brewery hound/security chief, Chloe, adopted the space as her personal exercise track so I thought "why not a dog park?" All beasts are welcome to enjoy the brewery, except tegus, pythons, or rabid hyenas.

Baby Steps & Little Giant Leaps

Hello Folks, 

How is that brew you are sipping on? I hope it's scrumdiddlyumptious. My spelling may be way off there.  

Just to give you an update, we were unanimously approved by the City of Bradenton Planning Commission to move forward with our site plan.  That's a great thing! We now present ourselves in June to the City Council of Bradenton for final approval and then things start rolling fast(pending approval of the council, of course). If you've sampled Little Giant and liked it or if you just like the idea of a beer Mecca in Bradenton, cross your fingers for us -- or do something equally superstitious like light a candle made with spent brewer's grain or hang a wreath of hops above your door so the beer gods recognize your intent.  Regardless, send good vibes our way and as always -- we thank you.

Read all about it:
http://www.bradenton.com/2013/05/16/4527548/little-giant-brewery-okd-in-bradenton.html

Florida Brewers Guild Festival & Musings.

Hey there, Folks! It's been too long...

This weekend is the beginning of something huge, Tampa Bay Beer Week(www.Tampabaybeerweek.com)! I believe the number of craft beer-related events taking place is around 250?! Awesome!

It all starts this weekend with one of my favorite events of the year, The Florida Brewers Guild Festival. It's the only place where all the Florida Brewers Guild breweries get together for a great & epic afternoon of imbibing and inevitable weirdness. The event takes place Saturday, March 2 from 2-6pm at Centennial Park in Ybor City. Centennial Park is just a couple blocks east of the normal venue and should offer a little more room for everybody.

Little Giant will be there with a few frothy selections of exceptional quality: Billabock Maibock, Overlord Black IPA, and Overhead Peeler Porter. 

Come on down if you have the chance, more info at Floridabrewersguild.org.

IN OTHER, ULTIMATELY MORE IMPORTANT NEWS, 

The LittleGiant Brewery Has A Permanent Home! 

Having wandered the earth for what seems like generations we have settled into a 5700 square foot building that is aching to be rehabilitated from a school for wayward youth(coincidentally, I used to teach there) into a beer salon for confused & wayward adults(Oh wow! I get to teach about beer now!). 

Stay tuned as we progress, and feel free to bring a wrecking bar over.

The building of this brewery has been a journey for sure, both personal and professional, and I'm happy that you all are along for the ride. This brewery has got soul, baby!

Come up to Ybor tomorrow and drink beer!

WAZOO!

Oh wow, the Wazoo beerfest fundraiser at The Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa is expected to serve frothy libations to 5,ooo beer lovers this Saturday August 4th.  Proceeds support the zoo which is kind of a hidden gem of Tampa. 


The best part of Wazoo? The Little Giant Brewery will be pouring four of our artisanal selections for your pleasure.  


The lineup: BillaBock! Maibock, OverHead Peeler Porter, Mischievous Intent American-Belgo Pale, and Overlord Black IPA. Oh yeah I almost forgot, The Mischievous will be on hand-pulled dry-hopped cask. 


This Fest was named by USA Today a Top Ten American Beer Festival, so get there and have some fun with Little Giant! In fact, have a lot of fun-- almost too much for mortal beer lovers to mentally comprehend.


If you follow us on twitter @littlegiantbrew or Facebook just look for my tweet and check-in for the location of our table. GPS is a wonderful thing at a crazy wonderfully big BEERFEST!!!!!!


Details:
http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/wazoo/


Mahalo

Bradenton's Little Giant Brewery makes cover of BeerAdvocate magazine | Alan Shaw | Ticket Sarasota

Bradenton's Little Giant Brewery makes cover of BeerAdvocate magazine | Alan Shaw | Ticket Sarasota

Hey there! Come celebrate American Craft Beer Week with us Saturday, May 19th at the St. Petersburg Craft Beer & Food Truck Festival in the Grand Central District. Pouring starts at 1PM and goes on for a thirst-quenching 5 hours. Find more info at http://craftbeerexpo.org/ And, as always, don't forget who your friends are!

Hey There Beer Lovers

It's been a busy month of March in the neighborhood. Pittsburgh Pirates spring training has added a whole ton of excitement for sure. It kind of breaks my heart to sit in the stands drinking our friends at Yuengling's beer while The Little Giant Brewery is about 50 steps and a seven-foot wall away. Who knows what the future may bring though, the Craft Beer revolution may sweep over McKechnie Field soon enough.  Until then we can only hope.

Your brewer has been spending some quality time on the curb parking cars and spreading the Word of good beer to all passers-by.  Kind of fun, actually.  Pouting off missives about that wonderful frothy beverage that we all enjoy. Next spring will prove to be Too Much Fun at the brewery once we add some fan-friendly renovations.  Bringing together baseball and some good craft beer seems like a very natural thing to do.

Did I mention when we are going to open the doors? Seems like a popular and rhetorical question these days.  We're aiming for a mid-summer opening. As we all know, good things take time...

If you're in the neighborhood for a baseball game or just passing through make sure to pop in and check out our progress -- it's an ever-evolving brewery. If the door is open walk right in and make yourself known with a big shout out of "Little Giant Brewery Oye, Oye, Oye!!!" You'll be sure to get some service that way, indeed!

A little panorama of your soon to be neighborhood brewery

So things are moving along at our little Brewery-In-Planning.  As you can see we are cozy neighbors with the spring home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field.  Planned opening will be at the end of May if everything goes as planned. Until then, feel free to swing by and check out our progress -- late afternoons are usually best!  800 17th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205.

In the City of Bradenton, Microbreweries and Resource Centers Can Coexist - The Bradenton Times - Free News for Bradenton, FL and Manatee County

In the City of Bradenton, Microbreweries and Resource Centers Can Coexist - The Bradenton Times - Free News for Bradenton, FL and Manatee County

Forging and fostering community partnerships is crucial in this day and age.

Little Giant Brewing Co. microbrewery soon to be Manatee's first - Small Business - BradentonHerald.com

Little Giant Brewing Co. microbrewery soon to be Manatee's first - Small Business - BradentonHerald.com

Thank you Bradenton Herald!

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.