Good Beer In Florida: Where To Buy?

Florida is not a dry state, but it does have a couple of dry counties. However, even in these counties, alcohol is not prohibited entirely. Beer lovers will be pleased to know that Florida offers a wide variety of beers, ranging from lambics and lagers to porters and pale ales. The state is home to many well-known breweries, including Cigar City Brewing, J. Wakefield Brewing, and Funky Buddha Brewery, which have produced some of the highest-rated beers in the state. These breweries offer a range of beer styles, such as imperial stouts, IPAs, porters, and Berliner Weisses. Florida's alcohol laws can vary by county, with some allowing sales from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. and others restricting sales to specific days and times. The state also has strict laws regarding drinking in public places and open containers in vehicles.

Where to buy good beer in Florida

Florida is not a dry state, but it does have a couple of dry counties: Lafayette and Liberty. However, this doesn't mean that good beer is hard to come by. In fact, there are plenty of places to buy good beer in Florida, whether you're looking for a local craft brew or something from a larger brewery.

Buying beer in Florida

In Florida, you can buy beer at any licensed retailer every day of the week from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. However, this can vary by county, with some allowing sales from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., and others even permitting 24/7 sales at certain retailers.

You can buy beer in wet counties at bars and restaurants, package and liquor stores, and breweries and taprooms. Dry counties, such as Liberty, limit alcohol sales to off-premise retailers, so you won't be able to buy a beer with your meal in those counties.

Recommended places to buy beer in Florida

• Buster's Bistro Sanford
• Zymarium Meadery Orlando
• Dixie Grill and Bar West Palm Beach
• Willards Tap House Largo
• World of Beer - West Palm Beach - Clemantis
• Luekens Wine & Spirits
• Total Wine
• Jug & Bottle
• Craft Beer Cellar
• Hidden Springs Ale Works
• Corporate Ladder in Parrish
• Magnanimous Brewing
• Woven Waters Brewing
• Coppertail Brewing
• Angry Chair Brewing
• J Wakefield Brewing
• Cigar City Brewing
• Funky Buddha Brewery
• Invasive Species
• Idyllic Hound
• BarrieHaus Beer Co
• Soggy Bottom Brewing
• 7venth Sun
• Rapp Brewing
• Calusa Brewing
• Civil Society Brewing
• Ology
• Green Bench
• Cycle Brewing
• Motorworks Brewing
• Point Ybel Brewing
• Ellipsis Brewing
• Unbranded Brewing
• 3 Sons Brewing Company

Recommended beers

• Hunahpu's Imperial Stout - Double Barrel Aged
• Barrel Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout
• It Was All A Dream
• Morning Wood
• The Adjunct Trail - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
• Jai Alai IPA
• Maple Bacon Coffee Porter
• Last Snow
• Founders CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout)
• Angry Chair Rocky Road - Bourbon Barrel Aged
• Hidden Springs Black Aggie - Double Barrel Aged Fluffer Nutter
• Magnanimous Fall Of The Elders
• Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet Magnum Edition
• Hunahpu's Imperial Stout
• Funky Buddha Morning Wood
• Angry Chair Barrel Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout
• J. Wakefield Label Us Notorious
• 3 Sons S'Mortal Kombat

Online options

If you don't want to go out to buy your beer, you can get it delivered in Florida. Liquor or package stores can deliver beer, but not breweries or distilleries. Restaurants can also deliver alcohol if it is accompanied by a meal.

Beer laws in Florida

Florida's alcohol laws can be confusing, especially when it comes to Sunday sales. Here is a comprehensive guide to the state's beer laws.

Where Can You Buy Beer in Florida?

Beer can be purchased in Florida at convenience stores, supermarkets, retail stores, and gas stations.

Hours for Beer Sales in Florida

Beer can be purchased in Florida from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., Monday through Sunday. However, some counties and municipalities have different laws. For example, Miami-Dade County permits alcohol sales 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Legal Age for Consuming and Serving Beer in Florida

In Florida, you must be 21 or older to purchase and consume alcohol. The legal age to serve packaged liquor is 18, and employees must be at least 18 to work in areas of an establishment that sells or serves alcohol for consumption.

Open Container Laws in Florida

Any previously opened bottles of alcohol must be carried in a vehicle's trunk.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Limits in Florida

Drivers must comply with Florida's maximum blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent. For underage drivers (21 or younger), the limit is .02 percent.

Penalties for Violating Florida's Beer Laws

A first violation of the legal drinking age in Florida constitutes a felony, carrying a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. A second violation results in a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison. Buying alcohol with a forged ID carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Lending or using someone else's ID can result in a $500 fine, 60 days in jail, and a one-year license revocation for both individuals.

Recommended beers in Florida

Florida is home to a thriving craft beer scene, with a variety of unique brews incorporating classic styles like stouts, IPAs, and lagers. Here are some of the top recommended beers to try when in the Sunshine State:

Funky Buddha Brewery

Funky Buddha is an iconic Florida brewery, known for its innovative and delicious craft beers. Here are some of their top offerings:

• Maple Bacon Coffee Porter : This unique blend combines notes of maple syrup and bacon with a nice coffee finish. It's rich without being too heavy, making it a perfect choice for those who want a complex yet approachable beer.
• Morning Wood : This imperial porter packs a punch at 12.00% ABV. It's a great choice for those who enjoy a strong, flavourful beer.
• Last Buffalo in the Park : Another imperial porter from Funky Buddha, this one comes in at 11.50% ABV. It's a perfect choice for those who want a strong, smooth beer to sip and savour.
• Wide Awake It's Morning : This imperial porter is a great breakfast beer, with a name that pays homage to the morning routine.
• Last Snow : A porter that's perfect for the winter season, with a name that evokes the chilly weather.
• French Toast : This imperial porter is a delicious dessert beer, with flavours of French toast and maple syrup.
• Mexican Coffee : For coffee lovers, this imperial stout offers a rich, coffee-forward flavour with a hint of Mexican spice.
• I'm So Excited, I'm So Scared : This intriguing imperial stout has a name that piques curiosity, and its flavour profile surely doesn't disappoint.

Cigar City Brewing

Cigar City Brewing is another popular Florida brewery, known for its wide range of beers, including:

• Hunahpu's Imperial Stout : This highly-rated beer comes in both a double barrel-aged version (11.00% ABV) and a bourbon barrel-aged version (14.60% ABV). It's a rich, complex beer that's perfect for stout enthusiasts.
• Caffè Americano : This American Imperial Stout is a coffee lover's dream, with a strong coffee flavour and a smooth finish.
• Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout : This Russian Imperial Stout comes in both a standard version (11.00% ABV) and a coconut-flavoured variation called Coconut Marshal Zhukov (11.80% ABV). It's a bold, robust beer with a strong following.
• Jai Alai IPA : This American IPA is a well-known offering from Cigar City, widely available and highly regarded.
• Good Gourd : This unique pumpkin beer is a perfect seasonal choice for autumn, with a name that evokes the flavours of the harvest season.
• Florida Cracker : A hazy, golden hefeweizen-style beer with a spicy punch. It's a refreshing choice for hot summer days with its low ABV of 5.5%.

Angry Chair Brewing

Angry Chair Brewing is known for its creative and bold beers, often featuring unique flavour combinations:

• Barrel Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout : This indulgent beer is a dessert in a glass, with flavours of chocolate and cupcake. At 11.00% ABV, it's a strong yet sweet treat.
• The Adjunct Trail : This bourbon barrel-aged sweet/milk stout is a perfect choice for those who enjoy a boozy, complex beer. It comes in both a standard version (11.00% ABV) and a cognac barrel-aged variation (11.50% ABV).
• Rocky Road : This bourbon barrel-aged American Imperial Stout is a delicious take on the classic dessert, with flavours of chocolate, marshmallow, and nuts.
• Popinski : This Russian Imperial Stout comes in two variations: the standard version (10.00% ABV) and the Bourbon Barrel-Aged version (11.50% ABV), which features peanut butter and marshmallow flavours.
• Fionn : This imperial porter is a smooth, flavourful beer with a name that might pay homage to Irish mythology.
• Unrepentant Transgression : This American Imperial Stout comes in two variations: the standard version (11.50% ABV) and the cognac barrel-aged version (also 11.50% ABV), both of which offer a unique take on the style.
• The Awakening

Beer delivery services in Florida

Florida offers a wide range of options for beer enthusiasts, with various vendors delivering alcoholic beverages straight to your doorstep. Here is a guide to beer delivery services in the Sunshine State:

Florida's alcohol laws allow licensed vendors to deliver beer, wine, and spirits to consumers' homes. While breweries and distilleries are not permitted to make direct deliveries, third-party delivery services have stepped in to fill this gap. Here are some popular options:

• Minibar Delivery: Minibar offers state-wide beer delivery across Florida, including major cities like Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. They promise delivery within 30-60 minutes of placing an order and have a $5 delivery fee.
• Instacart: Instacart connects you with a personal shopper in your area who will buy and deliver your desired beer, wine, or liquor from a nearby store. They offer same-day delivery, with orders typically arriving within an hour. Delivery fees start at $3.99 for orders over $35, and they also offer contactless delivery.
• Drizly: Drizly is another third-party delivery service that actively delivers alcohol to customers' homes in Florida.
• Local Stores: Many local stores in Florida have also started offering alcohol delivery. These include specialty stores like Jug & Bottle and Craft Beer Cellar, as well as supermarkets and retail stores that sell beer alongside other products.

Important Considerations:

When ordering beer delivery in Florida, it's important to keep a few things in mind:

• Age Verification: Florida has strict laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol. You must be 21 or older to order alcohol and provide a valid photo ID upon delivery.
• Delivery Times: While some services offer rapid delivery within 30-60 minutes, others may have longer wait times, especially during peak hours. Always check the estimated delivery time before placing your order.
• Delivery Fees: Most delivery services charge a small fee for the convenience of bringing alcohol to your doorstep. These fees vary between services and may depend on factors such as order size and delivery location.
• Tipping: Tipping your delivery driver is optional but highly encouraged to show appreciation for their service.
• County Regulations: Florida's alcohol laws vary by county, so be sure to check the regulations in your specific location, as they may impact the availability and timing of beer deliveries.

Restrictions on buying beer in Florida

Florida's beer laws are not particularly conservative, but they are strict, and violating them will result in harsh punishment.

Age Restrictions

The minimum drinking age in Florida is 21. Underage individuals who are 18 or older may handle alcohol if they work at a licensed alcohol retailer. Any other underage person may not possess or consume alcohol. In Florida, an underage person cannot drink alcohol even when given authorisation by their parent or guardian, whether at home or in a licensed establishment. The only legal exception is for students over the age of 18 who are required to taste alcohol for educational purposes, in which case they simply need to sign a waiver.

Where and When You Can Buy Beer

Florida does place restrictions on what types of alcohol may be sold at certain retailers. Beer can be purchased in bars and restaurants, package and liquor stores, breweries and taprooms, and gas stations and grocery stores.

Although the state of Florida sets times when alcohol may be sold, it also allows counties and municipalities to set their own times. This means that the times you can buy beer will vary from county to county. In Florida, you can buy beer for off and on-premise consumption Monday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Some counties allow the sale of alcohol from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., and others even allow 24/7 sales at certain retailers.

In the two dry counties, Lafayette and Liberty, alcohol sales are limited to packaged alcohol and to weekdays. Alcohol above 6.243% ABV may not be sold in these counties.

Open Container Laws

In Florida, no person in a vehicle, moving or parked, may possess or drink from an open alcohol container. An open container must be placed in a locked glove box or trunk. The only exceptions to this law are motor homes and cases where the driver is contracted to provide transportation and has a specific license with a passenger endorsement. Counties may be more strict with this law.

Beer Delivery

You can get beer delivered in Florida, but not from breweries or distilleries. Restaurants can deliver alcohol if it is accompanied by a meal. Deliveries can be made by direct employees of the establishment or third-party delivery services.

Brewery Taprooms

Florida's Three Tier System is designed to keep separate the operations of alcoholic beverage manufacturers, distributors, and retail vendors, unless an exception applies. One such exception is the Taproom Exception, which allows production breweries to sell beer directly to consumers from a taproom that is connected to the brewery or directly across the street. For this, the taproom must have its own retail vendor license.

Beer Packaging

The Florida Beverage Law includes restrictions on beer package sizes. Pre-packaged beer must be in individual containers containing no more than 32 ounces or more than 1 gallon (that is, 128 ounces). Beer cannot be sold in containers that hold between 32 ounces and 128 ounces (except for 64-ounce growlers). It is entirely legal in Florida for a consumer to buy beer by the keg or barrel, as long as it contains at least 1 gallon of beer. There's no upper limit.

Brewery taprooms—including restaurants with the 4COP-SFS license—are also permitted to fill and sell growlers, including their modern form, CrowlersTM. Growlers must be filled at the point of sale and must hold 32 ounces, 64 ounces, or 128 ounces. Each growler must include an imprint or label stating the name of the manufacturer, the brand, and the anticipated percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV). At the time of sale, growlers must have an unbroken seal or otherwise be incapable of being immediately consumed.

Frequently asked questions