Like many of our local Sanfordites, we love a local brewery where we can gather with friends
for a Sunday Funday or a Happy Hour hangout. We met with Sanford’s newest up and coming Florida
Craft Brewery owner Walter Basso, who also owns Acme Glass, a company that he and his father built up
from 1 small building in Downtown Orlando to 4, becoming #31 in the country. (You know all of those
crane towers in Orlando? Yup, that’s his company installing glass on those buildings!).

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Finding an old warehouse in Sanford, he decided to strip and re-do the entire thing, with the idea
to put a mostly Florida-based taproom up in the front. Partnering with different local breweries such as
JDubs, Orange County Brewers,  Shipyard, Sea Dog, NoBo, Prosperity, South Beach and Brew Theory,
they decided that doing a big system up in Sanford would be the right move.

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With more than 300,000 barrels planning to come out of production (which equals 600,000 of the
normal kegs you see at parties), breweries can work with Brew Theory contract brewers and be brewed
and then served in the Florida Craft taproom! They are brewing now on a 30-barrel Pugsly system in
Sanford, which is very old school and fun to look at, but the German 100 barrel Brewhaus will be up and
running by March of next year. Once up and running, they will be offering tours as well as hosting fun
events to see this monster state of the art system in action. The cool thing is, the name Florida Craft
Brewery was chosen because of the large number of local Florida brewers that will be available (yay for
supporting fellow local businesses!).  The brewery will also be serving coffee, cold brew, Kombucha as
well as CBD water, so there truly is something for everyone!

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Now, I know with the craziness of the world you’re thinking “when can I go to this amazing new
place?!” Well my fellow drink lovers, they are planning on opening October 2020, and as amazing as the
brewery is inside, for those of you who will be more comfortable out in our beautiful Floridian air, they
will be providing lots of picnic tables and outside seating – along with live music on certain days.

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Which brings me to the next best part! Outside you will also be able to find different local food
trucks – one which will include Walter’s wife Nikki, and her business partner Brittany, in their super cute
airstream, Two Awkward Birds. More to come on this new favorite spot later, but for now, just know that
they will be making FRESH homemade juices which they then turn into the most amazing cocktails.
You know I love a good cocktail and let me just tell you – I cannot wait for everyone to experience what
they have created. Every drink will be available both non-alcoholic as well as with alcohol, so the entire
experience is family friendly.

Cheers + hope to see you all soon!

LOCATION:

2650 Jewett Lane
Sanford, FL 32771
Follow @floridacraftbrewery on Instagram

Murals done by local artist Kristi Burke. Read more about Kristi HERE!
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