Fort Myers Brewing Company wins golds at 2023 Best Florida Beer Professional Championships
Fort Myers Brewing Company earned statewide recognition at the 2023 Best Florida Beer Professional Championships, held March 5 in Tampa.
Fort Myers Brewing earned three gold medals for its High 5 IPA, OYA Double IPA and Red Tape Amber Ale, and a bronze medal for its Brown N’ Out barrel-aged beer. Additionally, Fort Myers Brewing’s High 5 was named runner up for Best Beer in Florida, and the brewery was second runner up for the prestigious title of Best Large Brewery in Florida. Fort Myers Brewing is celebrating these recognitions by offering the award-winning brews on tap or bottle for a limited time at the brewery, located at 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers.
High 5 is one of Fort Myers Brewing’s most popular ales, offering distinct citrus flavors and dry hopped with a pine and citrus aroma. OYA is a double IPA with potent citrus hop character and a prominent sweetness that packs a knockout punch. Red Tape is an American amber with a noticeable caramel richness and smooth finish. Brown N’ Out is an imperial brown ale that spent time aging in brown sugar rum barrels, resulting in displays of dark caramelized sugar, cocoa, vanilla and smooth rum character.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized among the best at this year’s Best Florida Beer Professional Championships,” said Rob Whyte, who co-founded Fort Myers Brewing in 2013 with his wife, Jen. “It’s a big achievement for us to have earned medals at every Best Florida Beer competition since we opened our doors 10 years ago, and we are proud of our brewing team for continuing to create award-winning beers year after year for beer-lovers to enjoy.”
Sponsored by Best Florida Beer, the Best Florida Beer Championships is a sanctioned beer, mead and cider championship with a professional competition that aims to promote commercial breweries, their brewers and excellence in craft beer. The 2023 competition attracted 839 entries in 59 categories.
Fort Myers Brewing has medaled at the Best Florida Beer Professional Championships every year since the brewery was established in 2013, winning a total of 15 gold, six silver and nine bronze medals. Fort Myers Brewing also won the title of Best Large Brewery in Florida at the 2016 competition.
About Fort Myers Brewing Company
Established in 2013, Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first microbrewery to open in Lee County and continues to lead Southwest Florida’s surging craft beer movement. Founded by Rob and Jen Whyte, Fort Myers Brewing carries a signature line of flagship beers in addition to seasonal brews and small-batch specialties. Its ales, pilsners, stouts, IPAs and hard seltzers are winners of multiple prestigious awards, including a gold at the 2022 World Beer Cup, golds at the Best Florida Beer Competition and Great American Beer Festival, and Grand National Champion at the 2021 and 2022 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championships. Fort Myers Brewing was named “Best Large Brewery in Florida” in 2016 and received the Business Resiliency and Innovation of the Year Award at the Lee County Economic Development Office, Horizon Council and Horizon Foundation’s 2021 Industry Appreciation Awards. Its beers are poured at 1,600 locations, including bars, restaurants and retail outlets, including grocery, package and convenience stores. The brewery is located at 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers. For more information, visit FMBrew.com or call 239-313-6576.
