Brewery road trips have become a popular mini-vacation in the craft beer world. Particularly in Florida where we are lucky enough to have one of the most active states when it comes to new brewery openings. 

The west coast of Florida has been arguably THE destination for Florida brewery road trips. With dozens of breweries in 20 square miles, it makes it easy to plan some awesome weekends.

But if you have a couple days to spare, a full tank of gas, a good GPS system, and a sense of adventure, the south east coast is an awesome and off-the-beaten-path option for a picture-perfect brewery road trip.

We started this trip in the south and meandered and/or stumbled up the coast and discovered some new brewers on the block as well as some established favorites making some big moves and great beers.

Funky Buddha Brewery – Oakland Park, FL

To say that the new Funky Buddha Brewery and taproom is impressive would be an understatement. With nearly 20,000 square feet (3,000 of which is dedicated to the beautifully muraled tasting room), there is ample seating inside and out and a bar big enough to find a spot just about any time.  

The beers are diverse as always, with staples such as the Floridian Hefeweizen and Hop Gun IPA. There was also a good amount of their limited release beers. The Flight of the Kiwi Hefeweizen and Achtung, Daddy! Berlinerweiss were definite standouts. 

Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery – Boca Raton, FL (19 miles)

A trip to the new Funky Buddha would not be the same without making the quick trip north to see where it all began. You really can’t help but fall in love all over again every time you have the opportunity to chill in this space. With more of the FB’s standards and even more of their limited and seasonals on tap, you really have to visit both.

Besides, you have only just begun!

Due South Brewing – Boynton Beach (14 miles)

Since their opening in the spring of 2012, Due South has been integral in putting south Florida on the map. The brewery is housed in a huge warehouse space with the tasting bar and tables built along an entire side, complete with a walled off tasting “room” – if you would prefer some AC and plenty of cornhole space. 

Staple beers like their immensely popular Caramel Cream Ale are always on tap as well as great beers like the spicy Mexican Standoff Porter and aptly named One Night in Ybor Wee Heavy. Aptly named because ANYONE who has parties in Florida’s Ybor City has a story that starts “Dude, this one night in Ybor…” And if you were drinking a lot of that particular beer, you would DEFINITELY have one of those stories of your own.

Tequesta Brewing Company – Tequesta (30 miles)

Tequesta Brewing Co. is a great place to end the first leg of the trip. That night, the place was hopping and the beautiful turn-of-the-century bar coupled with the blue LED-lit brewery in the rear of the space made for some interesting surroundings.

The four standard beers on tap – Julio’s Weizen, Gnarley Barley Pale Ale, Terminally Ale Brown Ale, and our favorite, Der Chancellor (a medium-hopped Kölsch) – were all great choices to end the night.

Next up–In part 2 of this story, we’re heading up the coast to visit Sailfish Brewing, Intracoastal Brewing, Cocoa Beach Brewing, and Bugnutty Brewing!