Orlando Brewing

Orlando Brewing first opened its doors on Gore Street just after the turn of the century, and in October of 2004, John Cheek gained ownership of the company. Ed Canty, founder of the Florida Brewer's Guild and professional brewer, joined John to restart the company. With the aid of Gene Lohri and Stan Richards Orlando Brewing was soon on its feet. However, less than three months later the team was informed their location was to be turned over to the state of Florida under an eminent domain provision.

Despite the four months it was projected to take to re-establish the company at its current location on Atlanta Ave, just west of Orlando's Amtrak Station, it took more than a year for Orlando Brewing to re-open its doors. The year was a long one, but it gave the partners time to re-think the direction of their brewery.

The partners decided to brew what they wanted to drink, and they wanted to drink the best. So they committed to making only the highest quality ales and lagers. But what did "highest quality" mean? To Orlando Brewing it meant two things for sure. It meant the company would brew their beer in accordance with the German Purity Law of 1516 (the Reinheitsgebot), and that they would only use organic ingredients.

Now, if following the Reinheitsgebot set them apart from their competition, brewing organically made them the polar opposite of the mainstream.

The German Purity Law decreed that beers should only be brewed with four ingredients: water, hops, yeast and malted barley - no adjuncts and no additives. So the purists at Orlando Brewing knew that it takes great ingredients to make great beer, and decided to stick to the time-tested tradition.

It's been eight years and much has changed. The old brewery downtown is now the South Street exit on I4. Our beers became the first to be declared 'Fresh from Florida' and in 2006 we were certified as an organic brewery, making us the only U.S.D.A. certified organic brewery south of Vermont and east of Colorado. Florida's craft beer industry has since boomed and the organic movement has truly taken root. Our beers can be found in over 500 locations in Florida and Graeme Lay is now our Brewmaster. And while four times a year he releases a beer that violates the Reinheitsgetbot (though organically brewed and appropriately dubbed "The Violator Series"), Orlando Brewing has maintained the commitment to bring you only the best.