The Best Breweries in Sarasota-Manatee
3 Bridges Brewing/Off the Wagon Brewery & Kitchen
2017 Tamiami Trail S., Venice, (941) 497-2048, otwbar.com
Type of brewery 3 Bridges makes the beers poured at Off the Wagon brewpub
Food Full menu of burgers, tacos, sandwiches at Off the Wagon
Beers sold elsewhere? Nope
Attractions Ladies’ night, free pool nights, kids eat free some nights
Vibe Venice residents eager to have a brewery to call their own
3 Car Garage Brewing Co
8405 Heritage Green Way, Bradenton, (941) 741-8877, 3cargaragebrewing.com
TYPE OF BREWERY Small-batch brewery with taproom
FOOD Sandwiches and hot dogs, plus occasional food trucks
BEERS SOLD ELSEWHERE? Nope
ATTRACTIONS Trivia nights, live music
VIBE Lakewood Ranch residents looking for a place to hang on a weekend afternoon
3 Keys Brewing & Eatery
2505 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton, (941) 218-0396, 3keysbrewing.com
Type of brewery Brewpub
Food Burgers and salads, plus sandwiches, pizzas and weekend brunch items
Beers sold elsewhere? No
Attractions Foosball, Jenga, shady deck
Vibe Young professionals with dogs and kids rubbing shoulders with retiree regulars
Big Top Brewing Company
6111 Porter Way, Sarasota, (941) 371-2939, bigtopbrewing.com
Type of brewery Production brewery with taproom
Food Occasional food trucks
Beers sold elsewhere? At bars and restaurants and in stores
Attractions Special holiday parties, fire pit, live music
Vibe Men and women just off work, popping in from I-75 on their way home
Brew Life Brewing
5767 Beneva Road, Sarasota, (941) 952-3831, brewlifebrewing.com
Type of brewery Small-batch brewery with taproom
Food Occasional food trucks
Beers sold elsewhere? Negative
Attractions Helpful staff, sports parties
Vibe Accessible hangout for home brewers and staffers from other local breweries that’s more like a beer bar than a brewery
Calusa Brewing
5701 Derek Ave., Sarasota, (941) 922-8150, calusabrewing.com
Type of brewery Production brewery with taproom
Food Rotating food trucks
Beers sold elsewhere? At restaurants and bars
Attractions Cooler in taproom with rotating take-home offerings, games
Vibe Serious-about-their-beer south Sarasota residents who snap up limited-edition bottles and cans
Darwin Brewing Co.
803 17th Ave. W., Bradenton, (941) 747-1970, darwinbrewingco.com
Type of brewery Production brewery with taproom
Food Occasional food trucks
Beers sold elsewhere? At stores, bars and restaurants
Attractions Baseball stadium across the street, special parties on the front lawn
Vibe Sunscreen-slathered baseball fans downing a few before the game
Good Liquid Brewing Co.
4824 14th St. W., Bradenton, (941) 896-6381, thegoodliquidbrewing.com
Type of brewery Small-batch brewery with taproom
Food Visiting food trucks and delivery from nearby Greek restaurant All Greek
Beers sold elsewhere? No
Attractions Outdoor patio, board games, yoga classes
Vibe Neighborhood dwellers who appreciate the cider and wine on draft, too
JDub’s Brewing Company
1215 Mango Ave., Sarasota, (941) 955-2739, jdubsbrewing.com
Type of brewery Production brewery with taproom
Food Rotating food trucks
Beers sold elsewhere? At stores and restaurants
Attractions Pretty and intimate back yard near train tracks, cheese and beer pairing events, comedy open mics
Vibe Bearded bros mingling with yoga-flexible women
Motorworks Brewing
1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton, (941) 567-6218, motorworksbrewing.com
Type of brewery Production brewery with taproom
Food Snacks, pizzas, sandwiches and pasta entrées
Beers sold elsewhere? Grocery stores and liquor stores, bars and restaurants
Attractions Beer garden, live music, bocce ball court
Vibe Bar game fanatics tossing cornhole bean bags on a sprawling fake-grass lawn
Naughty Monk Brewery
2507 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton, (941) 708-2966, naughtymonkbrewery.com
Type of brewery Small-batch brewery with taproom
Food Delivery from the nearby Atypical Kitchen
Beers sold elsewhere? Nope
Attractions Pro-quality pool tables, poker and trivia nights
Vibe Lakewood Ranch Belgian beer fans who huddle over board games
Sarasota Brewing Company
6607 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, (941) 925-2337, sarasotabrewing.com
Type of brewery Brewpub
Food Full menu of salads and sandwiches, killer wings
Beers sold elsewhere? Nah
Attractions Cozy fireplace, full bar for nonbeer drinkers, old-school destination that’s been open for decades
Vibe Gulf Gate regulars who keep their own personal mugs hanging above the bar