Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Tomoka Brewing Company, Port Orange, Fla. Local Ingredients

Port Orange, Fla.--Tomoka Brewing Company uses Florida ingredients in both their brews and food.  This brewery, open more than four years ago near Daytona Beach, really embraces the farm-to-glass style of brewing. They use locally sourced, Florida-grown seasonal ingredients like strawberries, watermelon, blueberries, sugar cane, muscadine grape juice and more, whenever they can.

Tomoka Brewing Company bar logo, Port Orange, Fla.
Copyright 2016 by Helen A. Lockey
They have two tap room/brewery locations, their original in Ormond Beach and the one I visited was in Port Orange.

I went in earlier this year for a flight of beer ($8 for four glasses and $2 for each additional glass).

From left to right in the below picture I selected Pumpernickel Porter (6.2% ABV), Tomoka The King Elvis-Imperial Brown Ale (8.5% ABV), Tomoka Mutha Fuggle EPA (6.1% ABV) and Tomoka Tangerine Weisse (4.2% ABV).

I also got Tomoka Twist of Cane Double IPA (8.6% ABV) and Jen's Gin Saison (7.6 % ABV), not pictured below.

Tomoka Brewing Company beer flight, Port Orange, Fla.
Copyright 2016 by Helen A Lockey

My favorite was Jen's Gin Saison, made with real cucumber juice. It smelt like incense in a glass with aromas of Jamaican Hibiscus mixed with herbaceous cucumber. And the taste continued in the delicious path of the aroma with sweet honeysuckle like flavors followed by refreshing cucumber and ending with a light tartness. It was wonderfully refreshing.

I also liked the Twist of Cane Double IPA that had a light, crisp sweetness (from the real Florida sugar cane) that mellowed to a floral hops bitterness that perfectly balanced the sugar start.

The Tangerine Weisse had a nice, light, beginners sour taste and was very drinkable.

The King Elvis Imperial Brown Ale had a strong smoky, boozy smell and taste. I also detected flavors of chocolate, molasses and strangely enough pumpernickel bread.

Oddly enough the pumpernickel porter did not taste like its namesake, to me. Instead it had a crystalized brown sugar smell and taste.

Their Port Orange tasting room/brewery is open seven days a week usually opening their doors at 11 a.m. except on Sunday when they open one hour earlier and closing most days at 11 p.m.

Tomoka Brewing Company has 22 house taps and a great pizza style kitchen that uses their beer in their food.

Their selection of beers changes constantly so hurry in before your favorite is gone. They also make beer cocktails and serve wine.

Tomoka Brewing is located at 4647 S. Clyde Morris Blvd, Port Orange, FL 32129
Phone (386)352-4679