Guest blogger James Beaver is an associate at our Ocoee store.

I was recently asked by a co-worker if I still get to try new beers since I go to so many Beerfests a year. The short answer is yes, there is at least one new beer I try at every Beerfest I go to (most of the ones I go to are by www.floridabeerfestivals.com). Craft beer production is exploding all over the USA and new breweries are showcasing their wares as well as established favorites coming out with new bottles to peddle. I thought it might be a good idea to begin to tell you about some of the new brews I have had the opportunity to sample at these various events and bars/restaurants/etc.

 The 1^st is Golden Monkey By Victory Brewing Company, a relatively little known brewery which is starting to get some traction. This beer is a Belgian golden ale made in the traditional European style with a whopping 9.5% alcohol by volume content (be forewarned, it’s got a kick). If you like beers such as Duval and Delirium Tremens you will enjoy this one; it’s got a good start with a fruity/herbal finish. However, if you are a fan of traditional Lagers and Pilsners, you probably not be a big fan of this; it’s got much more body than your traditional American favorites. If you want to try I suggest you go with this one 1^st before any other beers or the taste could be lost on you (and the alcohol content will put you down faster than your mom did when you stayed up past your bedtime).

The 2^nd brew I will bring to your attention is Starr Hill’s Hefewiezen (wheat) offering “The Love”. This is a really good, light/refreshing, hot weather beer (since here in sunny FLA, spring seems to have been skipped). It’s 4.6% ABV which is typical for a wheat beer. Starr Hill’s website says that Banana and Clove are detectable flavors in this beer, but I detected an almost raspberry sweetness at the very end (of course my taste buds may have been influenced by other offerings I had partaken of that day). Either way, if you enjoy Hefes like Blue Moon, Shocktop and Paulander you will enjoy this beer out of Charlottesville, VA.

The last one I will mention is the Blackwater Dry Porter by Orlando Brewing Company (www.orlandobrewing.com) located right here in Downtown Orlando off of Kaley Ave. It’s 5.43 ABV and it’s got the body of a Guinness with a very coffee finish. It’s one of the best porter’s I’ve ever had (next to Guinness of course) and it’s organic like all the different beers available at their brewery. If you are local I highly suggest you check them out at some point.