It's happening: Downtown St. Pete's award-winning Cycle Brewing, where customers often camp out for limited-edition barrel-aged beers, plans to roll out a line of packaged cans for the first time. The new partnership agreement Cycle has signed with Brew Hub — a Lakeland-based facility that provides brewing, packaging, distribution and selling services to craft beer brands — will also allow the brewery to increase production and expand distribution in Florida.
To start, Cycle's Crank IPA and its fiercely loved American porter that is Cream & Sugar, Please are set to launch in six-packs of 12-ounce cans. Brew Hub will brew Fixie IPA, Sharrow Double IPA and Peloton Pilsner, too, and the facility's on-site taproom should begin pouring all five in mid-November.
"What Brew Hub has accomplished for other craft brewers is impressive, and their quality is second to none," said Cycle brewmaster Doug Dozark, who started the brewery in 2012, in a statement. "I'm excited for our beers to be packaged in cans for the first time and to get more beer to our fans across Florida. Most importantly, the partnership allows us to continue to focus on our passion of brewing and serving unique barrel-aged and small-batch beers in our St. Petersburg tasting room."
J.J. Taylor will continue to distribute Cycle beers in Tampa Bay, while Brew Hub helps broaden the brewery's availability at local restaurants, bars and retailers. Distribution to the Orlando and Miami markets is scheduled for early next year — and throughout the state by mid-1019.
"Cycle Brewing is one of the most sought-after and innovative craft brewers in Florida," added Brew Hub founder and CEO Tim Schoen. "This unique collaborative partnership allows Brew Hub to manage marketing and distribution of Cycle's brands throughout Florida and potentially other markets outside the state. Brew Hub's model was designed to help brands like Cycle get to the next level, and we can't wait to grow together."
This article appears in Oct 11-18, 2018.