UP TOP! IPA This signature brew from JDub’s Brewing offers CEO Jeremy Joerger’s and Brewmaster Tom Harris’ take on the king of craft beers, the Indian Pale Ale. A self-professed big fan of Cigar City’s hoppy Jai Alai IPA, with Up Top! Joerger and Harris aimed not to replicate, but to innovate. “One’s complementing the other,” says Joerger, whose motto ‘No Jerks Allowed’ reflects his community-minded attitude and philosophy. “It’s not competition, it’s what are you in the mood for.” Blended with two different kinds of hops, Maris Otter and a proprietary blend of seven distinct types, Up Top! is the result of at least 16 iterations, with Joerger and Harris tweaking the recipe each time, searching for that perfect blend. The final product is a crisp IPA, refreshing and seasonable without the aggressive hop flavor or malty sweetness of most IPAs, but hints of citrus, breadiness and a dry finish–a personal preference of Joerger’s. Well crafted, well rounded and distinct, it’s IPA the JDub’s way. Says Joerger, “We don’t follow trends at JDub’s, we start them.”

CHARAPA SPICED PORTER Over in Bradenton, Chef Darwin Santa Maria, owner and operator of acclaimed eatery Darwin’s on 4th, isn’t resting on his laurels. Instead, he’s bringing his unmistakable Peruvian palate and influence to bear at Darwin Brewing Company, crafting culinary-minded brews with an Andean inspiration. “I look at brewing in the same way as cooking,” says Darwin. “We brew with culinary ingredients and try to make beer that goes great with food and is drinkable too.” Together with Brewmaster Jorge Rosabal, Darwin begins by looking at the ingredients available, often sourcing as much as he can directly from South America. For the Charapa, it all begins with Amazonian aji charapita peppers, to give a hint of smoky flavor and a little bite, balanced nicely against the sweet, smooth addition of Florida orange blossom honey. To round out the clashing edges of such powerful flavors, Darwin and Rosabal throw in some genuine Amazonian cacao, tempering both and bringing the brew a full feel and a taste that must be Darwin’s. “I never forget where I come from,”says Darwin. “We’re proud of it.”