🍻 We’ll drink to Orlando Beer Week
Plus, what changes would you make to downtown?
By Katie Johnston
It’s Friday, y’all.
Tomorrow kicks off Orlando Beer Week, and after a week like this one, it couldn’t have come at a better time. What’s Orlando Beer Week, you ask? According to the @orlbeerweek Instagram account, it’s “a week made to embrace, advance and advocate our Orlando breweries and the surrounding community”, and is celebrated with special limited releases.
I’ll happily drink to that. (If I'm being honest, I'll drink to anything at this point. 🙃)
Down below, we’re telling you who’s doing what to celebrate, plus when and how you can partake responsibly. Keep reading, party people.
Orlando Brewing is kicking off Orlando Beer Week by dropping a new small-batch brew daily, beginning tomorrow with its whiskey-aged I-4 IPA. | Wanna see your photo here? Tag @pulptown to be featured in our IG of the day. (📸: @orlandobrewing)
What Orlando is talking about
Our local breweries are pulling out all the stops for Orlando Beer Week this year, and we’ve got the rundown on who’s doing what and how you can safely consume. The absolute safest option? By ordering pickup and enjoying an ice cold brew from the comfort of your home. That said, the magical world of sours, Kölsches, and stouts await. Let's get going.
🍻 Orlando Brewing is celebrating with a new beer release every day, starting with its Whiskey Aged I-4 IPA. The rest of the week’s lineup includes a cold brew-infused Kölsch, a salted caramel Scottish ale, and a green tea blonde ale infused with lime, jalapenos, and such.
🍻 Ellipsis Brewing is kicking off the occasion with a four-can new release tomorrow including an Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake Imperial Berliner.
🍻 Redlight, Redlight is celebrating with an all-you-can-drink Kölsch spectacular tomorrow and Sunday. Plus, they’ve got four new releases coming at ya. We suggest hanging in the back on the patio, as outdoors is your friend right now.
🍻 Ivanhoe Park Brewing is launching their newest brew: The Peach Please is a kettle-soured SMaSH ale. Wondering if there’s more where that came from? They’re promising there’ll be more special brews coming soon.
🍻 Sideward Brewing is bringing back Sideward Sabbath on Sunday, a day full of BBQ, friends, and beer in addition to dropping its Sabbath Vol. 2 and Yacht Money. They’ll drop another four releases on Wednesday, one of which will be a cider. And on the last day of beer week, they’re releasing their collab with Jeremiah’s Ice, a sour brewed with mango, passionfruit, coconut, and vanilla.
🍻 Tactical Brewing is dropping the Cosmos Pie can today, a pie-inspired Florida Imperial Weisse, and three more tasty brews this weekend.
🍻 Broken Strings Brewery is bringing back its infamous German Chocolate Cake, a pasty stout built just for you.
🍻 And lastly, A La Cart is hosting a weeklong total tap takeover of local beers only starting tomorrow. If you miss your favorite brewery in this list, have no fear: A La Cart is probably serving ‘em up.
Keeping in mind that our COVID-19 numbers are a little out of control right now (more on that below), most breweries have made arrangements to offer its beer to-go. Head to their social sites or call ahead to see how they’re best handling things.
Now, enough about booze. Let’s get to the rest of the news you need to know before starting the weekend, shall we?
In other news…
⛅️ Hopefully, you didn’t get too cozy with this week’s high of 73. The weekend forecast promises cooler temps ahead with highs in the mid-60s and lows in the 40s, though tomorrow night we’re looking at a chilly low of 39. (ClickOrlando)
😷 Florida recorded 19,816 new positive COVID-19 cases yesterday, its highest single-day number yet, topping Wednesday’s record of 17,783. The state also reported 164 new deaths. According to a recent White House COVID report, “Florida is in full pandemic resurgence and must increase mitigation, along with an active COVID vaccination program to decrease community spread and save lives.” (Orlando Sentinel)
💻 This opinion piece in the Orlando Sentinel says it’s going to be tougher than we thought for people working remotely to return to the office. According to a recent Best Practice Institute study, data indicates 83 percent of CEOs want employees to return, while only 10 percent of employees would prefer working from the office again. (Orlando Sentinel)
💡 If it were up to you, the Downtown Orlando area would have more __________ and less __________. One local nonprofit hopes you’ll help them fill in the blanks. City District is the Main Street District of our downtown corridor including Church Street, Wall Street, Orange Avenue, Creative Village, and Parramore Heritage. By answering their Qs in this survey, you are helping to build the future of downtown. (Fox35)
🍩 Know what Orlando loves? Doughnuts. Well, and coffee and tacos too. And plant-friendly options. But Everglazed, the new over-the-top doughnut and cold brew spot at Disney Springs opened recently and offers a doughnut garden for proper social-distancing. If you made any kind of healthy New Year's resolutions, maybe don’t go here? (ClickOrlando)
👍 Speaking of plant-friendly and delicious eats, resident food reviewer Scott Joseph gave V.L.C. Vegan Eatery in East Orlando a big thumbs up. The restaurant is open for takeout only and you’ll need to call ahead to place your order over the phone. Joseph says don’t sleep on the tempura Brussels or the potato curry. (Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide)
😉 Wanna take this thing to the next level?
This week, our Pulptown+ members are talking about what podcasts we’re subscribed to, who we’re reading, and what songs are providing background music these days.
Wanna join the conversation? We’d love to have you.
It costs $8/month or $80/year to join our membership program, and perks include chats like the one above, games of I Spy and local trivia, exclusive content such as specially curated weekend itineraries, and early access to our (virtual) events.
Things to do
Submit your events to our calendar.
Today
🏒 Cheer on the Solar Bears to a win over the Florida Everblades at Amway (Parramore)
☮️ Try this laughter yoga class that apparently involves no yoga after all but guarantees a smile Fridays (Online)
Tomorrow
🛶 Take a paddleboard tour of "Millionaire Island" through Howell Creek and on to Dog Island (Maitland)
🎶 Jam to Eugene Snowden at this family-friendly outdoor concert at the amphitheater every Saturday (Apopka)
🍿 Watch "The Croods 2" on the big screen at Lakefront Park (St. Cloud)
🎶 See the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra presents: Yuja Wang Plays Strauss outdoors at Orlando City Stadium (Parramore)
🐈 Strike cat pose with literal cats at Orlando Cat Cafe but grab your tickets fast — classes fill up quickly (Clermont)
Sunday
🎟 Take the fam for an art-filled free family day at the Mennello Museum (Loch Haven Park)
🎉 Celebrate Three Kings Day with a drive-through parade, free toys, and giveaways (Kissimmee)
🛶 Paddle Lake Minneola with your furry friend (or not) then enjoy a dog-friendly brunch at Lilly's on the Lake (Clermont)
🛍 Shop this outdoor artisans market at Henry's Depot (Sanford)
Monday
🌽 Shop local produce, artisans, and makers at the Audubon Community Market (Audubon Park)
🎨 Learn the art of landscape painting courtesy of the Art & History Museums of Maitland — BONUS : You don't have to travel far (Online)
🏀 Cheer on the Orlando Magic to a win over the Milwaukee Bucks (Parramore/Online)
Tuesday
🛍 Go thrifting at this pop-up market outside the Veranda (Thornton Park)
🍿 Pull up for this drive-in movie at the Audubon Park Covenant Church (Audubon Park)
Wednesday
🗣️ Learn how purpose-driven business leaders can model MLK to embed DEI in their company cultures. (Online)
👟 Go for a run with the Hourglass Brewing Running Club weekly (Curry Ford/Longwood)
☮️ Head outdoors for this yoga and HIIT pop-up class (Lake Eola)
🗣 The city of Sanford wants to hear from you in this virtual community workshop (Online)
🛍 Shop the Orlando Vegan Market pop-up at the Veranda every other Wednesday (Thornton Park)
One more thing …
Orlando Beer Week, Fringe Winter Mini-Fest, Veganuary in the (Almond) Milk District… there really is so much to do and so little time around these parts.
But that’s not all there is to do: Take Lemonhearted’s advice and get to a biking trail near you or venture to St. Pete for a peek at the new Van Gogh Alive exhibit at the Dali Museum per the Orlando Date Night Guide’s recommendation.
Whatever you decide to do, keep it responsible, wear your mask, and make sure to stay six feet away from folks. And although smiling is free, no one ought to be able to see it right now (unless you're across the street), so consider throwing up a friendly peace sign instead.
‘Til Tuesday, friends.
– ✌️ Katie at Pulptown
P.S. Don’t forget about our podcast, 15 Minutes in Pulptown. It’s making a comeback on Monday after we took some time off for the holidays. I’ll be back at it bright and early Monday morning. See you then!
