GoLO Jacksonville

You might not immediately notice the Beer30 sign above a simple glass doorway near the corner of King and Park Streets.  But when you walk inside, co-owners, Warren Fryefield and Justen Mann, have conjured up a diverse world of craft beers from local, national and international microbreweries on their well-stocked store shelves. With interesting names like Cigar City Batch 69 Double Cream Ale and Heathen Imp Black IPA, the team has pulled together about 600 varieties of beers, for the discerning and casual beer drinker alike.  While I was in the store, a happy patron bought a six-pack of Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, a UK brand, with its blend of tart dark chocolate, toasted malts, oats and hazelnut to try out.

Justen Mann.
co-owner, Beer30

Fryefield had long given thought to opening a craft brew store, but a visit to Hop City in Atlanta over a year ago was the catalyst for drawing up more formal plans with Mann to bring craft beers to Riverside.  The self-taught craft beer fans began to work on their idea in December 2011 and things progressed quite rapidly.  By June 1, 2012, they opened their doors to the public in an area that is quickly becoming Jacksonville’s “Beer District” for beer connoisseurs with other gastro pubs and taverns popping up along this stretch of King Street. “We wanted to offer King Street a good package store without having to go all over the place, with a great selection of American craft beer,” said Mann.  Working with beer distributors, the two selected as many different kinds of quality brews within their allotted ranges.  Over time, the duo has discovered and picked up new breweries and beer lines as they seek to keep their inventory fresh while retaining old favorites for their customers.  “We’re striving to bring in the best possible beer that we can and keep Riverside stocked on good beer,” added Mann.  The store helps to support Jacksonville’s burgeoning brewery scene with selections from Bold City Brewery, Intuition Ale Works and Green Room Brewing.  The team has also collaborated with neighbor, Pele’s Wood Fire restaurant on some initial beer tastings.  Longer-term, the owners are currently working on plans to obtain their license allowing consumption of alcohol on the business premises, so they can do beer tastings on site.

Festive craft beer displays inside Beer30

For the holiday season, Mann recommended Delirium’s Noël, Peak Organic’s Winter Session Ale and Southern Tier’s 2XMAS, brewed with oranges and figs, as some great winter brews.  Any time of year, he confides that some of his favorites are Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale and Nectar Ale’s Black Xantus Stout. Mann admits that he tried to brew his own beer once, but had little luck.  “I’d like to do it a lot more.  But it is an art form.  The people who can do it are pretty impressive,” notes Mann.

Asked about his words of advice for other entrepreneurs, Mann suggests that a new business “should never underestimate the “build out”.  The shelving was going to be a one day job, and it turned into a two-week project.  Give yourself ample time and don’t rush yourself.”The store has already helped out other local organizations with beer gift baskets and looks forward to working with other area businesses and charitable organizations over time. So help yourself or the beer lover in your life to discover some wonderful craft beer selections at Beer30.  Visit them at 1271 King Street, Jacksonville, FL, 904-388-0033, or friend them on Facebook for special announcements, upcoming events and store coupons.  You’ll be glad you made the time for Beer30!

–Bridges DelPonte, http://www.bridgesdelponte.com

W90+, Shoppes of Avondale

W90+ is the newest addition to Jacksonville’s trendy wine and food scene at the Shoppes of Avondale.  Two Jacksonville brothers, Elias and Eduardo Mahfuz, originally from Brazil, wanted to create a light, airy space where customers could easily browse and taste hand-picked selection of fine wines along with artisan cheeses, breads and pastas.  They chose the name, W90+, to highlight a wine selection where nearly every bottle has achieved a rating of 90 or better from expert reviewers.  But high marks, doesn’t have to mean high prices.  Avondale store manager, Rob Middleton, says that W90+ carries “wines for just about every price range. You can have a nice evening for under $20.”

W90+ manager, Rob Middleton

Unlike a warehouse type of wine store, “there’s no getting lost. We have the maximum amount of choice in this small space. You can come in and make your choice very simply, quickly and easily. Whether your choice is made based on the review or based on price or based on consultation with the staff,” notes Middleton. The wine buyer for W90+, Richard Park, has more than 30 years of experience choosing high quality wines and the knowledgeable staff strives to provide personalized service for both novices and connoisseurs alike.

The owners chose to locate their business in Avondale because of its foodie reputation and walkable neighborhood charm. Filled with natural light, W90+ creates an intimate space with white floor-to-ceiling cubby holes that allow customers to view the shop’s full collection and accompanying wine reviews.  Gourmet foods, like Sweet Grass Dairy cheeses, French Pantry breads, Cipriani’s pastas and Sauces ‘n Love fresh pestos, complement the store’s extensive wine selection.  Middleton thinks some hidden gems are Gruet Winery sparkling wines from New Mexico, Austrian Grüner Veltliner white wines and Washington state wines.  He adds that pink-colored wines tend to get a bad rap as being too sweet, but invites customers to try out rosés from Provence which are “tart and refreshing” for summertime.

Enomatic® wine dispenser from Italy

The shop also features a state-of-the-art Italian Enomatic® wine dispenser, common at wine bars, offering fresh sips of a rotating selection of white and red wines. “I don’t know of anybody else who has an Enomatic® in their shop,” notes Middleton.  “By having one of those at the shop, we are able to have at any time eight wines—four whites, four reds—ready for tasting.  Any wine shop can open wines and have them available for taste, but they will only be good for a day or two.”  The Enomatic® machine avoids exposure to air preventing loss of taste or spoilage.  W90+ also hosts weekly Friday night social tastings at 5:30 p.m. and is open on Sundays for customers looking to pair wines with fresh produce purchases from the local Avondale Farmers Market.

Light, airy wine shop

Open since November 2011, W90+ has already been active in local events for the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, World Affairs Council Jacksonville and Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital.  Clearly, the Mahfuz brothers’ concept has already become a big hit with a feature on Fox 30’s Action News Morning Show and expansion to a second W90+ location at 1112 S. 3rd St., Jacksonville Beach.  Whether you’re looking for wine for a special occasion or a quiet evening at home, visit W90+, 3548 St Johns Ave, Jacksonville (904-413-0025),  friend them on Facebook to sign up for their newsletter or catch their tweets on Twitter.  In a hectic summer, isn’t it time for you to stop and smell the rosés?

–Bridges DelPonte, www.bridgesdelponte.com

Q and A with Chef Tom Gray from Bistro AIX at the Twinn Bridges Farm in Macclenny.

“Transformational.”  That is how one person—a self-described skeptic—expressed his take on the Slow Food First Coast Tour de Farm held Sunday April 11, across Northeast Florida.  For the first time ever, 24 of our region’s small family farms and artisanal food producers opened their doors simultaneously to the public and you responded.  Thousands of citizens descended on the venues to feast, frolic, and learn about a traditional way of life that is fast disappearing.

Sweet Grass Dairy, on hand from Thomasville, Ga, shared samples and sold farm cheeses.

 

You drove.  You pedaled.  A few festive groups got there by charter bus.  And a couple of intrepid folks even arrived by boat.  At every venue, city slickers rubbed elbows with country folk, jostling in line for samples of sorbet, pulled pork, gourmet salads, and goat cheese.  I have never seen so many people delighted by freshly picked Brussels sprouts!  Kids of all ages came from near and far to pick strawberries and pull potatoes.  Who knew?

This day was made possible by the small family farmers that toil their soil, by the beekeepers that tend their hives, and by the cattle ranchers that care for their herds.  It was a success because of the countless laborers that plant and harvest our cabbage and lettuce and the artisans that skillfully transform grapes into wine.

Twinn Bridges owner, Scott Francis, leading a tour through one of the farm's greenhouses. The farm welcomed over 350 guests.

But this day would also not be possible without the support of all those that flocked to the two dozen venues in search of our region’s bounty.  One person told me, “It had the quality of a brand new romance:  the city people were delighted to drive around and see where their food came from and were charmed by these small family farms and the farmers were bewildered but delighted by the attention.  It was like they finally found each other!”  It was a match made on the green pastures of heaven.

Photo courtesy Amy Bolin

 

But supporting local farms is not just about the fleeting “romance” of the moment, nor should this be a one day love affair. Farmers need our support daily just as we need their food to nourish us day in and day out.  When you purchase local foods you are preserving a way of life.  You are supporting a family in our community, rather than a faceless corporation headquartered far away.  The dollars you spend on local foods are re-spent and reinvested in our own community.  They allow farmers to maintain open spaces and wildlife habitat and contribute to the conservation of wetlands and aquatic systems.  And since the average meal in America travels nearly 1,500 miles from farm to plate, local foods help reduce the amount of fossil fuels it takes to transport our calories and can lead to a significant reduction in the pollution associated with said transport.

Time and time again, our broken food system has posed grave danger to the American consumer.  Recalls of beef tainted with E. coli and peanuts processed with a touch of salmonella are the legacy of modern industrial agriculture.  But the tide is turning and consumers now have the choice to ask questions about where their food comes from and how it was produced.   Get to know your local farmer and find out what you are feeding yourself and your children.  When you look into your farmer’s eyes as he tells you that he grew his collards organically and his cattle are grass-fed, appreciate what that means.  The extra effort it took them to produce your next meal sustainably means you will be happier and healthier for it.  And it just might ensure that those small family farmers right here in North Florida will be feeding your children’s children too.  To learn more about how you can continue to support small family farms in our region, visit www.slowfoodfirstcoast.com.

Bistro AIX's farm lunch featuring Black Hog Farm fresh chicken salad, chopped vegetable salad using Twinn Bridges vegetables, and the restaurant's fresh-made potato chips.

 

If you missed the Tour de Farm, do not despair!  A Slow Food “Slow Down” mixer event is scheduled at Intuition Ale Works in Riverside on Friday, April 29 at 6pm.  Featuring locally crafted beer, restaurants sampling local fare, prize drawings and more!

Special thanks to the farmers, artisans, chefs, sponsors, and volunteers who participated in the Tour de Farm and, in particular, to Slow Food First Coast Board members Marcia Macpherson and Mimi Ianuzzi and webmaster Kari Beauchamp for spearheading this event and spending countless hours on the road, on the phone, and on the farm to make it an overwhelming success.  We are all forever indebted.

Contributed by Richard Villadóniga
www.eat-american.com
www.slowfoodfirstcoast.com

“I drive fast cars for a living,” Bo Marijanovich states matter-of-factly. The 31-year-old entrepreneur isn’t shy about talking about his passions, fast cars being one of them. “I’ve always loved unique, classy things. Cars, antiques, art, music, wines. These are the things I enjoy and have a passion for.”

Bo is bringing that passion to the Springfield Historic District in the form of Déjà vu, a contemporary wine & beer bar/art gallery collaboration. Déjà vu, which opens this Friday, April 8th, will occupy the same space as the now-closed Fusion, and much of the sleek décor and metropolitan ambiance will be familiar to Fusion regulars.

But make no mistake, Déjà vu will be markedly different than its previous incarnation.

Local artists will be featured on a rotating basis, with two walls reserved for their work. Stephen Spoon, photographer, is already committed to one space, while local art legend MactruQue has been commissioned for an original, permanent piece.

The biggest change, however, is the addition of a private VIP lounge, accessible only via a James Bond style biometric fingerprint scanner. In the lounge you’ll find sectional seating, a plasma flat screen, dynamic mood lighting, and a wall of dark wood private lockers.

“The lockers are for members only,” Bo explains. “There are 40 lockers, each with its own nameplate and individual key. No one has access to the VIP lounge or the lockers except the members, not even wait staff. It’s very private space for members to enjoy as they please. In fact, they can bring their own bottles and keep them in their lockers if they like.”

About 22 VIP memberships have pre-sold according to the entrepreneur, mostly to restaurateurs, club managers, and successful businessmen. A second bathroom has been added as well.

But it’s not all about exclusivity, Bo explains.

“I want it to be classy, but at the same time, the comfortable neighborhood bar where people can find $1 draft beers and reasonable wines. There will be something here for everybody, from inexpensive house wines and draft beers to Dom Perignon. Every night of the week we will be featuring something different: lite jazz, house music, trivia, art exhibitions, happy hours, wine tastings, improv, art auctions for charity, etc. Like I said, there will be something here for everyone.”

So, what’s Bo’s motivation behind this ambitious endeavor?

“I’m not doing this to make lots of money.  I have a successful car dealership.  I went to law school.  I could be doing anything I want, really.  But I want to do this.  It’s a neat space, the neighborhood has a lot of potential, and I really just want to have a cool place for me and my friends to hang out in.

“I’m doing this because it’s part of my passion. And I live by the mantra that if you do what you’re passionate about, success will follow. So far I’ve been right.”

Grand opening drink specials include $1 draft beer and free champagne for the ladies. So, come check out Déjà vu and remember its unique classy atmosphere for the first time.

For more information, including hours, schedule of events, artists info, and price of VIP memberships, visit www.dejavuartbar.com.

photo credit: Intuition Ale Works

Scenic Riverside has a gritty side–a shoulder-to-the-wheel industrial area full of historic brick warehouse buildings in which building tradesmen, wholesalers, suppliers and product manufacturers have produced goods and services for more than a century.

Today, the area still hums with effort, but it’s no longer all work and no play. With the addition of two terrific local microbreweries, Bold City Brewery and Intuition Ale Works, Riverside can claim a vibrant craft beer scene that is drawing both residents and visitors to the warehouses just a few blocks north of the Park & King commercial district.

Unlike other so-called breweries that are just chain restaurants in disguise, Bold City and Intuition Ale Works are authentic craft brew enterprises, creating original beer blends for wholesale distribution.  Fans can find bottles from both breweries at popular restaurants and bars all over Jacksonville and St. Johns County. However, we think the best place to enjoy them are the brewery’s own tap rooms, which are convivial and buzzing with community.

Bold City’s on-site Tap Room is a cozy, neighborly space that feels more like a back-alley European pub.  There’s a small brick bar and a collection of empty bottles from around the world lining the rafters; a big window behind the bar overlooks the brewing area, and stacks of old-school games like Jenga and Connect-Four give the diverse crowd an excuse to linger for more than just more beer.

Bold City is a family enterprise. Brewmaster Brian Miller opened the brewery in the fall of 2008 with help from mom Susan and the rest of the Miller clan (no relation to the Miller Brewing Company—although, as the brewery’s website notes, “the money would be nice”).  The 7,200 square foot brewery, set in a non-descript building next to the railroad tracks, rolls out 1,000 barrels a year. Bold City produces nine styles of beer, including the popular Duke’s Cold Nose Brown Ale, the malty and complex 1901 Red Ale, and the terrifically named Mad Manataee IPA.

Intuition's Tap Room; photo credit: Intuition Ale Works

Unlike Bold City’s relatively snug space, the Tap Room at Intuition Ale Works clearly was designed to accommodate crowds—a good thing, since hordes of young professionals and hipsters have flocked to the space since its Grand Opening in November 2010. Situated halfway between Bold City Brewery and Kickbacks Gastropub, Intuition AleWorks boasts a spacious bar area with exposed brick walls and long wood tables that encourage mingling; owner Ben Davis describes the style as “Florida Cracker Chic.” There’s also a cavernous open-air brewery bar that’s open on Fridays and Saturdays when the weather’s nice.

The brewery has an active program of special events, including beer dinners with prominent local restaurants such as Chew’s, gatherings of the Intuition Ale Works Mug Club, and Saturday brewery tours.

Intuition’s flagship beer is the People’s Pale Ale, an American-style pale ale that is inspired by the hoppy pale ales of the West Coast (where Davis spent years studying wine-making before he turned his talents to beer). Two-and-a-half years of perfecting recipes in Davis’s Edgewood  Avenue garage has yielded a ten-beer line-up, including the Wild Child Wheat and the King Street Stout.

Both breweries offer delicious nibbles for their tap room patrons. At Bold City, it’s cooked-to-order burgers and brats steamed in beer, as well as pulled pork, beans and slaw, all prepared by Jolly Mon Catering.  At Intuition Ale Works, it’s killer wings and smoked meats from Monroe’s On-the Go; Seacow Confections is often parked outside the brewery selling artisan sorbets, candies and popsicles. Be sure to call ahead, though, to make sure food is being served up the night you want to visit; the breweries don’t have their own kitchens–they’re too busy brewing up great beer.

Can’t make it to Riverside as often as you’d like? No need to worry. Both Bold City and Intuition Ale Works offer 1-gallon glass “growlers” that let you bring the best of the breweries home.

Bold City, 2670 Rosselle Street

Tap Room hours: Thursdays and Fridays, 3 pm to 11 pm; Saturdays 1 pm to 11 pm.

Intuition Ale Works, 720 King Street

Tap room hours: Wednesdays to Fridays from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm; Saturdays 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm.