Florida Beer Company

Infobox Brewery
name = Florida Beer Company

http://www.floridabeer.com/images/FBCLogo.gifFlorida Beer Company Logo]
caption =
location = Melbourne, Florida
owner = Indian River Beverage Corporation
opened = 1996
production = 14,000 US barrels (2008)
active_beers = brewbox_beer|name=Beachside American Lager|style=American Lager brewbox_beer|name=Beachside Sun Light|style=Light Ale brewbox_beer|name=Beachside Porter|style=American coffee porter brewbox_beer|name=Key West Sunset Ale|style=Classic tropical Ale brewbox_beer|name=Key West Southernmost Wheat|style=Belgian witbier brewbox_beer|name=Key West Lager|style=Tropical Lager brewbox_beer|name=Key West Pilsner Light|style=Light Pilsner brewbox_beer|name=Hurrican Reef Pale Ale|style=Pale Ale brewbox_beer|name=Hurrican Reef Caribbean Style Pilsner|style=Pilsner brewbox_beer|name=Hurrican Reef Raspberry Wheat|style=American Wheat brewbox_beer|name=Hurrican Reef Lger|style=Lager brewbox_beer|name=La Tropical|style=In Exile Since 1960 brewbox_beer|name=Ybor Gold Lager|style=Lager brewbox_beer|name=Ybor Gold Brown Ale|style=Brown Ale brewbox_beer|name=Ybor Gold Gaspar's Porter|style=Porter brewbox_beer|name=Ybor Gold Wheat|style=American Wheat brewbox_beer|name=Ybor Gold Light|style=Light Lager brewbox_beer|name=Indian River Brewing Company Amberjack|style=Amber Lager brewbox_beer|name=Indian River Brewing Company Shoal Draft|style=Pale Ale brewbox_beer|name=JJ Kelly's Hard Apple Cider|style=Irish Cider brewbox_beer|name=JJ Kelly's Hard Apple Raspberry Cider|style=Raspberry Flavored Irish Cider
seasonal_beers =
other_beers =

Florida Beer Company is an independent craft brewery located in Melbourne, Florida.

History

Florida Beer Company is organized in the state of Florida as a C Corporation. Originally founded in 1996 as Indian River Brewery, the Company was recapitalized and reorganized in August of 2003 with the addition of the current ownership group as Indian River Beverage Corporation. Indian River Beverage Corporation does business as Florida Beer Company. Florida Beer Company is engaged in the manufacturing, packaging, marketing and sale of alcoholic beverages specifically malt based products (beer). The Company participates in the premium craft beer market.

In March of 2005 the company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Ybor City Brewing Company to acquire the brands, marks, intellectual property, inventory and all business assets of Ybor City Brewing Company and the related entities. The assets and brands included Key West (Key West Brewery, originally of Key West, Florida), Ybor Gold (Ybor City Brewing Company originally of Tampa, Florida) and Hurricane Reef (Hurricane Reef Brewery originally of Miami, Florida).

Florida Beer Company is the largest craft brewer in the State of Florida. The State of Florida is the third largest beer market in the country. While Florida ranks among the top for beer consumption in the United States historically the craft segment has lagged versus other parts of the country. In recent years this has changed. The craft market is now out pacing all other segments of the beer industry and the craft market has grown at 22% in Florida versus 11.4% in the rest of country [ [http://brewersassociation.com Brewers Association] ] .

During 2008, the Company sold 19 different beers (malt beverages) and 2 apple-based ciders entirely manufactured and packaged at its company-owned brewery in Melbourne, Florida. The Company also engages in contract brewing for a small number of customers.

The Company sells its products through a network of wholesale distributors who then sell to bars, restaurants, grocery stores, package stores and other specialty beverage retailers. The Company sells its products predominantly in the state of Florida (80%+), but also markets in New York, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Carolina and the Caribbean. Florida, which represents the bulk of the Company sales, is a three-tier state governed by a beer franchise law. Florida Statutes Title XXXIV Chapter 563 [ [http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0563/titl0563.htm&StatuteYear=2008&Title=-%3E2008-%3EChapter%20563 The 2008 Florida Statutes] ] . In many states, specifically Florida, laws affect enforcement of certain terms of the distributor agreements.

The Company maintains two facilities located in Melbourne, Florida, Brevard County. The production brewery is located at 2500 South Harbor City Blvd. This building is approximately 12,000 square feet and houses all production related activity and equipment, a tasting room with retail store and approximately 1,000 square feet of office space. The second location, 725 Silver Palm Avenue, is a 20,000 square foot warehouse located one mile north of the brewery. There is 4,000 square feet of office space and 16,000 square feet of warehouse space in 3 separate bays. This facility is used for finished goods storage, raw material storage (packaging), excess equipment storage, special package assembly and administrative/sales offices.

References

External links

* [http://www.floridabeer.com Florida Beer Company]