Darwin Brewing hopes to open tasting room while brewery piping installed

It looks like Darwin Brewing Co., wants to open May 12, but a temporary certificate of occupancy could have the bar area ready for the public any day now.

Jason "J.B." Taylor, an architect at Fawley Bryant working on the brewery building, sent an email Wednesday to Jeff Camden, Bradenton building official, saying there was a request for a temporary certificate occupancy to open the tasting room while the brewery's piping is completed.

Installation of the brewery piping will take three to four week and a final inspection is hoped to be done  May 5 for a May 12 opening date, Taylor wrote:

"I would ask that you reconsider allowing a [temporary certificate of occupancy] for the tasting room while the brewery is completed to allow for Darwin's to start to establish their presence in the area. At this time this is the only thing stopping the doors from being opened as Darwin's has their approval from the state for their beer and wine license as well as their federal permits for manufacture and sale.

As the tasting room is now complete and ready for use, it would be in everybody's best interests to get the doors open and allow this burgeoning area to feed off the momentum as started by Motorworks and the continued draw of the Marauders games."

A certificate of occupancy is the final check from the city saying a business can open its doors, having completed all requirements of construction. A temporary certificate can be granted for 30 days ensuring all the required licensing is there and certain improvements will be completed within 30 days, allowing part of the building to be open for business. A 30-day extension to the temporary certificate can also be requested.

The email chiefly covered communication issues about additional work needed for a final inspection of the brewery, as Taylor, a former Bradenton planning commissioner, requested that all the requests and issues be documented in writing after, it appears, some items have been dropped in conversation. (Of note, Taylor abstained from voting on the brewery while serving on the planning commission because he was the architect of record.)

The email also encapsulates the minutia of inner government working and folks trying to open a new type of business, but at least it offers more details for an opening date. Darwin Brewing Co., originally was due to open in March. When I stopped by on March 31, Jorge Rosabal was hoping by late April.

Darwin Brewing Co. is located at 803 17th St. W, across from McKechnie Field. It is owned by chef Darwin Santa Maria, owner and chef of Darwin's on 4th in Sarasota, and includes business partner Matt Cornelius and Rosabal, the head brewer.

Darwin's named a top 18 brew pub in USA Today

Chef Darwin Santa Maria (Courtesy Photo)

Darwin's on 4th in Sarasota is getting some national love for its brew pub, offering Bradentonians a bit of a tease of what will soon be here.

The Peruvian restaurant and microbrewery, 1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, made a top 18 list of the "best brew pubs/taprooms for food quality" nationwide. BeerRate.com's Joe Tucker ranked the best for USA Today's Travel section this week, and only included breweries that served food.

"Unlike traditional restaurants, these are social establishments that are places to relax, sample the local flavors and enjoy some conversation," Tucker told USA Today.

Chef and owner Darwin Santa Maria was honored for the recognition of his Andes-influenced beer and dishes.


"I am extremely happy and so proud of the entire Darwin's team for this accomplishment," Santa Maria said. "I also want to offer my congratulations to Cigar City in Tampa and Funky Buddha in Oakland Park for making the list for their beer quality. Please support your local Florida breweries!"

Darwin's is bringing a brewery and lounge to 803 17th Ave. W, across from McKechnie Field this spring. The 6,000-square-foot building is a 15-barrel brewery that includes a tasting room, beer garden, and performance area for local bands. The brewery will offer canning, kegging and growlers of its beers. While the Bradenton location won't feature the food menu from Darwin's in Sarasota, it does plan to hold food truck rallies there.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/08/12/4657652/bradenton-slowly-forming-brewery.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/10/10/4764865/darwins-brewery-alcohol-permit.html#storylink=cpy

Motorworks Brewing opens Tuesday to Facebook Fans

The exterior of Motorworks Brewing at 1014 Ninth St. W. in Bradenton. The brewery plans to open Tuesday. PAUL VIDELA/Bradenton Herald

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/11/14/4828157/motorworks-brewery-to-hire-20.html#storylink=cpy

Bradenton's first modern brewery is finally opening, but the brewed beers won't be quite ready.

Motorworks Brewing, 1014 9th St. W, announced on Facebook Wednesday that the brewery is opening its brewery starting Tuesday, Jan. 22, for Facebook fans from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m:

Be among the first to sample Motorworks beer, plus 25 guest taps, an extensive bottle selection, and local spirits. Mingle with the owners and brewers while enjoying video games inside and corn hole, a putting green, or bocce ball outside in our huge beer garden.

Let's not kid ourselves though. Anyone who knows about this opening will be walking through the doors, and if the admission is clicking Like on Motorworks' Facebook page, then that's both a clever social media push and an easy way to not feel guilty about showing up without being a Facebook fan.

After that, the brewery is open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. to the general public. Once this place is humming, customers can expect to hear some live music in the tap room, too.

As you read from Motorworks' announcement, they'll have plenty of beer and liquor available, but you can't buy the beer that they brew yet, so samples are being passed out. The brewing can't be done until the equipment is all in place to do mass brewing, and according to the state Department of Business and Professional Regulations, the brewing license hasn't been granted yet. 

This week the brewery is awaiting 90 bbl fermenters that are 20-foot-tall stainless steel tanks. They're so big that owners Denise and Frank Tschida hired Tom Winkler PE to cut open 8 to 12 feet through concrete floors. 

The tanks are being imported and were at customs in Miami on Wednesday, said spokeswoman and brewery vice president Ann Altman and are expected to be installed within the week.

  

Once the large tanks arrive this week, the fun isn't over. Workers will use a gantry-style system to actually lift the tanks, pass them through an opening on the second floor back wall, and lower them into place. 

The brewery is welcome news to not only the approximately 20 employees that will have probably the most exciting job (other than a reporter's), but folks around the Village of the Arts are giddy about what this brewery could do for the neighborhood. Motorworks' first partnership with the village is figuring out a food partnership with neighboring Charisma Cafe.