Tap Handle #348: Florida Beer Company - Hurricane Reef Caribbean Pilsner

Reminiscent of the Kona taps, most Florida Beer taps are flat taps that have a slightly 3 dimensional sculpting that is called bas relief style. This style gives the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane. The effect on this tap is pretty cool, with the sea plane, banner, and palm trees raised above the background. The colors are bold and beautiful. Although other Florida Beer taps are more common, this one is a pretty rare tap that can be hard to find.

Florida Beer Company was founded in 1996 in Melbourne, Florida, as Indian River Brewing Company, by Bruce Holt. It produced its first beers, Indian River Shoal Draft and Indian River Amberjack in 1997; production of Kelly's Irish Hard Cider and a variety of private label beers began in late 1997-1998. The company was capitalized by about 65 shareholders, a guaranteed loan, and founder contributions. The Company was recapitalized in 2003 under the new ownership of Humberto Perez, who is a third generation brewer (his grandfather began one of Venezuela’s largest breweries back in 1929). The company was renamed Florida Beer Company. Perez hired Jim Massoni as President and CEO. Massoni was a successful businessman who originally worked as an executive at BEA Systems, an internet technology pioneer in Silicon Valley. His efforts at Florida Beer resulted in better beer distribution, higher quality brewing equipment, and numerous awards and medals.

In 2005 the company acquired Ybor City Brewing, whose subsidiaries included the Key West Brewery and the Hurricane Reef Brewery. After the acquisition, Florida Beer Company became the largest craft brewer in Florida. By 2008, the Company sold 19 different beers and two ciders, and contract brewed for a small number of customers, including Original Sin Premium Hard Cider and Kelly's Irish Cider. Florida Beer sells its products in Florida, New York, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Carolina and the Caribbean. The Company maintains two facilities, a production brewery (including a tasting room, retail store, and office space), and a 20,000-square-foot warehouse located one mile north of the brewery. In 2013 they received the rights to produce Duff Beer (The Simpsons) and Hogs Head Red (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) for Universal Studios. The company has won several awards at national competitions.

Hurricane Reef Caribbean Pilsner is light-bodied, refreshing, and delicately balanced in the tradition of the Caribbean Islands. The pilsner is one of 4 varieties of the Hurricane Reef brand that Florida Beer acquired in 2005, and it won a silver medal in the 2013 U.S. Open Beer Championship. Weighted average on ratebeer.com is 2.14 out of 5.

Florida Beer Company Official Website

Source Material
Wikipedia
Beer of the Month Club
The Original Craft Beer Club
Beerpulse
Brewbound