Bill M.
Yelp
On a Brew-hop through the Space Coast and the Treasure Coast, the wife and I hit some great spots. Based on the places we visited, it seems (Port) St Lucie is the place to be, with Hop Life and Side Door being simply the best places we visited.
First, the interior...wow, what a great space. It's not too big, but there is plenty of seating. There is outdoor seating as well. We brought our pup right up to the bar in his stroller. The food truck out back was delivering some really tasty looking plates to the people around us. The decorating looked professional. The holiday decorations were all around and tastefully done. If I lived in the area, this would be my spot. They'd know my name.
Service was outstanding. A good bartender knows what is happening at the bar...they have a good sense for the order people stepped up, and they acknowledge you even if you're deep in the queue. Such was the case with Jordan. She was slammed momentarily with a group getting tastes and pints. This is time-consuming. She didn't miss a beat, acknowledging me and another gent waiting our turn. When she got to us, she apologized and quickly got us what we wanted. She then comped me a couple extra beers on my flight. Kinsey took over for Jordan, and there was no drop-off in service. This place is a recommendation on the service alone. But then there was the beer...
You might know that I don't like to review beers...it's a matter of taste, and that varies from person to person...but when they're exceptional:
Wake Me Up Before You CoCo...the best Coconut Porter I've ever tasted. This is the way this beer is supposed to be done. Period. I've had Coconut Porters before and most disappoint. Not here. This beer wasn't available for take home, no matter how much I pleaded.
Nut House Coffee Brown...a tremendous mix of nuts, coffee, and chocolate all in a smooth porter base. It is a little sweet. Again, this is the way a beer of this style is to be done. I took home a crowler. I'll be sad I didn't bring home more.
Blood Orange NEIPA Zero Viz...building on the richness of the Zero Viz NEIPA, the addition of the Blood Orange makes this a most pleasant drink. I could have drank this until they wheeled me out of the place. Unfortunately, this beer was also not available for take home. Two of my three favorites are in-house only. I guess I have good taste as consolation for my disappointment?
Winter Lager...very good version with plenty of spice and a touch of sweetness. I'd drink this to close the evening.
To round it out, the IPAs we tasted were good, but I would opt for the above before an IPA on their board. If you're a heavy IPA drinker, you might not be as impressed as I am with the place.