Swamp Head Brewery

Probably the most beautiful brewery Ive ever been to. Situated slightly away from the hustle and bustle of main roads and traffic, this brewery sits on a beautiful piece of land with rolling green hills, outdoor shelters with walkways and picnic tables, large covered patio, and rough-cut lacqured wooden tables inside. It felt like drinking beer in a park! Lots of beer selections, family friendly, and clean! Its no wonder why this brewery has won so many awards. Very busy the day I went but definitely a great experience. Will definitely return!

Excellent selection of craft beer for every taste. Service was excellent and they had a food truck named humus? But the food was delicious!

Cool vibe - been there once .. and not sure if I can really give a fair assessment, because there were two different groups having events there that day. Good beer selection, lots of space, friendly people, but seemed more busy than I prefer

Came here in December, while we were visiting in Gainesville. A fun place with a great craft 🍻 beer selection. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the were helpful while I sampled a few beers! There was a stage with karaoke 🎤 going on inside,& we sat outside on the large patio. They have a large selection of IPA’s which my hubby and Uncle enjoyed! The outdoor area was decorated festive for the holidays, with a light tunnel leading to a stage-platform area. We were Happy that it was warm enough to sit outside! Great atmosphere and vibes, highly recommend coming here to relax and visit, in a safe, fun & Clean environment!

Friendly staff and nice location. Visiting from out of state and got here early afternoon; mostly empty but got busy at around 6. Beer was really good, and I appreciate there being a changing table in the men's bathroom for once.

I didn't initially have high hopes for this place because the area isn't that great, but I was pleasantly surprised. The facility was great, and the outdoor seating was very convenient. They had a taco stand outside, and it was really great. They don't serve food inside, but they have tons of beer (of course). I personally didn't drink any, but the people in my group loved it. My dad says that this brewery is one of the few good things about Florida. Extra little tidbit, the water is self-serve in the hallway with the bathrooms, you don't order it at the bar. But yeah, you should totally check this place out if you're in the area! It was very fun.

Every time we come here we always have a good time. They carry a nice selection of beers. If you are undecided just tell them and they will let you try some before ordering. So far, all the beers we have tasted are excellent. Place is huge. Their outdoor area is great especially if you have kids and dogs. They don’t sell food inside but they have a food truck in the front that you can order food from. The food trucks are always rotating so you don’t get the same food every time you visit.

Thank you Nick Dunn and the welcoming staff at Swamp Head Brewery for a perfect evening for our party with about 50 guests in the pavilion recently. Nick was prompt responding to each of my inquires as well as being flexible with our plans as we added more guests and moved our reservation from the porch to the pavilion because of the increased number of guests. What a pretty setting, casual with a pond surrounded by a lawn with picnic tables...loved it!

Great ambiance, great comedy, wonderful beers. I love a local brewery that has sours. Sours are my thing and their Sour Shirley is amazing

A hidden gem Big Nose & Under Story are my husband's favorite beers, so since we were in Gainesville we stopped in to check it out. I'm a hard cider drinker so I was hoping they'd have a cider (as previous reviews mentioned) and they did! 3 Daughters Key Lime Cider was delicious. I also tried their Dragon Berry(?) Sour Ale and that was good too! The bartenders were really nice and knowledgeable, not pushy or annoyed at all. Seen this at other micro-brews/breweries. They had a huge menu on options, even a wine if you're not a beer drinker. They also have a cooler to buy their cans from as soon as you walk in the door, these are their flavors you can't find in Publix. Food- they do not serve food, but there was a Hummus food truck with a decent menu and of course the pita bread helps with the alcohol intake. I saw other people bring their own food as well. Seating- they have plenty of table inside and picnic tables outside by the pond. Picnic style tables under a covered patio. Will definitely be back.

Cool place on Gainesville. Love their specialty brews......raspberry cream sickle, a pineapple orange carrot hazy ipa, several more.... Great staff..... parking on site.

Came here to give it a try when visiting from out of town. It was recommended by my sister and her husband. There was plenty of seating and lots of drink options to suit a y taste. I tried a couple of their sours, both of which were good. Service was great and they allowed samples before ordering your drink to ensure you'd be happy with your choice! It did get a bit loud at times when large groups went through, but overall we had a pleasant experience and we're able to hear each others conversations.

A great brewery tucked away on a side street. A very large indoor and outdoor seating area for whatever you choose. They have a huge selection of brews, from lagers to pilsners and everything in between. I had a couple sours and a lager and really enjoyed them. The bartenders took time to explain each selection and were not shy about letting you try one to see if you liked it. They have live music on weekends which is also a plus

Excellent beer choices, but they also have cider. I have not eaten any of the food, but I've seen it served and it looks great. It's ok to bring your own food in as well. I've also seen a food truck operating in the lot. Great for groups. Outdoor seating. Lovely view. Sometimes there's live music.

Came here after the football game on our way home. Was excited they were open late, so it worked out well. The food truck sausages outside in the parking lot were fabulous. I really enjoyed the different options he had for cooking a brat, unexpected combinations made some various flavors. He brought them to our table, which was awesome so we could order drinks and have a seat while they cooked. Inside was just ok to me. I was the driver, so i wasn't drinking, so maybe that killed it for me. I didn't love having to go to the bar to order and bring it back. No table service here. I do like the theming, as it looked like a swamp, yet still clean and welcoming.

Checked this place out today for the first time since moving to Florida and kind of felt left out from missing this place out for the past few months. This place is located in an unexpected location- nowhere close to the main road. If the GPS is taking you away from the Archer road, you are probably heading to the right direction. Anyways, they really have a variety of beer selections that you will either be comatose or end up having a very thin wallet by the time you try all the selections. I enjoyed the beer and the food truck that was there (forgot the name unfortunately- but they change almost daily it seems like!). Will definitely come back real soon!

Swamp head brewery is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of UF and feels like its own separate oasis! The selection of beer is decent not too much where it can be overwhelming and enough for everyone to find something they like! There are even 2 soda options for alcohol free folks I highly recommend a 4 small glass flight for $12 to try a bit of everything! They unfortunately don't serve food but have a single food truck that rotates. The Outside area is the real star of the show with a cute little pond and lots of grass to roam or sit. There is a giant calendar showing all the events going on that month. It can get super busy during events but parking usually isn't too bad! Definitely recommend giving it a try

Excellent space. Excellent beers, all brewed in-house. Feels like an oasis in the city of Gainesville. Parking can get tight and service might take a bit, but definitely one of my favorite spots in the city to grab a beer and enjoy the weather.

Relaxing outdoor vibes with a large beer menu! There's usually a food truck outside to order food from as well. They even have wifi for those who are students! We love spending an evening outside at the Brewery.

Stopped by Swamp Head as a brief detour on the way out of the state, and I'm so glad I did. They have a huge selection of really delicious beers. The outdoor space is huge, which was great for my dog after a long car ride. Service was excellent with the brewery team giving great recommendations.

Great beer. No food. We'd have stayed but we were hungry. The staff and service was great.

Stumbled onto this very cool brewery. 28 brews. As a brewery should, they offer flights; but they also offered samples. The atmosphere is perfect, low key with a nice outdoor area and covered pavilion. A must stop.

Great beers, great service, great atmosphere but why do people bring babies/small children to drinking establishments? No one wants to hear your winning children. It's not cute, it's very annoying. Have some respect for others around you, if it's crying please leave so we can enjoy our beers without the screaming!

Swamp Head Brewery is nice spot to visit when you're in Gainesville. The vibe of the location is very outdoorsy and woodsy. There is a wide selection of stouts and sours to choose from. The brewery has their local brews as well as a selection of Florida locals. The bartender was also able to recommend us her favorites. There are food trucks when you also want to get a bite to eat. A perfect place to watch a game.

This is our second time here, we love it. It's a beautiful little hidden oasis right outside of the busy city. Inside is always clean and very cool, the table tops seem to be made of reclaimed swamp wood, the whole vibe is very relaxing and fun. There is also a great outdoor space and a covered patio by the lake. It's dog friendly and plenty of grass to play around on, or to sit on. The employees are always helpful and very friendly. They have a great selection and there is usually something for everyone. Wonderful place, I highly recommend it

This is the biggest brewery in the area, with a stage on the lawn for entertainment. Cypress & Grove may have a bigger indoor space (private rooms), but there is ample outdoor. Very family friendly place, which can be a positive or a negative, depending on your viewpoint. I am not as fond of Swamp Head's canned selection, but I did find the stuff in the brewery to be much nicer. They have one that is like a peanut butter & jelly sandwich that nails it ... down to the bread flavor. Very unique. I am not sure which brewery I like the best in Gainesville - probably Blackadder, but they are niche - but this, Cypress & Grove, and First Magnitude all rank highly. One thing of note: If you have not been and think the map is incorrect, the map is right. This is in a strange spot tucked back in an industrial area. You can take either exit 382 or 384 to snake back here. If you swing off exit 384, consider a stop at Blackadder while you are at it. No food on premises, but regular food trucks.

Great selection of some really unique beers. They had your traditional brews and then things like a Jelly Doughnut White Chocolate Stout. I love brewery's doing stuff like this. Atmosphere was really nice overlooking a small pond with an alligator. Staff was friendly and helpful. Swag was thin. I missed the food truck, but was allowed to bring in my own food.

I was PLEASANTLY surprised by this brewery! We came into Gainesville for a friend's baby shower and this was just the perfect spot. The beers were awesome, the space is HUGE and the staff are so friendly. We were out under the covered patio and had a good amount of space for food and all of the people to spread out. Inside was really nice and just a super cozy spot. We ended up buying 3 t-shirts - they were cool with great designs and just soooo soft (my favorite). We will definitely go back next time we are in the area!

Amazing beer selection in a super cool atmosphere. Nice indoors, covered deck and large yard! Highly recommend!!

To beer or not to beer...that is the question. I remember going to Swamp Head Dec 2019. I wasn't a fan originally. I'm not sure if it was the drinks or maybe since it was evening I couldn't see this gorgeous scenery, but I definitely dismissed this place too quickly! They definitely updated their outdoor seating and I suggested sitting outside when it's nice. There are kids and doggos usually around. On this particular day, a dog somehow wiggled its way out of its leash and was playing catch me if you can with its owners. It was cute. Beware though there are gators in that lake (swamp)! So the pup was running in and out of the water. Thank goodness it didn't get hurt! Lol I along with several ppl did not see the sign on the grass. I appreciate that they kept the drive through pick up for folks who don't want to sit (understandably). There are food trucks or food vendors that are there. I can't remember the vendor that day but they didn't have much food left, which doesn't reflect badly on Swamp Head at all. I do suggest eating something before you go just in case! My friend and I got flights of beers to try (pictured). I wish I remembered the names, but I have an affinity towards sour and wheat beers. The prices are decent to be able to try 4 kinds of beer! I want to go on a tour next time if it's available and I wonder if there is wifi here so I can get some work down while I drink and sit in nature.

Swamp Head Brewery is one of the best breweries I've been to in a while! It's tucked away in the trees and secluded. Chill vibe and beautiful views. I ordered a flight with the following brews: Wild Night - Smooth and drinkable. Hubby ordered a regular pint size version. We both really liked this one. Strawberry Prickly Pear Wild Night - Fruity and smooth honey cream ale. If you aren't a huge beer fan, give this a try. Hefeweizen - Drinkable, light and traditional tasting. Perfect during the month of October. Cherry Rise & Shine - OMG! Very tasty sour beer. Tart with nice fruity flavors from the cherry and orange. Nice cinnamon flavor as well. Hubby also tried the Watermelon 10-10-10. This brew really had a great watermelon flavor! Refreshing and sneakily strong. Large variety of brews and wonderful ambiance. I can't wait for the next time!

I came here on a Friday evening right around the time school started. It's in an industrial area off of 34th. Pretty packed parking lot when I went and inside was really packed. The beertenders felt kind of snobby the entire time and that definitely turned me off. The beer was good but the bad service was a huge turn off. Definitely not looking to return.

Don't like beer but they had some great fruity options and since I am not well versed the bartender discussed what he thought I would like. Outside area is very nice

This is a fantastic craft brewery in Gainesville. It's located immediately outside a residential and commercial area, nestled in a backdrop of Florida "swamp". It provides a calming and enjoyable drinking and socializing experience with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. They have an extensive list of beer selections that are cleverly categorized in Light, Sour, Hoppy, and Malty groupings. The beer recipes are distinctly Florida and are very well done.

Our favorite brewery in Florida! The service is always great. The beers are the amazing. And you can't beat the outdoor area which now has an expended covered patio overlooking the pond and preserve. It's so beautiful and peaceful.

Great location with plenty of indoor and outdoor space to sit back and relax with some delicious beer. They even have root beer and ginger ale on tap for the kids.

What a hidden gem! I'm not a big beer drinker, but I really enjoyed my time here. It is very spacious, and it looks really festive for the holidays. They have a large variety of beers on tap. I tried the Demon Days, which is a spin-off of their Lemon Days drink. It was tart and light. If you like kombucha, I would recommend trying this. Overall great vibes, friendly staff, great space.

Stopped in on a recent work trip and was pleasantly surprised! Following the GPS made me worry about where I was going to end up since I made like 37 turns from the main road and was heading into an industrial area. But then I made the final turn and WOW! Swamp Head is a great big set-up and it was beautiful. Right on the water with lots of outdoor space to enjoy and relax. On the night I was there they had a food truck and apparently that is a common occurrence there. So if you are looking for some food to go along with your beer, make sure to check and see if there will be a food truck around. They have a great selection of a lot of different beers. I enjoyed a flight outside with views of the water. How can you go wrong with that? I was there on a weekday, but I'd love to check it out again on a weekend or even game day.

Lovely scenery - picnic tables in a field near a small lake. Friendly servers. Only one sour but it's pretty good. Food truck on site on a Tuesday night.

Fabulous afternoon. Very friendly bartenders and staff. On a mission to stop here only because their Midnight Oil is my favorite dark, coffee beer. No food is served but a food truck was outside..... got some soft pretzel sticks which went perfectly with the beer flight. And, the brewery doesn't serve sodas.. they had a ginger ale, which was tasty BUT my hubby was looking for a Pepsi. We were advised that we could get those from the food truck as well. Check into the brewery tour..... the souvenir glass is very cool

I'm conditioned to love this place, especially as an UF grad & after spending plenty of time here w/my hubs! They have def. gone above and beyond with only outdoor drinking for safety precautions hence the 5 stars. The spacious tasting room has been closed temporarily & they now operate out of two trailers - one for beer pour for consumption onsite w/new picnic tables spaced apart & the other one for beer pickup. **I was a huge fan of their Octoberfest vs. my Chocolate Stout/Porter because it was way too sweet for me. I recommend their Oatmeal Stout if you love a dark beer - only available as a 6 pack! The Octoberfest was so delicious - a beautiful dark caramel color with lots of spices, so I continued to enjoy sippin' on my hub's second pour!**

Been in FL for 8 years and have never been here since now. We went for a friends farewell event and although I didn't get to see the inside of this place, they sure did have spacious outside areas. Great for parties, gatherings and etc which is awesome especially during foot ball season. My husband got me one of their drinks and it was ok; I'm not a beer drinker usually I can do cider because it's sweeter but it wasn't really sweet but it was nice to try something different. I wish I could have enjoyed it more as there were bugs flying around and one ended up in my drink so didn't even get to enjoy half of my drink. I definitely want to come back and experience the inside and try it out again; many people rave about this place!

The best beer selection, and best tasting beer I've had since moving to Florida. So good! 10/10 experience for the staff being amazing and the beer being so good!

Great brewery with a nice selection! We chose to try a flight with 5 different beers - the Smoke Signal that I definitely recommend, 2 IPAs, a wheat ale, and a saison. Overall, I liked most of the beers with the porter being the standout of the few. The flights are pretty affordable and the brewery itself has a nice layout with some games. The calendar of events also includes some type of food cart each day, which I love. I wish this place had a little more outdoor seating/landscaping, but great brewery overall!

As a local to St Pete, you know your girl knows her beers! Swamp Head is one of my favorite breweries I have been to. If you ever find yourself in the Gainesville area, this brewery is a must to check out! The beers are delicious and I am absolutely in love with the scenic views. It's in one of the most populated cities in Florida but while you are there it feels like you are in the middle of the woods and I love it.

It was a beautiful day to grab a beer. We sat down the hill near the stage. Dogs are welcome and few ppl had theirs. There are plenty of tables on the deck overlooking the pond if you don't feel like venturing down the grassy hill. Inside seating as well. The beer selection was good and the bartender was helpful in selecting ours. We didn't tour the brewery, but I would like to. There is also a drive up beer truck to get 6 packs and merchandise. A Philippine food truck was setting up as we were leaving. It smelled wonderful. Someone said the food truck changes on different days.

Good brewery with plenty of space and a good amount of options. Bar tenders are quick and attentive

Great beer and staff, fun place. A little bit of a weird location. lol But the Brewery is big and open.

Great brewery on a normal day but importantly (and impressively) they're doing drive-thru pickup right now that works so well! Order online, drive up, and whatever you got is brought right over. Couldn't be easier. I always prefer to buy directly from a brewery when possible and this makes it an easy choice if you're in the area. Just follow the signs and you'll be out of there with your order in no time. Cheers with a Big Nose IPA! (a must-try staple of Swamp Head)

I LOVE this location! I'm not a beer drinker at all, so I got wine, but I met with friends and it's such a wonderful spot to have a drink and chat! I highly recommend everyone goes, they have wine and alcohol free beverages, and they have a food truck rotation for munchies... just make sure 100% to bring bug spray: it is absolutely essential!

What a beautiful brewery!! It's got a great big yard and outdoor area to relax and hang out as well as a big indoor area too. I didn't walk around but there was also a pond on property. They had a food truck the day i was there and from the sounds of it they have one often, if not every day. I've had some swamphead beers but wanted to try the stuff they don't put into distribution. They have a big tap list with a variety of beer styles not like some breweries that are heavy on only one style so i was happy to see that. This brewery would be a great place to hang out with friends and family!

5 Stars for a brewery with a fabulous space and great beers. Can't ask for more than that! Though this brewery isn't right in the thick of the action in Gainesville, that gives it the ability to take up space. And that it does! There is tons of outdoor space with several picnic tables and a small lake. I wish I'd brought a picnic blanket and will absolutely pack one for any future visits because the grass is so inviting. They also had space for a food truck to park. I imagine the truck changes depending on availability, but it's a great addition. I got a flight and chose all of their dark stouts. It was fun being able to compare a bunch of beers that share some distinct characteristics. It was a busy weekend, but we didn't have to wait too long to order. They also have some bottles and cans that you can take home. Next time, I'm bringing the blanket and making a day of it!

This was my first time not only going to the Swamp Head Brewery but trying Swamp Head beer itself. I was really impressed! The outdoor seating area is very nice for small, medium, and large sized groups. The advantage of being at the brewery itself is the availability of beers you can't find in your local grocery store or bar. The selection of sour beers was great. I look forward to trying it out again.

Refreshing and delicious well-made beer. Nothing beats enjoying a stump knocker under the scorching sun overlooking the swamp. Great place.

Awesome selection! I did a flight and tried 5 different beers. Asked for tips on what to try: 2 IPAs, a sour, a wheat ale, and a porter. The stout was absolutely amazing, and probably my favorite. Obviously the Big Nose is legit as everyone in flurrida knows. Pros: Cheap flights Great selection of beers Not too pretentious New location has outdoor area Cons: Somewhat out of the way Could use more TVs More outdoor seating

Went to Swamp Head Brewery to watch a football game and enjoy some beer on Saturday night. Ordered two Flights of five and a full draft of my favorite selection, Guava Berry Berliner. Quality Swamp Head Brewery gets my vote as the best brewery in Gainesville. It was an extremely fun atmosphere and they serve up some high quality beers. We ended up trying ten of the beers they had on tap including: Guava Berry Berliner, Morning Glow, GNV Green, Peppermint, Midnight Oil, Cottonmouth, Wild Night, Boozy Bear, Saison Du Swamp, and Chocolate. A lot of great bold flavors and enough variety to provide something for everyone. I found myself partial to the sour end of the spectrum. Guava Berry Berliner was my favorite, and led me to a full draft, but I also appreciated Saison Du Swamp and Cottonmouth. And even though those were my highlights, they also did well with their hazy IPA GNV Green and Morning Glow, a coffee blonde ale. The only beer that I disliked was Peppermint, but I knew that would be the case before I ordered. A sweet stout that does indeed taste of peppermint, it was too much sweetness to have more than a sip of. Quantity They have plenty of options regardless of how much you are looking for. We went with Flights, but if you are hesitant about your pick you can go with singular half pours. Value A Flight of five costs either $12 or $14, depending on whether you go with core or specialty beers. A reasonable price in line with what you expect at most breweries. Ambiance Swamp Head Brewery is located in a large complex in Gainesville. When you arrive you are greeted by two large yellow silos with their logo painted on. They have a good sized tap room that fully embraces the swamp and Florida vibes. Lots of beautiful wood, including for the tables and bar, and tons of pictures of Florida scenery fill the area. They do have two televisions over the bar, which show the big games. There are also a fair amount of board and card games to keep visitors entertained. It was a cooler evening, so nothing was set up outside, but it appeared they had a large green space for events and day drinking. To complete the mood a great mix of classic rock played over the speakers, which everyone seemed to enjoy. Crowd It was a solid crowd for Saturday night. School was not quite in session, so I assume it is normally a bit busier on the weekends. Regardless, there were still a lot of younger folks wearing Gators gear. But the area was large enough to handle the big crowd comfortably. They are also extremely dog friendly, unlike the other breweries I visited around town. They allow dogs in the tap room, which is how it should be. Service Extremely courteous staff and very knowledgable about the beer they serve. They had no issue putting together multiple Flights for us even with a busy bar. I was also impressed with how clean the entire space was. Parking They have a huge private parking lot, making finding a space extremely easy. Extra Swamp Head Brewery was the highlight of my short trip to Gainesville. Succeeding where many of the other local breweries failed, they created a relaxing space to sit back and enjoy a beer with friends. And they did a great job with the beers as well. Absolutely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Updating my review. Swamp Head has expanded since my last visit and built additional tables, along with a spacious pavilion providing extra seating and shade for guests. I really liked their response to Covid: very clear mask enforcement, inside area is closed, clean outdoor restrooms provided, and a curbside station to order to-go beer and merchandise. Obviously I can't resist a good beer cup so purchased a new one this visit! Of course the beer was just as delicious this time too.