Book excerpt: Once considered a wasteland by beer connoisseurs, Florida recently awakened to the craft beer phenomenon. Finally, “good beer” can be found throughout the state, and enthusiasts are flocking to tasting rooms to meet friends for a pint or fill their growlers. The Great Florida Craft Beer Guide is all you need to find local, distinctive beer wherever you are in the Sunshine State. Longtime craft beer columnist Mark DeNote takes you on a tour from Destin to Key West, from award-winning breweries to hidden tasting rooms, from hefeweizens and pale ales to saisons and stouts. Through exclusive interviews with brewers and owners, he shares the stories of their foundings, their brewing philosophies and methods, and insider tips about each brewery’s staple and seasonal beers. DeNote not only provides unparalleled access to the breweries but also offers an enlightening history of Florida brewing that includes forgotten establishments like Jacksonville Brewing Company, Orlando’s Atlantic, and Miami’s Flamingo. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, a newbie or a beer snob, The Great Florida Craft Beer Guide is essential reading. Turn the page and pour a cold one!