PH3’s Craft Brewery Tour: Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company
Brewing A Legacy
You can find Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company right down the road from the first official brewery we toured at PH3, Ten10 Brewing Co. and just a stone's throw away from the waters of historic Lake Ivanhoe. Sun Rail riders may even recognize the location as the Ivanhoe Village building with the secret mural of Orlando hidden on the backside of the brewery. Although IPBC is less than a year old, it’s already an iconic home of great beer that offers a truly unique atmosphere.
First Impressions
From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted by their signature grain silo. The brewery's atmosphere, like their beer, is handcrafted with great attention to detail. The walls of the taproom are lined with reclaimed barn wood and they have the sturdiest darn tables we’ve ever seen. The brewpub is spacious, intimate and perfect for hangouts with small groups of families and friends.
Great Beer is Great Beer
As a creative marketing agency, we’re always curious to find out how the inspiring stuff we come across gets made. From effective ads to successful social campaigns, we discover why and how they deliver exceptional results. We also take the same approach to the breweries we visit so we had a chat with IPBC’s head brewer.
At Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. the award-winning beer is made with love by Aaron Anderson. Having brewed at Funky Buddha, Coors, and many others, he’s helped develop the craft beer communities in both Florida and Colorado. Of course, Aaron’s #1 calling is perfecting delicious brews, but he's also a published travel writer who wrote about Washington, DC for the Discovery Channel. He also covered the Australia Zoo for an Australian news network. After tasting beers around the world, Aaron’s developed a brewing philosophy that goes beyond convention and takes a masterful approach to value simplicity and brew with unique local ingredients.
Commitment to Community
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. officially opened in October 2018, and they’ve already done a lot for the community. The microbrewery partners with local non-profits like the Menello Museum and 4.01k, a financial literacy initiative, to help make a difference in Orlando communities. The brewery has quickly become a pillar in the community through the way they go above and beyond serving pints to make a difference in Orlando.
A History of Independence
One thing visitors may overlook is the way Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. pays homage to the unique history of the Ivanhoe area. They authentically tell the story of the neighborhood in their décor and with an impressive lineup of beers that they continue to expand. For example, their flagship IPA Joyland was named after the turn-of-the-century theme park that opened on Lake Ivanhoe more than 100 years ago. Joyland Park featured a waterslide chute into Lake Ivanhoe called the Tobaggon—and like that chute, IPBC’s Tobaggon Blonde Ale sure does go down easy.
Daily Food Trucks
After a long day at work, there’s not a better place to grab a tasty and cold craft beer, watch the sunset on the lake and enjoy a bite from a rotating roster of local food trucks that set up shop daily at the brewery. Foodies, check the calendar on the IPBC website to see who’s pulling up to today.
PH3 Top Brews
Ivanhoe Park Brewing focuses on more traditional styles for their core beers but they rotate in more unique specialty brews on tap that stand out. On your next visit, experience their rotating beers like Guavacation, their guava Berliner Weisse, an India Pale Lager, and Krieks. In addition to being the home of some of the best brews in the state, they also have some of the best-named beers we’ve encountered. Like their Suck It Trebek Sour IPA. Although every one of their beers tastes incredible, we managed to whittle it down to our top 3 favorites:
Bungalow // Belgian Witbier, 4.8% ABV
Our head brewer at PH3, Paul, called this brew “the perfect intro to a witbier.” Slightly tart. Clove forward, and banana on the back end. This is a session beer for sure, meaning its low alcohol percentage and drinkability pair for the perfect brew to enjoy with friends or while watching the game. Protip: Pick up a growler of this on Tuesdays for 50% off.
Joyland // American IPA, 7% ABV
There are 2 kinds of beer drinkers, those who like hops, and those who don’t. This is the beer for both. The Joyland IPA is a refreshing brew with a citrusy grapefruit flavor that strikes the perfect IBU balance to make any beer drinker happy.
Tupac Shaporter // Milk Porter, 7.3% ABV
All Eyez On IPBC - Recently, Ivanhoe Park took home the gold for the Best Porter at the 2019 Best Florida Beer Championships. Tupac’s blend of malty, smooth and sweet flavors make this flavorful beer a hit. No holograms necessary, we have a feeling this beer is here to stay.
Expect to see more Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. brews in the wild—on tap and on the shelves.