Driftwood Ales is the latest craft brewery to drift into Boynton Beach and throw its independent mug into the mix. The brewery is scheduled to open in September at 2901 Commerce Park Road, further making Boynton Beach a destination for beer lovers.
The fourth craft brewery to open in the city in the past three years, Driftwood Ales follows in the footsteps of Due South brewing Co., which opened in 2012 and the latest two microbreweries to open in the city, Copperpoint and Devour brewing companies.
“We are very excited to welcome our fourth brewery, especially because of its proximity to Due South and Copper Point breweries,” said Nancy E. Byrne, the city’s director of development.
“That area is becoming a fun destination in Boynton,” she said. “And yes, fingers crossed, the trend will continue. We would love to become the craft brewery destination in Florida.”
Byrne said there are two other brewers currently in negotiations to sign leases in the city.
Driftwood Ales owners Steve and Tim Dornblaser, formerly of Lagerhead Brewing Company, said in a statement, “We would like to thank the City of Boynton Beach as they have been instrumental in developing the craft beer scene and have been extremely helpful in bringing Driftwood Ales to the area.”
“With three craft breweries within only a few blocks we are excited to help make Boynton Beach a top craft beer destination in South Florida,” Tim Dornblaser said.
And rather than seeing the new breweries as competition, Jodi Halker of Due South Brewing Company, said, “the more the merrier.”
“Due South Brewing is excited to hear about Driftwood Ales opening nearby,” Halker said in an email. “It is truly a great time to be a craft beer lover in Boynton Beach. Before Due South opened, we considered several other South Florida towns.”
“Boynton Beach offered the best options for locations in an industrial area with the necessary zoning. The city’s acceptance in 2011 of the relatively new concept of a microbrewery has ended up promoting Boynton Beach tourism, increasing local manufacturing, and creating dozens and dozens of jobs, which did not exist just a few years ago,” she said.
She’s not the only one to feel that way.
Ruth Berman, CEO of Bon Beer Voyage, a beer tourism company, said, “Boynton’s craft beer enthusiasts can now enjoy and support local businesses as opposed to leaving Boynton and heading elsewhere with their thirst and their wallets.”
“I am thrilled to have these breweries popping up right here in my own neighborhood,” Berman said. “Local breweries offer great potential beyond job creation, with a trickle down effect to food truck operators and tourism.”
She said that beer tourism and beer culture are a growing segment of the tourism industry.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing to see Boynton become the next San Diego, Tampa or Asheville?” Berman said.
Chip and Trish Breighner, who opened the nano brewery Devour Brewing Company last month are also excited to receive their new neighbor.
“We appreciate new breweries to the area,” Trish Breighner said. “The city is easy to work with and welcomes new breweries. We want Boynton Beach to be a craft beer destination.”
For information on Driftwood Ales, call Timothy or Steven Dornblaser at 561-320-1522.
Copyright © 2015, Sun Sentinel
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