Darwin Brewing Company to Host Grand Opening Party Saturday

BRADENTON – The city's second brewery will host its grand opening party this weekend. Darwin Brewing Co. is the first full-scale production brewery in America making Peruvian beer and will host a special grand opening event from noon to 10 p.m. this Saturday. The free event is open to the public and includes live music, food and more.

"It was just a dream until we worked up the nerve to make it a reality, and it’s been a hard but exciting journey ever since," said co-founder, chef and brewer Darwin Santa Maria of the new brewery. "On behalf of myself, Brewmaster Jorge Rosabal, co-founder and Director of Operations Matt Cornelius, and our entire team, I’m happy to announce that Darwin Brewing Co. is the first full-scale Peruvian production brewery in America!"

The brew pub features eight beers on tap, inspired by both Peruvian flavors and locally sourced ingredients, plus four guest taps. The 15-barrel production brewery also includes a tasting room, beer garden and performance space for local live musicians.

The production line includes canning, kegging and growlers. Local food trucks will be on hand along with live music from Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones (last year’s winner of the Blues Blast Sean Costello Rising Star Award) from noon to 3 p.m. followed by Peruvian-influenced world music from Nuna, from 7 to 10 p.m. Both are part of a pre/post party for the Bradenton Beer Festival across the street at McKechnie Field, also on Sat., May 24, from noon to 7 p.m.

Permanent fixtures on the Darwin Brewing Co taps include a Summadayze IPA, Charapa Spiced Porter, Ayawasca Belgian Dubbel, Circa 1926 Tangerine Wheat Ale, Pirata Pils and a Finch Pale Ale (or Belgian). Several other brews like their well-loved Chicha Specialty Grain and Chapo Weizenbock will rotate in seasonally alongside other outside favorites on four guest taps.

Tasting room hours will be Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. with brewery tours available noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and live music from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Darwin's is located at 803 17th Avenue West.

Photos by Max Kelly