Although my favorite season has officially begun, I can’t help to miss summer: the beaches, barbeques, and light summer beers. I decided to take a mental vacation down to sunny Florida to visit Hood’s Up Brewery, which has been on my list of breweries to visit for some time. Founded by brewer Tim Goodman, who has been brewing since the 1990s, the soon to be Downtown Sanford brewery specializes in sours, saisons, barrel aged beers & wild ales.
During my visit, Tim shared his thoughts on finally making his dream come through and offered advice to those who hope to open up a brewery of their own one day.
What inspired you to open up a brewery?
Once I started learning the process, I realized that this was my passion. It took me 40 years to find this passion and I don’t want to stop. I love every aspect of the process, and yes even cleaning. [Cleaning] has become my Zen, and i keep pushing myself to be better.
What are some of your favorite beers you like to brew/drink?
I love brewing all types of beer, but i really love saisons, wild ales, and sour ales. I also like when brewing a new style. I research the style, learn the history of that style and where it came from. It’s pretty amazing where and how some of these beers came about. I also drink all types of beer, and have an appreciation for what they are, but i still love a good hoppy IPA.
How did you come up with the name?
I really love the 50’s hotrod/rockabilly style, and I love a lead sled or rat rods. There is an old gas station in downtown Orlando that has been closed for years, and they were called Hood’s Up, so naturally it was a fit.
What beers do you have on tap?
We are not open yet, as we are trying to nail down a location [possibly Downtown Sanford]. Our plans are to be a small brewery and sell our special bottle releases at the brewery. We want to be that small brewery people seek out. At home, I have the following on tap:
- Bombshell Audrey – a sour stout
- Wifey’s Sweet & Sour – a Imperial Red Ale with apples and cranberries in which we soured
- Cesta – a Double IPA that we brewed for the Cigar City Pilot this test batch competition
- Bombshell Jayne – a blonde sour aged in a flanders barrel
We also have some other beers coming soon for some festivals we are doing in November: a collaboration we did with Inner Compass brewing. This [collaboration] is going to be a Belgian Baltic Porter style with copious amounts of cocoa nibs and is currently in a rum barrel. We don’t have a name yet, but it’s going to be a liquid version of a rumball.
What inspires you to think outside of the box and create your brews?
My wife and I love to cook, and we naturally applied that to brewing. We even have a Wifey series of beers where my wife gets five gallons and she can do what she wants to do. We love to brew outside the box, and marry these flavors together for those unique one off beers
What tips do you have for homebrewers who are thinking about opening up a brewery?
Do your research, know your local, state and federal laws prior, don’t let people discourage you, and find lots of money somewhere.
What are some struggles you’ve had as a microbrewer and how have you overcome them?
[Some struggles include] finding the right location and money. We are still working on the first issue and trying to overcome it.
What are your plans for the future?
We are going to open as a 1-1/2 bbl system initially and eventually grow into a 3.5 bbl brewhouse.
photo credit: Hood’s Up Brewery
How do you feel about the craft brew scene in Florida?
The craft beer scene is starting to blow up. The problem is some of these breweries are not producing good beer, and it’s all about money right now, which is sad. That being said, there are some great breweries down here as well, and some that are opening up that will turn this around.
Some of my favorite breweries in Florida right now are:
- 7venth Sun Brewery- Dunedin, FL
- Green Room Brewing-Jacksonville, FL
- Engine 15 Brewing Company- Jacksonville, FL
- Hidden Springs Ale Works -Tampa, FL
- Coppertail Brewing Company- Tampa, FL
