When I heard the news that a new brewery tour company was launching in Orlando, I could hardly contain my excitement. Beer lovers in Orlando have dozens of beer experiences and craft breweries to choose from, most of which are listed on the new Central Florida Ale Trail, and an Orlando brewery tour is just what our local beer scene has been missing. Lucky for us, Hop On! Central Florida Brew Tours is now offering guided tours that will introduce you to our area’s blossoming brewery landscape in a fun and refreshing way.
Founded by trio of friends Kevin Jones, Ivan Rios, and Brian Quain (whom you may recognize as the voice of the What Ales Ya Podcast), the idea for the tour company started when a friend of Brian’s asked him to put together a brewery tour for himself and a friend visiting from out of town. Shortly after that “aha” moment, Hop On was created in response to Orlando’s rapidly growing brewery scene, enabling the three friends to share their passion for beer culture on a grander scale.
During each guided tour, you’ll visit 3-5 breweries depending on the tour you choose. Most tours include either a flight or pint of beer, in addition to snacks on the bus and entertainment from your tour guide.
Hop On currently offers four tours: the Crowler Tour ($35 – coming soon) which is a pay as you go tour; the Growler Tour ($55) which visits 3 breweries and includes a flight or pint of beer at each stop; the What Ales Ya Signature Tour ($85) which visits 5 breweries and includes a pint of beer at each stop plus behind the scenes experiences with head brewers; and the Orlando City Ticket and Pregame Package ($99) which combines the Growler Tour with a ticket to see an Orlando City Soccer Club match afterwards.
We opted to go on the What Ales Ya Signature Tour ($85), a whopping six-hour beer-filled experience led by Brian Quain of the What Ales Ya Podcast.
The signature tour visits five breweries (locations change from tour to tour) and includes a pint of beer at each stop. We had an absolutely amazing time learning about each brewery, talking with the head brewers, and getting a behind the scenes glimpse at each location.
A six-hour tour isn’t for the faint of heart, but beer lovers in search of the ultimate day date won’t be disappointed. The hours flew by as we went from stop to stop, learning and laughing along the way.
And if you’re worried about going hungry during the tour, rest assured that the bus is fully stocked with a healthy supply of snacks, and there are plenty of opportunities to fill your belly at most stops.
Bottom line: if you’re a craft beer lover in search of an incredibly fun and educational way to spend the day, a brewery tour with Hop On is a must-do. We can’t wait to test out the other tour offerings!
Here are a few more photos from the tour:
DETAILS
- Tours are offered weekly from Thursday-Sunday
- Tickets range from $35-$99 depending on the tour you choose
- Tickets must be purchased in advance online, via email, or by calling 407-434-1671
- The current tour meeting point is Broken Cauldron Brewery
Current tour options are as follows:
- Crowler Tour: Guided 4-hour tour visiting 3 breweries (beer not included), $35 – Coming soon
- Growler Tour: Guided 4-hour tour visiting 3 breweries, plus a flight or pint of beer at each brewery, $55
- What Ales Ya Signature Tour: Guided 6-hour tour visiting 5 breweries, plus a flight or pint of beer at each brewery and face time with head brewers, $85
- Orlando City Ticket and Pregame Package: Growler Tour, plus a ticket to see an Orlando City Soccer Club match afterward, $99
Get more info and purchase tickets at www.hopon.tours.
About the Author/Photographer:
Stephanie Patterson is a talented professional food and travel photographer and writer with a passion for creativity, the beach and great eats. When she’s not taking photos or writing, you can find her exploring the state for her Florida travel blog, Travel Taste Click. Find her online at www.spattersonphotography.com and www.traveltasteclick.com.