Drink Local, Support Local: Beer #4997 Clearwater Beach Mode
From the Desk of JT, the Beer Logger (B-Logger)
Mission: 50 Beers to 5000
Beer #: 4997
Location: Clearwater
Beer: Beach Mode Key Lime Lager
Brewery: Clearwater Brewing Company
Vibe: Comeback brewery with neighborhood upside
Mood: Optimistic, local-first, and fully in Beach Mode
🍺 The Setup: Why #DrinkLocal Hits Different Right Now
As we close in on Beer #5000, something becomes pretty clear…
This journey has never just been about the beer.
It’s about where you drink it.
Who you meet.
And most importantly…
👉 Who you support.
Back in 2012, I was part of the team that launched Fifth Street Brewpub — the oldest cooperatively owned and operated brewery in the United States, maybe the world.
Community-owned. Built together. Still going strong.
And yet… a lot of breweries haven’t made it.
That’s the reality of craft beer today:
- Rising costs
- Crowded markets
- Thin margins
So yeah — supporting local?
It’s not just a tagline anymore.
It matters.
⛽ The Comeback: Clearwater Brewing Returns
And that’s exactly why this stop hit.
🍻 Clearwater Brewing Company
Reopened last August.
New ownership.
Same iconic location.
An old Gulf gas station turned brewery — and yeah, this is exactly my kind of place.
You can still feel it:
- The layout
- The front patio
- That “cars used to line up right here” energy
I’ve said it before — and I’ll keep saying it:
👉 I love it when history meets hops.
Florida doesn’t always have a ton of these repurposed gems…
So when one comes back to life?
You show up.
🛢️ The System: A Little Brewing Karma
Timing matters in this business.
And Clearwater caught a break.
They picked up the original brewing system from Escape Brewing Company — a 10-barrel setup that’s already proven itself.
If you know, you know.
That system helped produce beers like:
👉 Other West Coast IPA
That’s not just equipment…
That’s experience baked into steel.
👨🔬 The Brewer: Wayne Knows What He’s Doing
And then there’s Wayne.
Head brewer. Local guy. Real experience.
Background includes:
- Sea Dog (Treasure Island)
- Mastry’s (St. Pete Beach)
- Motorworks Brewing (Bradenton)
That’s a résumé that says:
👉 This place is in good hands.
We got a chance to talk shop — beer, business, the grind — and you can tell right away…
He gets it.
🍻 The Warm-Up: A Proper Flight
I had time — and when you’ve got time at a local brewery, you use it.
Flight lineup:
- Clearwater Light Lager
- Thunder Snap IPA
- Crazy Turtle Hazy IPA
- Beach Mode Key Lime Lager
Short version?
👉 No misses.
Longer version?
Each one had its lane, and each one delivered.
🧭 JT Breakdown (Flight Edition)
- Vibe Check: Relaxed, local, repeat-visit energy
- Beer Range: Clean lagers → hop-forward → creative citrus
- Consistency: Strong across the board
- Return Factor: Already proven — I’ve been here ~6 times
🍺 Bonus Pint: Osprey American Lager
Let me just say this…
I love finding a smooth, darker lager at a local brewery.
And Osprey American Lager?
That one stuck with me.
Because yeah — I can grab a Yuengling anywhere.
But this?
👉 I can’t get this anywhere else.
Not yet.
That matters.
👊 The Bar: Where Culture Is Set
Quick shoutout to Adam behind the bar.
- Always there
- Always dialed in
- Knows the beer
- Knows the room
That’s not small stuff.
That’s what sets the tone for a local spot.
And Clearwater Brewing is lucky to have him.
🍺 The Beer: Beach Mode Key Lime Lager (#4997)
Alright… time to make it official.
The keg was this close to kicking — but Adam pulled through and got just enough for a proper send-off.
And honestly?
Perfect timing.
🧭 JT Breakdown
- Vibe Check: Spring Break + sunshine = locked in
- Flavor Lane: Bright key lime, crisp lager base
- Drinkability Level: High — crushable without thinking twice
- Branding Match: 10/10 — Beach Mode is real right now
Thousands of visitors in town.
Perfect weather.
Cold beer in hand.
Yeah… this one made sense.
⭐ Rating
4.0 / 5.0
- Clean execution ✔️
- Unique but approachable ✔️
- Perfect for the environment ✔️
- One of my higher ratings ✔️
A stand out.
🌴 The Bigger Picture: A Brewery With a Shot
This area — just south of Dunedin, near the intracoastal — is on the edge of something.
Not fully there yet.
But close.
And Clearwater Brewing?
👉 They’ve got a real chance to own this neighborhood.
They’ve got:
- The location
- The brand
- The beer
- The people
Now it’s about timing… and momentum.
🍻 Final Sip: This Is What It’s All About
Beer #4997 isn’t just another number.
It’s a reminder:
- Breweries can come back
- Communities can rally
- And local beer still matters
So yeah…
If you’re in the area?
👉 Show up.
👉 Grab a pint.
👉 Be part of it.
Because that’s how this whole thing keeps going.
Making serious progress — 4998… 4999… 5000 👀
#supportlocal and #drinklocal.
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