Small, locally owned breweries have been a hot trend for several years now and it’s easy to see why. Each brewery offers their own specialized craft beer selections, personality and vibe making your visit feel unique and authentic. Sure, you could go to a regular bar and order your go-to brand, but where’s the fun in that? Part of the adventure is ordering a flight (a moderate number of small beer glasses each with a different beer) and giving a variety of beers a try until you find your favorite.

Here in Dunedin, FL, the downtown walk-ability, mixture of local shops and restaurants, and nearby Pinellas Trail have created the perfect environment for a thriving brewery community – there are currently seven scattered around Main Street.

If you enjoy a good craft beer, consider taking a self-guided tour of Dunedin’s breweries. Below we’ve listed each of the breweries in the area along with what you can expect when you visit.

Soggy Bottom Brewing Co.

Located across the street from the Dunedin Mease Hospital on Main Street, Soggy Bottom is on the northern end of town away from the waterfront, making it a good starting point. From the outside, the brewery looks a little small, but looks can be deceiving. When you walk in, you’ll find a large open room with an almost full-length bar area, making it super easy and efficient to order. They offer a variety of craft beers as well as some gluten-free wines and ciders for non-beer drinkers. There are plenty of places to sit, mingle and take your time enjoying your selection. They also offer a variety of games, including corn hole, darts, pool and board games.

Caledonia Brewery

Celebrating their first year in business, Caledonia Brewery is one of Dunedin’s newest breweries and can be found just a short walk south of Soggy Bottom, in the renovated 1925 Dunedin Times building on Main Street. We love seeing this historic building find new life and totally encourage a visit. Inside you’ll find a rustic, industrial vibe with plenty of seating. The perfect ambiance for trying one or two of their 19 craft beers. They also host a music trivia night every Thursday and are active in many of the local events and festivals.

Photo via Caledonia Brewery

The Dunedin Brewery, Florida’s Oldest Microbrewery

Located on Douglas Avenue, just a short walk from Main Street is the Dunedin Brewery. Known for their live music and large outdoor seating area, the Dunedin Brewery is a must-visit. They offer 14 beers and a variety of tasty snacks. A few of our favorites are the southern-style poutine and the Dunedin brewery wings. Weekends tend to be crowded, so if it’s your first time visiting, try stopping in midday (they open every day at 11 am), for a more relaxed time to review the beer selection and chat with the staff.

Cueni Brewing Co.

Directly off the Pinellas Trail at 945 Huntley Ave., you’ll find another one of Dunedin’s newer breweries. Cueni, pronounced “q-knee,” opened its doors in 2016 and has already won a couple of awards  – bronze in the Best Florida Beer Competition for the Monkey Skull Porter and the People’s Choice Award at the Safety Harbor Burger and Beer Throwdown for their Orange Trail Cream Ale. Both the interior and exterior space are large and inviting, with plenty of seating. They offer 10 handcrafted beers with a focus on English Ales and Belgians, along with a decent selection of ciders to choose from.

                   Photo via TripAdvisor

Woodwright Brewing Co.

The history of the Woodwright Brewing Co. is rich in the craft of woodworking. Today, the brewery and tasting room pay tribute to the building’s roots with traditional, yet vibrant wood interior. If you choose to enjoy your beer sitting inside, you’ll have plenty to look at. The décor is inviting and there are some interesting woodcrafting tools on display. Outside, the brewery offers a deck overlooking Douglas Avenue, as well as an outdoor area to the side of the building with picnic benches and firepits for cooler evenings. Offering around 12 varieties of beers, there is a little something for everyone.

7venth Sun Brewing Co.

With a tasting room in Dunedin and Tampa, 7venth Sun is maybe one of the better-known breweries across the bay. Located on Alt 19 (Broadway) almost directly across from Skinner Boulevard, you’ll find the original 7venth Sun Brewery, which opened in 2012. Though the Dunedin location may have a small interior, there’s no doubt they have made a big impact with visitors and the local community alike. Their outdoor seating area which expands from the front of the building to a covered area on the side fills with craft beer enthusiasts every day of the week. Offering over 10 beers on tap (some change seasonally), a variety of bottled beers and wines, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy. One of the most popular choices is their Graffiti Orange, an American Wheat beer, known for its crisp, clean taste – it’s so popular we even offer it on tap at Café Alfresco!

Photo via Google

Dunedin House of Beer

The Dunedin House of Beer opened in 2009 and now has two other locations, one in Palm Harbor and one in Gainesville, Florida. All three locations offer a large variety of beer selections, not just made by HoB (House of Beer) but also from many well-known, name-brand craft breweries from around the State of Florida and nationwide. The Dunedin location is on Alt 19/Broadway, south of 7venth Sun as you head into the downtown Dunedin area. The interior is expansive with a large bar area, games and plenty of seating. There is also seating in the front of the brewery as well as in the back, which is a good thing because the Dunedin House of Beers is known to fill up, especially on the weekends.

Photo via Tampa Bay Times

There you have it, a quick look at all of Dunedin’s fantastic breweries. The best part, they are all within walking distance of each other and Café Alfresco. With Café Alfresco being in the center of town, it’s a good starting or half-way point to fuel up on brunch (Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11 am – 2 pm), lunch or dinner. As we mentioned earlier, within Dunedin, all breweries are within walking distance but please remember to drink responsibly and arrange for alternate transportation home.