CLEARWATER — Reports of the death of the craft beer industry have been greatly exaggerated, based on the turnout for the recent grand reopening of Clearwater Brewing Co.
An overflow crowd showed up for the Aug. 14 ribbon-cutting at the revamped building, as new co-owners Hannah and Rob Menard seek to revitalize the brewery at 1700 N. Fort Harrison Ave. It was closed two years ago by its previous owners.
Rob Menard said the couple has decades of hospitality industry experience.
“We took it over with plans to revitalize the vibe,” Menard said
The crowd included Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector and Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala.
“We’ve upgraded the brew system and updated the brew house,” Menard said. “We’re carrying on the legacy here, and we’re proud of that.”
The once unassailable craft beer business has seen a small but not insignificant downturn countrywide in recent years, with brewery closures outpacing openings.
But there have been some recent signs of resurgence, particularly with small breweries.
Clearwater Brewing’s new owners upped the brewery’s capacity to 10 barrels, with plans to market and distribute their signature beers more widely eventually. Their beers include lagers and IPAs, wheat beers and stouts.
“We love Clearwater,” said Menard, who also owns the Reefers Social Club bar on Clearwater Beach. “We live here, and we knew this neighborhood needed redevelopment. And we want to be the keystone business here.”
CBC is pet-friendly, featuring a gated outdoor patio area.
Amenities include live music, food items including pizza and wings, and more.
“It’s great to see so many people out here supporting this,” Rector said after the ribbon was cut. “There’s great potential here, and it’s very encouraging to see that businesses in downtown Clearwater can be successful if you have the right owners and they know what it takes to make a successful business.”
He added: “This is a great spot to come to after a concert at the Sound, and they can pull people from Dunedin, too. Plus, they’re family oriented. So, it’s going to be great to see this family business succeed.”
