You don’t have to be a craft brew junkie to acknowledge the fact that beer at a local brewery is going to be exceptional. Lucky for us, there is no shortage of options in the Destin, FL area. Whether you are in Niceville, Fort Walton, Destin, or 30A/Santa Rosa Beach, there is a brewery near you to explore!
Here is a near-comprehensive list of breweries in Destin FL, 30A, Niceville, and Fort Walton Beach!
Destin Brewery
Established in 2015, the Destin Brewery is located in the heart of Destin at 505 Mountain Drive, Unit N. Destin Brewery brews for locals and visitors alike. If you are familiar with the area, you will instantly recognize the names of some of the brews.
Including pilot batches, seasonal batches, and “uncommon” batches, there are around 17 different brews to choose from. If you are a craft beer enthusiast, this is exciting!
“Is there a tasting room or somewhere to try all these beers?”
Indeed, there is.
They have a tasting room and its family-friendly so its ok to bring the kids. They are open March through October: Tuesday – Saturday, 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. and November through February: Thursday – Saturday, 1:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Leashed dogs are also welcome outside the tasting room and in the brew room, only.
If you aren’t feeling the brews, they also serve wine!
McGuire’s Brewery
Yes, McGuire’s also houses an onsite micro-brewery that accompanies their restaurant. Stouts, ale, and porters are the name of the game here. They even have root beer that you can tap right into from the keg – great for the kids.
If you are interested in a tour, they give them if you visit the brewery. Ensure you call first to confirm availability. If you are a homebrewer, they will even give you some sample yeast for your next batch. Not a bad deal.
If you make your way around to the Pensacola McGuire’s, they have a full-size brewery that’s even more impressive than the microbrewery at the Destin McGuire’s.
Grayton Beer Company
Grayton Beer was started in 2011 and has quickly become one of the most prominent breweries on the Emerald Coast. It is located at 217 Serenoa Road, Santa Rosa Beach, FL.
Grayton Beer is most known for their Beach Blonde Pale Ale and IPA – the former being my husband and I’s favorite local beer to drink together. You can buy Beach Blonde ale in nearly every store that sells beer in Destin and the local area.
The Fish Whistle IPA is also a really good one to try – we tried it at the Hilton in San Destin by the pool! It was on tap along with with the beach blonde pale ale. Here is a list of some other beers available.
There is a taproom and it’s located inside of their 30,000 sq ft production facility. There are darts, corn hole, beers (20 different beers on tap!), and its kid and pet-friendly. The taproom hours of operation are:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday – Wednesday: 11AM – 5PM
Thursday – Friday: 11AM – 9PM
Saturday: 11AM – 7PM
Sunday: CLOSED
Make sure you plan ahead before visiting! Oh, and you can also book a tour. They will guide you through the production facility and show you what goes on behind the scenes.
Last but not least, check out the Grayton Brewpub. It is a fully operational brewery, restaurant, and bar off of scenic highway 30A in Grayton Beach. They have full dinner menus and offer over 15 different beers on tap.
Idyll Hounds
Also located in Santa Rosa Beach, Idyll Hounds Brewing was founded in 2013 and was inspired to brew for the novice brewer and craft beer enthusiast alike. Much of their brews are centered around South Walton with creative names like “Divide and Conch’r” and “Man O’ Wheat.”
They serve 3 beers, a double India pale ale, an unfiltered wheat beer, and a pilsner.
These are the current taproom selections on tap. They update the list frequently so check back often! They also serve beer flights – great for those of us who can’t figure out what to drink. Just ask the bartender and he or she will hook you up.
And yes, you can visit the brewery. They are open 7 days a week. You can play cornhole and even see the entire brew operation from the touring area. They have food trucks on the weekends and you can even bring your dog! Party on.
3rd Planet Brewing
Located at 1400 E John Sims Pkwy, Niceville, FL (right down the street from my house!), 3rd Planet Brewery has two locations in Niceville – the Launchpad and the Mothership. The Mothership is their latest brewing operation and is becoming the new hangout spot for 3rd Planet in Niceville.
Check out their current beer list, here. My husband is a fan of the Bluewater Hefeweizen and totally recommends it.
More than just a brewery, 3rd Planet Brewing at the Launchpad is a popular local spot to hang out, drink, and have a great time. It is family and dog-friendly so don’t hesitate to bring the crew. They even have a music bingo on Thursdays at the Launchpad if that’s your thing and there is a different food truck on site nearly every day they are open. It constantly changes so here is the latest food truck schedule.
3rd Planet Brewing at the Mothership is definitely the hottest of the current hangouts. With more parking and seating, the Mothership can accommodate even the largest crowds on Fridays and Saturdays. The bartenders know their beers and can help you find what you are looking for. The food truck is present here, as well, since they do not serve food.
If you are looking for a brewery with a great hangout spot that treats their customers exceptionally, 3rd Planet is the top contender.
Props Brewery
Props Brewery is located at 125 Lovejoy Rd, Fort Walton Beach, FL. It was founded by two United States Airmen previously stationed at Hurlburt Field. Besides the brewery, they also have a brewpub (Props Bar and Grill) right at the Brooks Bridge in downtown Fort Walton Beach.
They have a huge selection of beers to choose from at the Taproom and the Grill pub. The pale ales and the IPAs are top-notch. You definitely have to try more than one.
There is trivia starting at 7 pm on Tuesday at the FWB Brewpub (next to Brooks Bridge) and Thursday starting at 7 pm at the Large Brewery and Taproom in FWB.
If you’re visiting the brewery and taproom, there is a food truck there, occasionally. If you are wanting to drink and get some grub, definitely head on over to the Props Grill Pub for brews and food.
Lastly, you can get a tour at the main brewery. Don’t get confused with the Brewpub but I bet they would give you a tour there, too, if you just asked!
Fort Walton Brewing Company
The smallest and newest brewery on the list, Fort Walton Brewing Company is a nano-brewery (just means it’s small!) that has about 11-12 beers on tap and promotes a small, yet fun and welcoming environment for all craft beer drinkers alike. One thing to note, they do not have other breweries beers on tap – just theirs.
Also kid-friendly and pet-friendly, they have an arcade and board games on-site to really set up an environment that makes you want to keep coming back.
Their hours are different than most breweries. Here are the currently posted hours.
Thursday | 2–7PM |
Friday | 2–7PM |
Saturday | 2–7PM |
Sunday | Closed |
Monday | Closed |
Tuesday | Closed |
Wednesday | Closed |
I hope this list allows you the opportunity to explore every brewery that the Destin, FL area has to offer.
Had a chance to visit any of the breweries on the list? Let me know in the comments!