Beyond The Beach — Grayton Beer Company in Santa Rosa Beach

This is a local micro brewery that brews classic, contemporary beers. You can find their beer in many of the restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores in the Florida Panhandle and into Alabama. The ones I see most often are 30A Beach Blonde and White Dunes (a Belgian White), but they make 8 standard varieties and a few seasonals. Give their beer a try while you are here, as you probably won’t find it at home.

The brewery is located at 217 Serenoa Rd, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 231-4786. You can visit their taproom Monday through Saturday (check their website for hours). They usually have 10-12 different brews on tap. You can get a free taste, then purchase by the glass or for take-home. The taproom is right inside the brewery and tours are available, but you’ll need to check for tour times. Note that the taproom will be quite warm during the summer, but they do run several large fans to cool things off a little.

When I last visited I sampled a Belgian Triple, that was only available at the brewery. Very good. I also tried a couple others that are a little harder to find in the area, such as the Franklin County Oyster Stout.

Website is graytonbeer.com. You’ll find information about the brewery, a description of their beers, a blog and information on the taproom.

Grayton Beer is slightly over 21 miles from Marigot Place. Get on Hwy 98 headed east. Travel 20.2 miles to Serenoa Road. I didn’t see a street sign, but you will turn left off Hwy 98 into South Walton Commerce Park. This is about 4 miles east of Florida Hwy 395. The brewery is the first building on the left. There is parking along the side and around back. Enter the taproom though a door on the right side of the building.

Note that Grayton Beer Company and Idyll Hounds Brewing are in the same business park, so perhaps you’ll want to visit both.