- Cocoa Beach Brewing Company brewpub - Photo by Steve Rogerson
Billed as a city but with a population not much more than 12,000, Cocoa Beach in Florida is really a town, and was established as such in 1925 though given official city status in 1957. Its nearness to what is now known as the Kennedy Space Center saw it grow as a tourist attraction for watchers of Apollo launches. The beach is still popular with surfers and tourism is one of its main sources of income.
Given that, it is not surprising that there are a few pubs on and around the main drag – North Atlantic Avenue, also known as the A1A – and some of them are quite good. And one – Cocoa Beach Brewing Company – is excellent.
Cocoa Beach Brewing Company, 150 N Atlantic Avenue
For those with time to visit only one pub in this area, then Cocoa Beach Brewing Company has to be the one. Established in 2009, this combined brewery and pub bears more than a passing resemblance to someone’s front room, which is hardly surprising given it started life in 1930 as a navy house. They brew four regular beers and the odd special. The regulars are the 5.33% Von Braun (a dark amber beer with a refreshing bitterness), the 6.71% Pale Ale (light colour, and very hoppy with strong citrus notes), the 6.0% Not Just Some Oatmeal Stout (a smokey smell kicks off a very authentic stout) and the 8.1% 888IPA (very hoppy, but not over the top). The pub is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Surfer’s Sports Pub, 350 N Orlando Avenue
An American style sports bar with pool table and live music, Surfer’s has a good selection of craft beers. The beer pumps are lined up on the wall behind the bar, so given the subdued lighting it can be a little difficult to see what’s what. The bottled beer selection is on a stand-up menu and includes the likes of the Czech Pilsner Urquell and Belgian Chimay Red, but most are from the USA.
Pig & Whistle 240 N Orlando Avenue
Billed as an English pub, the Pig & Whistle has an American flag outside, which should give a clue that all is not what it seems. This is basically an American bar but with some elements of an English theme such as Bass beer sitting alongside the Bud and Bud Light pumps. There is also a certain Irishness with Guinness and Smithwick’s on draught plus a Guinness mirror on the wall. British style bar towels are on the bar and the food menu includes fish, chips and mushy peas and sausage and chips (the menu does though explain that chips are really “fries” to make sure no American is confused). Any Englishness suggested by the darts board is limited somewhat by the Budweiser backing on which it sits.
Nolan’s Irish Pub, 204 W Cocoa Beach Causeway
This pub at least looks more Irish than the Pig & Whistle looks English. Lots of wood and pictures on the wall give it a homely feel. The likes of Smithwick’s and Guinness sit alongside some US and even Belgian beers. The American Harpoon IPA is very hoppy and recommended. Snugs are rare in American bars, but this pub has two.
Paddy Cassidy’s, 2009 N Atlantic Avenue
This is a more rough and ready Irish pub than Nolan’s but with a much better beer range that even includes an English style real ale on handpump. The 17 keg pumps serve a mix of local and imported beers. The two-level bar is dark with wooden floorboards and wooden seats. There are stools by the bar and a separate area for pool and darts.
Heidi’s Jazz Club, 7 N Orlando Avenue
With live music most nights of the week (Monday is the exception), Heidi's is the spot for jazz lovers. And German beer drinkers too will find it attractive with Warsteiner light and dunkel on draught. Dark lighting and white table clothed tables combine to create a laidback atmosphere. The bar is connected to the Heidelberg German restaurant.
Craft Bottled Beer Sales
Beer lovers wanting to return home with some good bottled beers can buy the four main beers so packaged at Cocoa Beach Brewing Company. And at 555 North Atlantic Avenue is one of the town’s two ABC Fine Wine & Spirits stores, which has a good range of bottled craft beer.
Steve Rogerson - Steve Rogerson is a UK-based writer specialising in television, technology, sports and beer.
