The cities along the Emerald Coast of Florida make for the ultimate summer vacation destination, with their white sand beaches and beautiful waters. After a long day on the beach, how better to unwind than to kick back and enjoy some brews?
We’ve gathered a list of the best breweries and distilleries along the Emerald Coast, from Panama City Beach to Destin. Read on to enjoy your best life at the best breweries around!
History Class
Downtown Panama City
Hours:
Wed/Thurs: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Fri/Sat: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Step into a piece of Panama City's History when you visit this local brewery! The old brick walls, antiques, and old newspaper clippings all add to the old-time ambiance of History Class.
With a wide selection of beers on tap, ranging from local ales to IPAs to incredible stouts, you can try any kind of beer you can think of here! Their brews are all named after local historical figures, adding to the charm. They also frequently donate to local non-profit organizations, taking 25 cents from each beer purchase to help make a difference.
El Weirdo
Downtown Panama City
Mon-Tue: Closed
Wed-Thu: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Fri-Sat: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Under the same ownership as History Class, El Weirdo has the best beers around, along with delicious street tacos, sure to keep you coming back for more. They even have kegged cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages sure to wet your whistle!
Located in downtown PCB, they’re just a step away from all the action in town. Take a look and note the unique decorations all around the brewpub—local artists contribute to the eccentric environment, and you’ll see new decorations every time!
Salty Oak Brewing
Panama City
Closed Sun/Mon
Tue-Fri: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sat: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friendly faces, great beer, central location…what else could you want from a brewery here in Panama City Beach? Salty Oak Brewing has become a favorite for tourists and locals alike for its satisfying selection of brews and the helpful staff they have to help you on your beer journey.
Grab a flight and try a sample of 4 beers, or take the leap and try just one! Either way, you’re enjoying authentic, locally brewed PCB beer, and we’d venture to guess you’ll enjoy it. Salty Oak Brewing doesn’t put up a pretentious front. Located in an industrial building with lawn games to play with friends and even a garage with video games set up, it feels like you’re kicking back at your buddy’s house for a couple of hours. Come hang with us and enjoy genuine micro-brewed beer right here in PCB!
Odd Pelican Beer Company
Freeport
Thurs-Sat: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Looking to drink some awesome local beer and have a great time doing it? You’ve found your new favorite brewery in Odd Pelican! Located down the road in Freeport, Odd Pelican focuses on providing high-quality, well-balanced, flavorful beer for their fun-loving crowd.
The name of the brewery is coined from noting the flight pattern of local pelicans—they fly in an odd number, causing people to wonder where that one last “odd pelican” goes. At Odd Pelican Brewing, they’ve chosen to believe he’s spending time relaxing and drinking a cold beer—and you should, too!
Idyll Hounds Brewing Company
Santa Rosa Beach
Mon-Thurs: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Fri/Sat: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Over in Santa Rose Beach, Idyll Hounds Brewing Company was founded as a flavor-first brewery with a locals-first mindset. Head brewer Frasier “the pup” Hansen always dreamed of opening a brewery, and Idyll Hounds is the realization of that dream.
Idyll Hounds operates by the motto, “we make the beer we love to drink”. By making beer they love, they’re confident that you’ll love it, too! From the Ghost Crab Pilsna to the New England-style Boosh IPA, visitors rave about the wide selection of brews available. Come on down and try some yourself!
Beach Camp Brew Pub
Destin
Sunday-Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday/Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Grayton Beach
Sunday-Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday/Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Beach Camp Brew Pub honors the history of 30A—back when this part of the coast was much less accessible than it is today. Natives, fishermen, and coastal travelers knew of the beauty of 30A, but it was much more sparsely populated back when the emerald coast was still a hidden gem! As visitors started to learn about and flock to the area, the local “beach camps” grew and eventually became the towns we know and love on the coast today.
The founders named this brewery Beach Camp to honor the humble beginnings of 30A and serve fresh, locally-inspired beer for residents and visitors like you! There are two Beach Camp locations, Grayton Beach and Destin. Each location has wonderful events like karaoke, live music, and trivia nights that you can partake in. Enjoy amazing craft brews at an authentic local brewery at Beach Camp Brew Pub.
Destin Brewery
Destin
Tuesday – Saturday: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The founders of this brewery combined their passion for craft beer and their love of the Emerald Coast when they opened a brewery of their own in Destin. They’ve been sharing their craft creations since 2016, and locals and visitors alike love visiting the taproom!
Destin Brewery has won several awards over the years, including Florida Brewery of the Year in 2021 by the New York International Beer Competition. You’ll love trying their core selection of beers as well as the new brews they’ve experimented with over the years, including classics like the Destin Ale and Bridge Rubble Double. Don’t miss this stop on your 30A brewery tour!
Distillery 98
Santa Rosa Beach
Mon-Sun: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
For a break from the breweries, visit Distillery 98 over in Santa Rosa Beach. They have micro-distilled spirits made from Florida-grown grain and corn that are sure to impress. The distilling process here is unique—they filter their raw spirits through a mix of coconut carbon and clean oyster shells sourced regionally from Florida’s robust shellfish economy.
You can try the vodka straight up or enjoy it in a variety of cocktails when you stop into Distillery 98. Several local food trucks take residence here, so you can enjoy some grub while you’re sippin’ on the finest vodka the Emerald Coast has to offer.
Book your Emerald Coast Vacation with Benchmark Management!
After a few brews, enjoy the paradise of the Emerald Coast in a Benchmark vacation rental! With locations spanning from Panama City Beach all the way to Destin, you can have a fantastic vacation anywhere on the Emerald Coast. Browse our vacation rentals now and book your stay directly with Benchmark Management for the best rates in town. We can’t wait to see you here this summer!