USA, FL: Ruby Beach Brewing already open in Jacksonville Beach

Ruby Beach Brewing quietly opened in Jacksonville Beach on Saturday, May 26 over the Memorial Day weekend, iwantabuzz.com reported.

Set in the former Zeta location, Ruby Beach Brewing underwent a re-branding and a physical renovation during the first half of 2018. Word of the closing of Zeta and re-branding to the new concept surfaced in a January 8 press release by Owner Mark Vandeloo, in which he expressed a renewed focus on craft beer.

Drawing from local history, Ruby Beach Brewing takes its name from the early establishment of “Ruby Beach” in 1884. According to the press release, investors of the old Jacksonville & Atlantic Railroad looked at the possibility of creating a resort area along the beach. The first settlers, William Scull and Eleanor Kennedy Scull, built the community’s first house, and Eleanor named the settlement “Ruby Beach,” after their daughter (the area was later renamed “Pablo Beach,” and then Jacksonville Beach).

Following construction and renovations at the property, the inside of the new Ruby Beach Brewing has a larger, more open, feel. The center bar has been removed, and the new bar is positioned along one wall. Wood planks from an old pier are the focal point of the bar, creating a beachy, boardwalk feel. Long wood tables sit in the middle of the space, with additional wooden tables and chairs along the brewhouse side.

If you’re looking for those seabreezes, the venue still features the open-air front patio. The bar features 24 taps, including Ruby Beach Brewing house beers brewed on-site, and a variety of guest taps, including cider and kombucha. A full liquor selection is also offered. On a Memorial Day visit, the tap list included 11 Ruby Beach beers, an impressive showing for an opening weekend. Guests of the former Zeta may recognize several of the names on the beer list, such as Twin Finn Lager, Ruby Beach Pale Wheat Ale (made with raspberry puree), and American Garage IPA (now featuring rotating hops and seasonal citrus peel).

With the renewed emphasis on craft beer at Ruby Beach Brewing, the place already feels more like a brewery and tap room than it did before, and local beer geeks will be sure to watch the beers that Head Brewer Billy Arthur brings out of the seven-barrel brewhouse going forward.

Ruby Beach Brewing is located at 131 – 1st Ave. N, in the heart of Jacksonville Beach, a short walk to the beachfront.

31 May, 2018