USA, FL: Dissent Craft Brewing Co. eyeing downtown Lakeland for satellite operation

A St. Petersburg craft brewery is eyeing downtown Lakeland for a satellite operation, The Ledger reported on August 16.

Dissent Craft Brewing Co. has submitted plans to develop a small brewing operation and taproom at 125 S. Kentucky Ave., a space formerly occupied by La Carreta Mexican restaurant.

In technical terms, the business would operate as a nano-brewery, which is smaller than a microbrewery, said Kevin Stringer, 47, who has partnered with Dissent’s founder, Chris Price.

Plans call for installation of a three-barrel system that would produce approximately 24 barrels of beer each month, or about 288 barrels a year.

A microbrewery by definition has annual production under 15,000 barrels, according to the Brewers Association.

“We’re not looking to put a big brewery system in Lakeland,” Stringer said.

The modest size of Dissent’s main location in the community of Lealman hasn’t hurt its bottom line. Price, the brewmaster and co-owner, has earned praise for creative batches of beer. Earlier this month the brewery, located in an industrial business complex, treated customers to a hazelnut praline stout and a cold-brew coffee Kolsch.

Past productions include an Indian pale ale (IPA) flavored with mango and habanero peppers, a pale wheat ale with ginger, a double IPA made with guava and a red wine barrel-aged saison.
Smaller brewing systems allow brewers to be more flexible, since they’re making smaller quantities. If one batch doesn’t catch on, they just move on to the next experiment, said Dan Thumberg, a co-owner of Lakeland’s Swan Brewing, which features a 10-barrel brewing system.

Nano systems like the one proposed by Dissent do have drawbacks, he said, such as taps frequently running dry with popular products. “To be able to match the demand is incredibly difficult with a three-barrel system,” said Thumberg, adding that he looks forward to some friendly competition. ”(Dissent) is just going to bring more tourism to the area.”

The Lakeland Downtown Development Agency’s board of directors endorsed Dissent’s application Thursday morning at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at Lakeland City Hall.
Julie Townsend, the agency’s executive director, said she would provide Stringer with a letter of recommendation to give to city planning and zoning officials.

The City Commission has final say on whether to approve Dissent’s project for a small brewery and taproom, with occasional live music. In addition to Dissent’s brews, a few taps will be reserved for guest breweries and a selection of wine. The owners hope to open by late November or early December.

Addressing LDDA board members Thursday, Stringer, who owns a Lakeland paving company, said the Lakeland taproom will have an advantage over his St. Petersburg operation, which is located in a commercial environment with little or no foot traffic.

“I think downtown Lakeland would be a great spot for (a second brewery and taproom),” he said. “With the foot traffic and events that go on, I think it will be something really nice for Lakeland.”

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