USA, FL: Magnanimous Brewing bids farewell to Brandenton location, new brewery to take its place

After two years in business, a downtown Bradenton brewery has bid farewell to the area. Yet it's not all bad news for local craft beer lovers, as a new brewery is taking its place, Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported on July 1.

Magnanimous Brewing's last day of business at its 803 17th Ave. W. location, across the street from LECOM Park, was June 30, according to a social media post by the brewery.

Bradenton was the second location for Magnanimous, which was founded in Tampa Heights and has since added a taproom in Tampa's Seminole Heights neighborhood. Both of Magnanimous' Tampa locations will remain open, while the Miami-based Sun Lab Brewing will take over its former Bradenton taproom, with plans to open this week.

"Though we have had a great time in Bradenton and made some fond memories, the time has come for a new addition to the Bradenton community," Magnanimous' post read.

Sun Lab founder Keith Fekete said they will likely have around five of their own beers on tap initially, along with offerings from other breweries, gradually adding more Sun Lab beers to the taproom's 16 drafts. The brewery's staple beers include the Sun Craze sour ale "berry blaze" — made with boysenberry, raspberry, blackberry and blueberry — Sun Haze hazy IPA, and Sun Faze blonde ale. Fekete said Sun Lab also plans to keep the food truck that Magnanimous used, Coastal Smash, which serves a variety of smash burgers and fries.

Known for beers such as its Juice Lord hazy IPA, Magnanimous took over the Bradenton taproom from Darwin Brewing Company in 2022, following the latter brewery's closure in late 2021. Darwin Brewing co-founder and acclaimed chef Darwin Santa Maria announced last year that he acquired the Darwin brand, with plans to open a new brewery, restaurant and distillery in Sarasota.

Magnanimous' departure from the Bradenton area, and Sun Lab's arrival, are among multiple changes to the Sarasota-Manatee craft beer scene in recent weeks. Sarasota's Big Top Brewing Company opened its expansive new Fruitville Commons location in June, the same month that Inner Compass Brewing Company — originally from Sanford outside Orlando — opened in Lakewood Ranch.

For now, Sun Lab plans to keep Magnanimous' days and hours of operation, which are 4-8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 3-8 p.m. Thursday, noon-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, and closed Monday.

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