USA, FL: Outcast Brewing Company to open its doors in St. Petersburg next week

A building that once housed two popular breweries is re-opening its doors under a new LLC and ownership this month, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reported on September 5.

Outcast Brewing Company will open at 1776 11th Ave. N in St. Petersburg next week, out of the building where King State’s The Brutalist and Flying Boat Brewery once operated.

Richie and Jill Hamm purchased the large St. Pete parcel earlier this year and have spent the last several months renovating and decorating their new craft brewery, music venue and hangout spot.

According to its social media, Outcast Brewing Company will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, Sept. 13 from 2 p.m.-midnight.

Richie Hamm, a Pensacola native who relocated to The ‘Burg with his family a few years ago, tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Outcast is a "brewery that feels more than just a brewery," due to its variety of beverage options and entertainment experiences.

Outcasts’s Head Brewer Scott Roche has over 25 years of experience in cities like Buffalo and New Orleans, and plans to bring a wide range of craft beers to the new St. Pete brewery.

Hamm’s personal favorites are Roche’s German-style So Clean Kölsch and crisp Skyway Lager, but says that there will be a go-to beverage for everyone, including both wine-lovers and N/A folks.

Of Outcast’s 25 taps, the brewery will offer 15 of its new craft brews on opening day.

In addition to its main indoor bar, Outcast’s large space will boast several different spaces that focus on different beverages—with one room focusing on wine-based craft cocktails and another offering prosecco and high-end wines.

Hard sodas, non-alcoholic beers and housemade root beer for the kiddos will also be available at Outcast Brewing Company after next week’s grand opening.

“We opted to not pursue a full liquor license because we wanted this place to be more entertainment-focused, somewhere you can come with your friends and family and just relax,” Hamm says. “I think our customers will enjoy the fact that each room they go into, they'll feel like they're in a completely different place.”

Perhaps the largest cosmetic addition to the former Brutalist building is a massive, 100-seat shaded patio and outdoor stage for live music, which Hamm says will host local acts every weekend. There’s even a few kid-friendly games on its turfed lawn, too.

“This is a local place—we're not necessarily looking to be a national brand. Our focus right now is the greater Tampa Bay area and to just be a local spot for people to come and hang out,” Hamm says. “While we can see ourselves expanding or distributing in the far future, but our focus right now is really just getting our brand out there and seeing what works.”

The 10,747 square-foot, two story building was put up for sale by Flying Boat Brewing owner Glenn Zakany in late 2023, following the hasty closure of The Brutalist. The asking price was $2.7 million dollars, although the Hamms acquired the building for $2.3 million and some of its brewing equipment for an additional $300,000, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

The first-time brewery owners and St. Pete residents wanted to make the formerly minimalistic space more warm and inviting, adding natural wood and bright murals throughout its main taproom.

Its cocktail and wine rooms boast soft, yet stylish colors and decor (perhaps for the IPA-hating girlfriends to lounge in), while another portion of the brewery will feature multiple arcade games and TVs for year-round sports watching.

Although Outcast Brewing Company did not build a kitchen during its renovations, the Hamms are planning to host a rotating roster of local food trucks. Its September schedule has already been confirmed and can be browsed on outcastbrewingcompany.com.

Hamm also wants to address a misconception that became publicized when he and Jill first purchased the building. Although the business name was not yet confirmed at the time, he says that their lawyers accidentally registered the business as “Freedom Brewing Company,” which received a lot of negative feedback after a local real estate blog published the incorrect name.

“People really tried to politicize the name, when it was really just and idea that was meant to be a play on its ‘1776’ address,” Hamm explains. “ I just wanted to let our customers know that Outcast is not a politically-charged place and that folks from all walks of life are welcomed here.”

After its grand opening on Sept. 13, Outcast Brewing Company will be open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sunday, 2 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 1 p.m.-midnight on Friday and 11 a.m.-midnight on Saturday.

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