Settle in, lushes. The Boozy Blondes are about to take you on a “jazz parade” through the Crescent City – New Orleans, Louisiana! This is Chrissy’s favorite city in the country, and admittedly, Molly has warmed up to it over the years. In this episode the girls take you on a tour around town, dropping it at different hotel bars to listen to some great jazz music! Chrissy dubbed this tour a jazz parade, hence the episode title. (There is no traditional parade referenced at all!)
The DOE is a New Orleans classic – Romas Gin Fizz. This drink is delicious but very labor-intensive. It combines gin, citrus, simple syrup, egg whites, heavy cream, orange flower water and club soda. The original recipe called for 12 minutes of shaking! (Molly thanks Chrissy for all her hard work making this masterpiece!)
The parade started at the Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons. Chrissy drank an espresso martini, Molly and Phil had the World’s Fair Fizz (gin, lemon, wildflower honey, egg white, butterfly pea flower tea and Champagne), and Rainer enjoyed a glass of Reposado. This is a fairly new bar which seats 85. Visit the website for special events and experiences like “celebrate like a local” and “Oysters Take Flight.”
The second stop was not at a hotel, but at the Mahogany Jazz Hall. The bar offers live jazz music 7 nights a week! The bar is very small and intimate and hosts pop-up Burlesque shows. This place also serves Absinthe in the traditional French style!
Next on the parade was the Sazerac Bar in the Grand Roosevelt Hotel. Each one in group ordered the New Orleans classic Sazerac. The bar is very small and doesn’t offer reservations, so it can be tricky to get a table here. If you visit, ask to speak with Russ Bergeron, the mixologist/historian on site. He helped reopen the Sazerac Bar following Hurricane Katrina. Fun fact – they serve about 40,000 Sazeracs each year!
The group moved on to the Davenport Lounge in the Ritz Carlton from here. This was definitely a group favorite! The lounge is named after its resident musician Jeremy Davenport and his band. The piano bar lounge is the perfect place to listen to favorite sing-a-longs, sip craft cocktails and enjoy mouth-watering munchies! Chrissy drank an Aperol Spritz and Molly sipped on Prosecco.
The final stop on the parade was the Polo Club at Windsor Court Hotel. It’s another great place for food, cocktails and live music. The ambiance is reminiscent of of a private English club boasting an aristocratic charm and the old fashioneds are fantastic!
These five stops were perfect for a night out sampling hand crafted cocktails, New Orleans classics and delicious light bites. This sampling is a tiny piece of all the jazz clubs NOLA has to offer, but it was a great start for the Boozy Blondes! Do you have a favorite jazz bar in New Orleans? Share it with the girls!
The Boozy Blondes love magic. If you listened to Episode 054 | Nashville, Part 2 – House of Cards, you heard them gush about just how much they love it! In this episode the girls fill you in on all you need to know to see an amazing magic and mind-reading experience hidden right in their backyard!
The girls each have a different DOE. Molly is drinking a Blood Orange Creamsicle (learn how to make it here or beg Chrissy to do it for you!) and since Chrissy smashed her Creamsicle before recording, she opted for a mimosa. Both great morning drinks!
Bill and Rebecca Abbott are your hosts at the Magic Hideaway in the Casa Monica Hotel in the heart of St. Augustine, Florida. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Bill Abbott is an entrepreneur, magician and showman. He has performed over 5000 shows in 11 countries and is the creator of magical illusions seen on America’s Got Talent, Good Morning America and The Steve Harvey Show! Before his residency, he and his wife Rebecca frequently visited St. Augustine, and a few years ago they decided to make this beautiful city their home and opened the Magic Hideaway in the Casa Monica.
There are two shows on Saturday nights starting at 6pm or 8:30pm. The experience lasts two hours and tickets are $125 per person. With your ticket, you get
Complimentary cocktail
One-on-one magic with Bill in the Cobalt Lounge before the main show
Hour long magic and mind-reading show in the intimate Magic Hideaway room
Post show photo and autograph opportunity with Bill
The first hour is cocktail hour and one-on-one magic with Bill, then the second hour is the performance in the Magic Hideaway. When the girls arrived they were greeted by Rebecca who performed a magic trick for them. She escorted the girls to their cocktail table in the Cobalt Lounge, and a server came over to take their order. Before the show you can order food and drinks here, but the girls just enjoyed a drink. Pro-tip: order an additional drink before you enter the Magic Hideaway for the main performance. Once it starts, you can’t leave. Do this at least 20 minutes before the main show start time.
Bill performs magic tricks for each table during the cocktail hour and engages with the attendees. Before going into the Magic Hideaway he gathers everyone together for a group trick. Photography is allowed during the cocktail hour, but not during the main performance (the Boozy Blondes had an exception because of the podcast).
Rebecca leads each group to their assigned tables inside the Magic Hideaway right before the show. The room is small and intimate, so there isn’t a bad seat. The performance is about 60 minutes and is interactive. Be prepared to be involved – the girls both participated in multiple tricks! Because of the small group size, almost everyone, if not everyone, was involved at some point during the performance.
The girls don’t want to give any spoilers, so you’ll have to visit for yourself. Be sure to get your pictures with Bill following the show; it feels like a red carpet moment! The Boozy Blondes had an amazing evening and would definitely go back for another show. They were lucky enough to have a few minutes to interview Bill and Rebecca after the show, so be sure to tune in to this episode to hear what they have to say about the best magic tricks and how they ended up in St. Augustine, Florida!
Here’s a recap of what to remember:
Dress to impress. The Casa Monica is swanky, and this is an opportunity to sparkle and shine!
Remember photography is only allowed during the cocktail hour.
Order an extra drink before you go into the Magic Hideaway room.
Share your thoughts and photos with the girls at boozyblondespodcast@gmail.com if you attend, and when you check in, be sure to let Rebecca know the Boozy Blondes sent you!
Just when we all thought the Nashville run was over, the girls actually returned to Nashville and have more fun tips and tricks to share with you! While the original 3-part Nashville series was airing, the Boozy Blondes were back in Nashville checking out new honky tonks, creating new adventures and of course, visiting some favorites from the first three parts. Tune in to listen to the fun and for tips on your next trip to Music City!
The DOE is Georgia Aviation, a lavender gin ready to drink cocktail from Moonrise Distillery in Clayton, Georgia. Chrissy picked this up for Molly during her time in Georgia, because Molly loves gin and lavender!
So this bonus trip was technically a work trip for both the girls, but they managed to squeeze in the fun every chance they got – sometimes independently, and sometimes together. This blog entry will map out the spots they hit so it’s easy for you to read more them and plan for your next trip!
SATURDAY
Renaissance Nashville Hotel | located behind Fifith + Broadway, this hotel is in one of the best locations in the heart of downtown. The girls checked in Saturday night and had dinner and drinks at the Bridge Bar on the third floor. The bartenders mixed some great cocktails and the musician was great! And it was much safer here, just an elevator ride away from their room as opposed to braving the crowds outside! (The blondes hate to admit it, but they are getting old.)
SUNDAY
The Twelve Thirty Club | just steps away from the hotel on Broadway, The Twelve Thirty Club has three levels: the honky tonk, the supper club and the rooftop. There is also an honorary membership program that offers access to a members lounge and exclusive privileges. About 8 of us met for brunch on the first floor, the honky tonk level, and had a great meal and heard great music! Music starts at 11AM on Sundays during brunch.
Drusie & Darr in The Hermitage | this classic, historic hotel is a staple in Nashville. Chrissy went here to work and enjoyed espresso martinis and a black garlic and truffle pizza. Be sure to check out one of the world’s most Instagrammable bathrooms while you are here!
Little Fib | Located on the main level of the Renaissance Hotel, Little Fib became Chrissy’s home (office) away from home (office). Her daily routine included her laptop, Aperol Spritzes and Nashville Hot Chicken Soup.
Ember’s Ski Lodge | This ski-themed bar was pretty unique to find in the heart of Nashville, but Chrissy loved the Apres ski specials and shot-skis!
Black Rabbit | Chrissy made it here in Printers Alley during Happy Hour. You can enjoy music, craft cocktails and great eats in the 100 year old building full of Prohibiton era vibes!
Sinatra Bar & Lounge | About a block from Black Rabbit, this is a popular spot! Reservations are highly recommended no matter what time of day. Also be sure to visit the website and check out the dress code. Sinatra’s boasts an intimate and elevated dining experience serving some of Frank’s faves!
General Jackson Showboat | This three hour river tour takes guests up the Cumberland River with beautiful views of the neon lights of Broadway. Board over by Opreyland and enjoy food, drinks and entertainment during your time on board.
Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar | Located in Printers Alley, the spirit of New Orleans is at the forefront of everything here! From the wrought-iron balconies, Cajun & Creole food, cold beer, and signature cocktails like the Big Easy Hurricane, you’re transported to another Boozy Blondes’ favorite city!
TUESDAY
Ryman Auditorium | Called “Music’s Most Iconic Stage,” Chrissy caught a jazz musician outside of the Ryman then took time to visit the gift shop. Pro tip – visit the gift shop and get a coupon for a tour of the Ryman.
Boqueria | Located in Assembly Food Hall at Fifth + Broadway, this tapas bar has locations around the country. Chrissy enjoyed wine and some Spanish small plates.
Friends in Low Places | One of Nashville’s newest Honky Tonk’s Garth Brooks opened this bar in early March of 2024. This bar has four levels including the rooftop “Oasis” complete with palm trees!
WEDNESDAY
Casa Rosa | “Tacos, tequila and tufted pink booths” – Miranda Lambert’s Cantina on Broadway is adorable! The girls enjoyed dinner at this “little taste of Texas in Tennessee.” They say everything is bigger in Texas and this is definitely true for the food portions! There was a band on the first floor, and the restaurant is on the second floor – there are four floors total here.
Pins Mechanical | Another Boozy Blondes fave! You can hear all about it in Episode 053 | Nashville Part 1 – Honky Tonks (listen here)! This time the girls tried their skills at duck pin bowling and it was a hit! They ran around the bar playing all their favorite games like pinball, garbage can beer pong and skee ball. And of course, they took turns going down the slide!
EXTRA
Earlier this year the girls visited The Graduate Hotel and had brunch at White Limozeen, a Dolly Parton themed bar. They didn’t mention it in any other episode, but they wanted to let you lushes know how adorable it is! It’s covered in pink – definitely gives Casa Rosa a run for its money! Inside is mostly soft seating and the outside patio has a larger than life statue of Dolly’s head!
The girls love Nashville so much, and there is so much to explore here! Hopefully there will be Part 5 in the near future, because the girls already miss the Music City! Share your pictures with them if you’ve been to any of the above mentioned places (boozyblondespodcast@gmail.com) or send them a message on Instagram them know where else they should visit in this amazing city! Cheers!
General Admission Tickets are $50 ($60 at the gate) or you can get VIP tickets for $120, which give you access to the festival an hour early, plus extra VIP perks.
The Craft Brewers’ Festival features unlimited beer tastings from over 25 craft breweries from North and Central Florida and the surrounding areas. And bonus! You get a custom souvenir tasting glass.
This festival is more than just beer. There’s live music, food trucks and fun boozy vendors like the Boozy Blondes who will be there getting their drink on and passing out swag so make sure you say hello and claim your free Boozy Blondes koozies and stickers.
Here’s a list of some of the breweries you can sample at the Craft Brewers’ Festival:
Yes, the Boozy Blondes are still talking about Nashville! Their three-day stint was packed full of fun, and one day was dedicated to visiting local breweries and distilleries.
The girls recorded this episode on St. Patrick’s Day and are enjoying festive drinks! Chrissy chose Jameson and Ginger Beer and Molly went with Guinness.
The first brewery on the list: Jackalope Brewing Company. Women-founded and led, with a focus on sustainability and community involvement, Jackalope is about two miles outside of downtown and Nashville’s 3rd oldest brewery! It has a large courtyard with tons of space to play cornhole and all the typical brewery games. And it’s pet friendly outside. Chrissy drank the Snowman Stout, a 6.2% coffee and chocolate stout and combined the Preds Beer (4.8% Kolsh) with Walker Brothers Cucumber Melon Kombucha. Phil drank Foghorn, 6% hazy IPA. They had a BBQ truck on site for eats. You can follow them on Instagram for event news and updates.
Next up: Fait la Force Brewing It opened in February of 2022 and aims to create a space and experience that is inclusive and appeals to all drinkers on the craft beer spectrum. Fait la Force serves pub food like fries and pretzels and pies (like meat pies), and you can also order from their neighbors or BYOF. Chrissy drank Admiral of the Narrow Seas an 8.6% Baltic porter, and Molly enjoyed Parlour Games, a 7% Belgian Blonde. You can follow them on Instagram to keep up with all their fun events!
After Fait la Force, the blondes headed to New Heights Brewing, a small craft brewery that creates ales they’re passionate about and crave—from intensely hoppy IPAs to crisp, clean ales and rich imperial stouts. The girls loved it inside with the long beer hall type high-top tables, TVs, board games, and awesome swag! Chrissy enjoyed the Coffee Coconut Navel Gazer Imperial Stout (9.3%) and Molly chose a flight – served in a muffin tin:
Be sure to follow New Heights on Instagram for events like Mario Kart tournaments, comedy nights, and movie nights.
The final stop on the brewery tour was Marble Fox Brewing Company, a family-owned brewery located in the Gulch with a clean, modern design and super welcoming and friendly beertenders! Chrissy loved her Snowbound Coffee –5% Nitro Coffee Sweet Stout and Molly had the Pirouette (7.1% IPA) and Sunlit Raspberry (4.4% sour).
On this day, the girls visited two distilleries: Nelson’s Greenbriar Distillery and Corsair Distillery. Nelson’s is in the heart of Music City, and their spirits can be found nationwide. It’s stunning inside with a huge bar, full service restaurant, event room, and retail store, and they offer tours of the distillery. Chrissy visited Nelson’s twice! The first time she enjoyed a classic whiskey flagship flight:
She then ordered a Whiskey Sour with Nelson Brothers classic bourbon, lemon and egg whites. Then she ordered it again! To end her visit, she tried a shot of Louisa’s Coffee Caramel Pecan Liqueur – she liked it so much, she bought a bottle to bring home!
When Molly joined Chrissy for a visit, she loved it just as much! (But didn’t drink as much as Chrissy did on her first trip!) Molly had the Hot Toddy and Chrissy ordered, surprise, surprise, the Whiskey Sour. The boozy bros enjoyed Whiskey Gingers, and the group shared a Rueben, Cheeseburger and Spätzel. You can follow Nelson’s on Instagram and when you visit, ask about the secret cocktail menu!
Next up was Corsair’s. Corsair Distillery was founded in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 2008, and by 2010, Corsair became the first craft distillery in Nashville since prohibition! In 2016 it opened another Nashville location where they can make craft whiskey on a higher production scale as well as produce more small batch craft beers at, what is now called, the Marathon Village Brewstillery.
They had so really innovative flavors, so if you’re into more traditional whiskey or bourbon this place might miss the mark for you but they had something for everyone; especially on the bar side where you can get local beers and cocktails. You can follow Corsair’s on Instagram for fun events like watch parties, bingo and even crafting events!
Be sure to get your Tennessee Whiskey Trail passport when you visit the distilleries. You can collect stamps and poker chips at each location! Have you been to either of these distilleries or any of the above mentioned breweries? Share your pics with the Boozy Blondes! Cheers!
There is one thing the girls love almost as much as a great drink – and each other – MAGIC! ✨ Did you know there is a underground, super exclusive speakeasy/house of magic in downtown Nashville? Tune in to hear all about House of Cards, the hidden gem underneath the Johnny Cash Museum – but don’t worry…no spoilers. You have to experience the magic for yourself!
The DOE for this episode is rum and ginger beer – a Boozy Blondes favorite!
So again, House of Cards is an exclusive speakeasy-esque bar/restaurant/house of magic in downtown Nashville. It’s located UNDER the Johnny Cash museum around 3rd and Broadway. Once you arrive at the museum, there is a doorman who will direct you to the private entrance to House of Cards. You go down a secret tunnel and enter into a whole other world. There’s an amazing hand-crafted bar that offers one of the largest liquor selections in the region, there’s a multimillion dollar collection of art, European antiques, and ancient magical artifacts. There are no windows, tons of red velvet curtains draped all around, old magic show advertisement posters and tall columns throughout the space.
Once we checked in we were greeted and offered a tour of the dining room. Our guide showed us where the main magic show was held, where the floating magicians would be performing, he pointed out artifacts and pointed us in the direction of the courtyard which features a 19-foot waterfall.
They will take a group photo for you inside since photography is not allowed – except in the bathroom and in the courtyard.
Reservations are highly recommended, and the dress code is strictly enforced. At the time of this recording, you can book your table no sooner than two weeks in advance. So set your alarms and calendar reminders because tables fill fast. Dress code is dress to impress and if you don’t abide by it, they will not grant you access:
MEN: Sports coat or dinner jacket and button up dress shirt is mandatory. Dress pants suggested, dress shoes required. No light or torn jeans.
LADIES: Cocktail or formal dresses, elegant skirt and blouse, dressy rompers or dressy tunic (hip-length) and slacks combinations, and pant-suits (matching blazer and pants) with dress shoes is required. No denim of any kind, nor casual wear.
The food is phenomenal. Menu selections include octopus, beer tartare, foie gras, steaks, elk, lamb, porkshops, sea bass, etc, etc. Complimentary tickets to the main magic act are included with an entree order, but you cannot purchase tickets separately to this show. Then there are rotating magicians on the floor which you can go see at any time. We waited until after dinner to do all the magic, but you can go see the magicians on the floor while you wait for your dinner to be prepared.
House of Cards is 21 and over, except during Sunday brunch when all ages are welcome.
The girls include some tips for visiting House of Cards:
Set a reminder to make your reservations. This place is extremely popular, so 14 days out, secure your spot. They do accept walk-ins, but you’re taking a chance there will be availability.
If you don’t get a reservation, you can try to get in to enjoy cocktails on the patio or at the bar. You’ll be able to see the roaming magicians, just not the main act. Dress code still applies.
Dress to impress. The dress code is strictly enforced so use this as an opportunity to get all dolled up.
Bring cash to tip the magicians and the photographer. The group photo is complimentary, so it’s nice to tip the photographer.
Arrive early and enjoy a drink out on the patio before dinner and stay late to enjoy the magicians and an after-dinner drink or cigar.
Be prepared to be engaged. There is a lot of audience participation.
The magicians we saw were Mark and Shadow. You can follow House of Cards on Instagram. Please message us on Instagram if you’ve been to House of Cards and share your experience with us!
Get ready lushes, we’re off to Music City – Nashville, Tennessee! The Boozy Blondes served themselves a hearty helping of all things country during a recent visit to Nashville, and in this episode, they recap 9 bars they hit on and off Broadway. Tune in to hear where they went and why you should add these places to your next trip to Nash-Vegas!
The DOE is whiskey (bourbon), of course! Chrissy is drinking a “funky” old fashioned with Brothers Bond bourbon called Bond Fire S’Mores! Molly is drinking a smoked old fashioned with Angel’s Envy.
Before the Boozy Blondes made it to Broadway, they met their friends at Pins Mechanical, a boozy adult playground about 7 blocks west of where the honky tonks start on Broadway. Pin’s slogan is “when life gives you balls, play with them!” and the girls did just that! At Pins you can enjoy an abundance of games from old school arcade games and pinball to Skee Ball and ping pong to giant garbage can beer pong and bocce and so much more! You can follow Pins on IG to check out all the fun. If you’re an active drinker like the Boozy Blondes, then this place is definitely for you!
From here the girls walked to the Grand Hyatt Nashville to visit the rooftop bar lou/na. Offering stunning views of the city and serving delicious cocktails (the blondes recommend the espresso martinis), lou/na is one of the newest and most glamourous rooftop bars in Nashville. lou/na was inspired by the Louisville and Nashville railroad that passed directly through the site of the Grand Hyatt for a century! Be sure to follow lou/na on IG.
Speaking of railroads, across the street from the Grand Hyatt is the historic Union Station Nashville Yards. This luxury boutique hotel was first a bustling terminal and architectural marvel with its Gothic design. It’s stunning. Check out Bourbon & Boxcars Tea if you’re here on a Thursday, but you never know what special event could be happening! The Boozy Blondes walked into a Harry Potter pop-up bar when they were here! Check out the Boozy Blondes’ reels on IG to see how magical it was!
At this point it was time to tackle some honky tonks. The girls had a goal of six and, spoiler alert, they achieved their goal! These are the places they hit:
Tune in to hear about the drinks, the music and the fun at each of these places. There are over 30 bars along Broadway in the heart of Nashville, so the girls knocked out about a 1/5 of them!
Have you visited these bars? Share your pics with us! DM us on IG or email us!
The Boozy Blondes have been apart since January 30, 2023, and in this episode they take time for a happy hour call! Listen in to hear about how the first part of the year has been for these booze travelers.
Settle in with your favorite drink and eavesdrop on the Boozy Blondes’ call. Chrissy is drinking the Boozy Blondes’ favorite morning drink, rum and ginger beer, and Molly is sipping on South Beach Brewing Strawberry Orange Mimosa beer.
This year Chrissy has been covered up in work and projects – she is just starting to have some well deserved time for herself! She’s been in North Georgia since the beginning of 2024, and recently she’s ventured to Currahee Tap Room in Clayton, Georgia, Stonewall Creek Vineyards and Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Tiger, Georgia, Wolf Mountain Vineyards in Dahlonega, Georgia and CeNita Vineyards in Cleveland, Georgia.
Get details on the best drinks from all these places, and hear shout outs to the Boozy Blondes’ favorites over these travels – Ryan at Currahee and Gonzo at STK.
Check Beer Spa off the Boozy Blondes’ boozy bucket list! (Then add it again 1000 more times because the girls want to go back again and again and again!) Since the Boozy Blondes Podcast inception, the girls have wanted to visit the Beer Spa in Orlando, Florida, and now they are dishing all the details and pro tips to make the most out of your visit.
The Beer Spa offers rooms to accommodate 1 - 4 adults. Each room has a (or two) soaking thermal tub(s), which is a bath of Beer Spa’s signature beer treatment, infrared sauna, chill hay lounge, full bathroom, and complimentary, unlimited self-serve beer. Beers from Ivanhoe Park Brewing in Orlando were on tap when the blondes visited, and for a $10 up-charge you can add sangria, wine and Prosecco to your experience. The girls brought boozy bros along for this adventure, so they reserved the two-tub, four-adults room, and added the sangria to their experience.
They reserved the room for 60 minutes, and Beer Spa staff recommends you soak for up to 45 minutes, then enjoy the sauna and/or hay bed for the remaining 15 minutes. Some benefits of the soak are:
beer yeast: considered an extremely healing ingredient and contains B vitamins and saccharides, which help exfoliate, purify and renew the skin while locking in moisture
hops: a natural sedative plant brimming with antioxidants, anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory properties
hydrotherapy: soaking in warm water allows your pores to open to enhance skin absorption, it can improve your mood and increase positive emotions, it gets the blood moving increasing circulation and relaxing tight muscles.
aromatherapy: the smell of hops treats insomnia and has an anti-anxiety effect in the body
If you enjoy saunas, there are many benefits to spending time in there. It enhances collagen production strengthening and rejuvenating skin complexion. It improves circulation and lowers blood pressure. It detoxifies and relieves joint pain and muscle soreness and helps the body release endorphins!
The Boozy Blondes share some pro-tips from this experience during the episode too:
Go! Enjoy it!
Wear your bathing suit under your clothes
Add the extra 30 minutes (60 minutes flies by and the girls wish they had more time to experience all the room had to offer)
Don’t be surprised when you pull up the building – it’s in an unassuming strip mall
Bring cash to tip the Beer Spa team
Shower while you are in your beer spa room (even though they advise you wait 2 hours to shower)
If you’re not a beer drinker, add the wine and sangria option for $10
Don’t forget about your wet bathing suits after the trip – they will smell like an old bar mat in the plastic bag if you leave them in there too long
There are plenty of photo ops and Instagrammable places in Beer Spa, so prepare to have some extra time to take fun pictures! We got our custom swimsuits at Rave Suits.
The Boozy Blondes kick off Season 3 of the Boozy Blondes podcast with Volume 3 of the Jax Ale Trail series! If you listened to Jax Ale Trail Vol. 2 in Season 1 of the podcast (Episode 021), the blondes promised to bring a valuable and resourceful episode in Vol. 3. (Vol. 2 was a little fuzzy, so while entertaining, there were some gaps in the details, but come on, who hasn’t forgotten some things while day drinking?) Listen in, and you’ll see they achieved that goal! Tune in to this aggressive leg of the Jax Ale Trail (5 breweries plus 3 bonus beach bars) to learn about what Jax Beach in Northeast Florida has to offer the drinking crowd.
The DOE is Jekyll Brewing Sour Thangs Orange Cranberry, a 5.5% fruited sour. Jekyll Brewing happened to be the first stop on the Ale Trail too. With the boozy bros in tow, the girls stopped here first for “quality beer, delicious food and chill vibe,” as its slogan reads. It did not disappoint. Jekyll Brewing has five locations where they brew beer and also distill spirits and make wine! A triple threat! Chrissy drank the Pack of Mules made with ginger beer, lime and house vodka. (Insider tip, you can order this drink with gin or bourbon if you prefer.)
Molly enjoyed a flight of Earth Mother (4% Cucumber Lime gose), Sour Thangs Watermelon, Lime & Hibiscus (5.5% Sour), Moon Peeps (5.2% blackberry flavored Belgian Wit) and Southern Juice IPA (6.3%). Phil also enjoyed Southern Juice and Rainer drank the El Chapo Margarita infused with jalapeño. The group had their base food here too splitting fish and chips, pork sliders and pork rinds.
The group headed west and crossed the street to check out Green Room Brewing, Jacksonville Beach’s first microbrewery! This brewery has an extensive tap list with 7 permanent taps and 9 rotating taps, releasing a new beer every Thursday! This pet-friendly brewery does not serve food, but you can bring your own. Chrissy loved the She Doesn’t Even Go Here (5% blueberry seltzer) and Molly couldn’t decide on just one, so indulged in another flight: Count Shakula (6.2% Oatmeal Stout), Fruit on the Bottom – Apricot Peach (4.2% sour), Diamond Blueberry (5% blonde ale) and Panty Vigilante (11.8% Belgian Quadruple with black currant). Phil enjoyed a NEIPA Hazy and Rainer had a spicy Mexican lager – La Ola.
Ink Factory Brewing was next, a short walk to the west of Green Room. This brewery is home to a microbrewery, cowork and espresso bar – the Boozy Blondes office dream! Caffeine fix in the morning, work in one of the conference room, then head downstairs to happy hour. What more could you ask for? Ink Factory had great beer and even better swag – there’s a surf shop here too! Think of this brewery like a bakery – fresh beer on tap every day, but once it’s gone, it’s gone for the day. So get here early to enjoy all the taps. Chrissy had a 7% Bahama Breeze seltzer – Breezy Bits. Molly and Phil got the Fun Foam (6% Milkshake IPA), and Rainer drank Factory Kolsch (5.2%).
It was time to eat again, and THE BEST food truck was parked at Ink Factory. Hard Pressed Burgers. Jacksonville’s best burger according to the Boozy Blondes. Definitely made the top 5 list of Chrissy’s worldwide best burgers list! Follow them on Instagram to see where they will pop up next and do yourself a favor – EAT ONE. It’s a simple smash burger with thinly shaved onion, house pickles, garlic aioli and American cheese. The meat mix is house made, and the girls are still drooling over this burger.
A half mile west of Ink Factory is Southern Swells Brewing Co, the fourth stop on Jax Ale Trail Vol. 3. Southern Swells offers a full bar! The patio is pet friendly, and while they don’t serve food, their share a courtyard with Talkin’ Tacos, so you can get your beer snacks there. The group played a game of shuffleboard while enjoying their drinks – Chrissy sipped on The Duval, an 11% electric blue sweltzer cocktail complete with a mustache swivel stick. Molly enjoyed Spicy Cukes, a 6% sour ale infused with cucumber and jalapeno and Phil had Karate in the Garage (6.8% NEIPA). No one can remember what Rainer drank here.
This day happened to be the first Jacksonville Jaguars preseason game, and with 75% of the group excited for this event, they hurried farther west down the street to Engine 15 Brewing Co. to catch the game. Engine 15 hosts 30 tap lines! Try to find a beer you won’t like here! Chrissy drank Sour Sara (5.8% strawberry guava sour) and Molly drank It’s Your Blood (5.2% Irish Red Ale). Phil enjoyed Sunday Funday (4.6% session IPA) while Rainer had the J’Ville Lager (5%).
The theme for this adventure was food every other stop, so it was time to eat again. The girls each had a hot dog and chips, and Molly added mac and cheese to hers which was reminiscent of Kraft blue box – so perfect for this point of the day!
So they did it! They hit the five breweries in Jax Beach, but the night wasn’t over yet. The group grabbed an Uber and started their tour of three Jax Beach staples – Lynch’s Irish Pub, The Ritz and The Brix. Lynch’s offers a full bar, live music, a menu packed with Irish staples and 42 beers on tap!
The Ritz and The Brix are located near each other. The Ritz opened its doors in 1945 and it still a “great place to meet” almost 80 years later! The Brix has a great outside courtyard and a million giant-sized tvs inside great for watching the game.
To wrap up the gang hit the Waffle House across the street from their hotel for some class late-night bites.
The blondes went four for four on Jax Beach breweries listed in their Jax Ale Trail passports (Jekyll Brewing opened after the passports the blondes own were created)! Predictions for Vol. 4 are that the girls will travel around Jacksonville’s southside area.
Be sure to follow all these fun locations on Instagram and stay tuned for Jax Ale Trail Vol. 4!
Boozy Blondes 