Taproom: Rockpit Brewing (Orlando, FL)

So last week we finally got to take our trip to Universal Studios Orlando that we had originally planned for spring break in 2020. Also planned for that vacation was a side trip to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Crystal River. It rained the day we drove from Orlando to Crystal River, so we got the chance to visit one of the Orlando breweries I had looked up before the trip. This is an all-ages taproom with food from a barbecue joint next door.

451. Rockpit Brewing (Orlando, FL) - HIBU: Belma (Polarized Series)
“West Coast India Pale Ale with notes of currant and tropical fruit with a high level of bitterness.”
There is a pleasantly bitter finish to this beer, and sometimes it lingers—but sometimes not. The one I had in the taproom had more of a pronounced bitter finish. This one, out of their 16oz crowler can, is less persistent. I didn’t get much in the way of fruit flavor from either one of them.

452. Rockpit Brewing (Orlando, FL) - Cackler
“Medium-light in body with crisp, clean upfront bitterness. You’ll want to take time to savor the strong tropical and citrus notes that are prevalent in this all-american [sic] IPA.”
A little bit more fruity than the HIBU: Belma, but not a lot. Both are very easy drinking considering their respective ABVs (6.6% for HIBU: Belma and 7.0% for Cackler).

453. Rockpit Brewing (Orlando, FL) - LOBU: Belma (Polarized Series)
“New England India Pale Ale with notes of tropical fruit, melon and strawberry.”
More fruit forward up front than its West Coast cousin, but no specific flavors—maybe stone fruit or melon. The finish is bitter, but much lighter than the HIBU, and it doesn’t linger.