Every year, SeaWorld Orlando hosts its annual Craft Beer Festival, a celebration of all things boozy and bubbly. With more than 100 craft brews, wines, seltzers and cocktails and over 15 unique flavors specially prepared by SeaWorld's talented culinary team spread out over 21 booths, there's truly something every member of your frog fam can enjoy — yes, even the tadpoles. Hop along with us as we explore everything the SeaWorld Orlando Craft Beer Festival has to offer!
SeaWorld Orlando Craft Beer Festival Dates and Upgrades
Craft Beer Festival is hoppening every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Sept. 4, 2023 — just before Howl-O-Scream starts. If that date sounds familiar, it's also because that's when Summer Spectacular ends. That means while you're enjoying your bites and brews at Craft Beer Festival, you can also relish in all the exciting entertainment Summer Spectacular has to offer — including the epic dance party at Club Sea Glow at Bayside Stadium, as well as the frogtastic fireworks spectacular, Ignite. (There's truly no better way to end a perfect park day!) During the day, you can also jam out to live music at both Flamecraft Stage and The Beer Garden Stage.
While Craft Beer Festival may be included in the price of admission, you will have to pay for every individual item you want to sip or nibble on. However, there are two awesome ways to make your trip incredibly affordable. First off, Undercover Tourist offers discounted tickets to SeaWorld Orlando, which can save you some green! Additionally, SeaWorld sells Sampling Lanyards that make conquering this festival much easier. For just $60, you can try eight different festival items or for just $75, you can try 12 different festival items. (Yes, that includes both food and drinks — although drinks will come in a smaller sample size.) These are great deals and definitely make this festival much more wallet-friendly!
SeaWorld Orlando Craft Beer Festival Menus
Alright, let's get down to the good stuff! We tried a bunch of food items, such as the delicious Kona-glazed Grown Up's Donut Holes. The drinks were the main attraction, however, and we ordered some delectable beverages, such as the sweet Tropical Breeze and the fruity 3 Daughters Key Lime Cider. Perfect pairings to wet any whistle! Sound appealing? Here are all the delicious drinks and frogtastic food items you can find at Craft Beer Festival:
1. Flamecraft Bar
- South Beach Blood Orange Sunset IPA
- South Beach Strawberry Orange Mimosa Sparkling Ale
- Suncreek Strawberry Blonde Ambition Ale
- Suncreek Whistling Birds Raspberry Sour
- New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale
- Crooked Can Seasonal
- Swamped Wild Night Honey Cream Ale
- Sailfish Brewing Co. Tag & Release Amber Ale
- SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale
- Blue Moon Belgium White
- Brew Hub Key Lime Pie Sour
- Suncreek Sun Squishy IPA Barley Barrel
- Cowabunga Orange Creamsicle Sour Ale
- D'Oro Mexican Lager
- Fall Nut Brown
2. Barley Barrel
- Orange Crush Pale Ale
- ZFG Zero IBU Pale Ale
- Seasonal Berliner
- Strawberry Whiskey Smash — Jameson, Strawberry, Lemon Juice, Bitters, Strawberry Garnish
3. Lager than Life
- Brewlando Jernigan's Hazy IPA
- Brewlando Red Lake Irish Red
4. Café de Mar
- Vermont Woodchuck Granny Cider
- Vermont Amber Cider
- Sea Star Strawberry Daquiri
- Sea Breeze Pina Colada
- Orlando Vice
- NEW! Pipeline Pretzel — Served with High Stepper American IPA Beer Cheese
5. Brews & Chews
- Funky Buddha Floridian Hefewizen
- Funky Buddha Hop Gun IPA
- Funky Buddha Tropical Floridian Wheat Ale
- Funky Buddha Vibin' Groovable Lager
- Fistful Frozen Whiskey Sour — Fistful Bourbon, Citrus — garnished with an orange wedge
- NEW! Pulled Pork Slider — Brioche Bun, Funky Buddha-infused Barbecue Smoked Pork, Jalapeno Slaw
- NEW! Cheese Curds — Deep-fried Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar Breaded Cheese, Served with Spicy Ranch
- NEW! Boozy S'mores — Graham Cracker, Hefeweizen Marshmallow Fluff, Chocolate Ganache
6. New Orleans Corner
- Abita Turbodog Brown Ale
- Abita Purple Haze Lager
- Hurricane — Bacardi Light, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Passionfruit, Grenadine — garnished with an orange wedge
- RETURNING FAVORITE! Totchos — Chili Cheese or BBQ Brisket, topped with Beer Cheese, Sour Cream, Jalapeños, Pico de Gallo
- RETURNING FAVORITE! Beignets — Bananas Foster or Guinness Chocolate Ganache
7. Pub Grub
- Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA
- Dogfish Head Citrus Squall Double Golden Ale
- Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA
- REIMAGINED! 60 Minute IPA Dog — All Beef Hot Dog, 60 Minute IPA Infused Sauerkraut & Beer Cheese, Crispy Onions
8. Wish You Were Beer
- Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing Hazy IPA
- Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
- Sierra Nevada Sunny Little Thing Citrus Wheat Ale
- Sierra Nevada Wild Little Thing Slightly Sour Ale
- Summer Shandy — Citrus Ale, Lemonade — garnished with a lemon wedge
- NEW! Short Rib Poutine — 12 hour Braised Pale Ale Short Rib, Sidewinder Fries, Wisconsin Cheese Curds, Gravy
- NEW! Pork Belly & Kimchi — Soy Honey Glazed Pork Belly, Scallion Sweet Cornbread
- RETURNING FAVORITE! Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie — Milk Chocolate, Kentucky Bourbon, Caramelized Pecans
9. Hops & Dreams
- Anheuser-Busch Shocktop
- Anhueser-Busch Michelob Ultra
- Modelo
- Jalapeno Margarita — Jalapeno Tequila, Triple Sec, Lime
10. Distilled Delights
- NEW! Mezcal Tasting
- Ilegal Mezcal Joven
- Ilegal Mezcal Reposado
- Ilegal Mezcal Anejo
- The Mango Mezcal — Mango, Mezcal, Lime sour, Tajin rim
11. Go for the Grain
- Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
- Terrapin Luau Krunkles (Passionfruit, Orange, Guava IPA)
- Cigar City Madura Brown Ale
- Cigar City Florida Man Double IPA
- RETURNING FAVORITE! Walking Taco — Frito's Chips, Cigar City-infused Chili, Pico de Gallo, Sour Cream
- NEW! Michelada Shrimp Ceviche — Mexican Michelada & Lime-infused Shrimp, Served with Corn Tortilla Chips
- RETURNING FAVORITE! Madura Brown Ale Cupcake — Sponge Cake Soaked in Jameson Simple Syrup, Bailey's Irish Buttercream Frosting
12. Off the Vine
- NEW! Wine Tasting
- Sonoroso Velvet Red Blend
- Sonoroso Sweet Red Rosso Dolce
- Sonoroso Dark Red Blend
- Lunetta Prosecco
13. Sweet & Sour
- Wicked Weed Fresh Pressed Mango Pineapple Guava Wheat Ale
- Wicked Weed Coastal Love Hazy IPA
- Wicked weed Pernicious IPA
- Wicked Weed Strawberry Kiwi Burst Sour Ale
- Orchard Island — Tito's Vodka, Milagros Tequila, Calypso Spiced Rum, Triple Sec, Peach, Pumpkin, Sour Mix, Peach Garnish
- Blackberry Peach Sangria — Tito's Vodka, White Wine, Blackberry, Peach, Orange garnish
- Fizzy Shine — Wicked Dolphin Rumshine, Blood orange syrup, Ginger beer, Lemon juice, Orange Garnish
14. Sam Adams Best Bites
- Sam Adams Boston Lager
- Sam Adams Seasonal
- Sam Adams Wicked Hazy Juicy New England IPA
- Fistful Frozen Peach Punch — Fistful of Bourbon, Tea, Peach, Peach Garnish
- REIMAGINED! Birria Beef Tacos — Mazina Tortilla, 8 Hour Braised Sam Adams Octoberfest Guajillo Chile Beef, Oaxaca Cheese
- NEW! Street Corn — Corn Cobb, Cilantro Lime Crema, Cotija Cheese, Flaming Cheeto Crumbs
- NEW! Churro Cheesecake — Deep-fried Cheesecake, Cinnamon Sugar Dust, served with Dark Chocolate Sauce & Chantilly Cream
15. Waterway Bar
- Orange Blossom Honey Pilsner
- Orange Blossom City Beautiful IPA
- Yuengling Lager
- Sailfish Brewing Co Sunrise City American IPA
- Sailfish Brewing Co White Marlin Wheat Beer
- Michelob Ultra Light Beer
- Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
- Bud Light
- Heineken Lager
- Corona Premier
16. Ale Yeah
- Big Storm Bromosa Tangerine IPA
- Big Storm Pressure Golden Ale
- Big Storm Wave Maker Amber Ale
- Surfs Up — Coconut Rum, Blue Curacao, Pineapple Juice
- Strawberry Margarita — Strawberry Tequila, Triple Sec, Lime
17. Mama's Pretzel Kitchen
- Florida Ave You're My Boy Blue Blueberry Wheat Ale
- Florida Ave Luminescence Hazy IPA
- Brew Bus The Lantern Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Breckenridge Brewing Mako Amber Ale
- Florida Ave Tangerine Splash Fruited Wheat Ale
- 3 Daughters Tropical Here Hefeweizen
- 3 Daughters Coffee Blonde Ale
- 3 Daughters Key Lime Cider
- Bold Rock Apple Cider
18. Be Mighty, Not Salty
- Crooked Can Highstepper American IPA
- Space Cowboi Double NE IPA
- Crooked Can Florida Sunshine Pilsen Malt Lager CAN
- Crooked Honey — Fistful Bourbon, Hot Honey Syrup, Sour Mix, Club Soda, Lemon Garnish
- NEW! Beer Mug Pretzel — Served with High Stepper American IPA Beer Cheese
- NEW! Wisconsin Bratwurst — Warm Pretzel Bun, High Stepper American IPA Beer Cheese, Sauerkraut, Mild Giardiniera
- RETURNING FAVORITE! Pretzel Wrapped Bratwurst — Served with Beer Mustard
19. Beer Garden
- Motorworks Pulp Friction Grapefruit IPA
- Motorworks Midnight Espresso Coffee Porter
- Big Storm Octoberfest
- Kona Hanalei IPA
- Kona Longboard Lager
20. Donut Forget My Beer
- Bud Light
- Michelob Ultra
- Tropical Breeze — Bacardi Light Rum, Banana, Pineapple, Lime
- NEW! Twist & Stout — Guinness Glazed Cronut
- NEW! Bacon Me Crazy — Kona Glazed Donut & Bacon
- NEW! Grown Up's Donut Holes — Kona Glazed Donut Holes, Chocolate Mousse & Sugar
21. Glacier
- Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale
- Elysian Space Dust IPA
- Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA
- Elysian Dragons Tooth Stout
- Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
- Orange Blossom Brewing Honey Pilsner
- Sparkling Mojito — Flor de Cana Rum, Fresh Mint, Lime
- Spicy Pineapple Margarita — Milagro Silver Tequila, Fresh lime, Jalapeño and Pineapple
Best of the SeaWorld Orlando Craft Beer Festival
While everything we tried during our visit was delicious, there were a few stand-out items. Here's our round-up of some superlatives we thought were worth noting:
Best Craft Brew: South Beach Strawberry Orange Mimosa Sparkling Ale
Leap's more of a beer drinker than I am, but I started my day with this sparkling ale from South Beach Brewing Company and was pleasantly surprised with how fruity and smooth it was! It tasted more like a light cider than anything else and was the perfect drink to kick back and relax with at Flamecraft Bar after conquering a few coasters in the morning.
Best Specialty Cocktail: Blackberry Peach Sangria
Another light and fruity contender, the Blackberry Peach Sangria at Sweet & Sour was perfectly refreshing — making it a great option once the mid-day heat started to hit. (It also makes for a delicious dose of liquid courage for any frogs looking to take on Mako!)
Best Sweet Food Option: Beignets
Every single festival at SeaWorld, I always have to get my hands on the Bananas Foster beignets. Soft, sweet and covered in powdered sugar, this New Orleans staple never disappoints. Not even to mention the Bananas Foster topping which is rich but by no means saccharine. This year, you can even order them topped with Guinness Chocolate Ganache!
Best Savory Food Option: 60 Minute IPA Dog
From the rich beer cheese to the crunchy crispy onions, this hot dog has a lot going for it. And despite its small size, it was a perfectly filling option once I started getting hungry for lunch. This drunken dog proves why hot dogs are the quintessential summer food!
Have you been to SeaWorld Orlando's Craft Beer Festival before? What are your favorite food or drink items? Share with us in the comments below!
Related: 5 Reasons to Set Your Sails to SeaWorld Orlando's Seven Seas Food Festival
Hoppy planning!
