Wicked Barley Brewing Company | Jacksonville, FL
Beer Trip: Wicked Barley Brewing Company in Jacksonville, Florida
Morgan here! During a work trip to Jacksonville I had the opportunity to spend my evening at Wicked Barley Brewing Company. There were countless breweries to choose from in the Jacksonville area, but boy I’m glad I ended up here!
Your view approaching the front entrance!
The Brewery
Located in a large metal building, Wicked Barley’s ambiance is immediately apparent as you walk up. With their devilish logo on the door handles and a red light feel, their theme is incredibly well-executed - and that doesn’t stop on the outside. Once you’re in, you’ll find a large space with very long tables (some could seat 20+!), a long bar, a glass wall showcasing the fermenting tanks, and super high ceilings.
The brewery was very busy for a Monday evening, both with those drinking and those having a full meal. The music had a vibe more in alignment with a club versus a low-key brewery, but there were people of all walks of life enjoying themselves.
There was a nice outdoor patio space to enjoy here as well, but it was unfortunately pouring rain during the day that I made my visit.
Glass wall showcasing fermenting tanks, topped off with the red light ambiance
The Beer
It’s A Bit Nibly Out Milk Stout
I truly couldn’t believe how many choices Wicked Barley offered - there were 21 different beers on tap within 6 categories (Crispy & Refreshing; Fruity; Hoppy; Sour & Tart; Malty; Roasty & Dark)! As if their selection wasn’t enough already, they also offered sake and wine for the non-beer drinkers.
With so many to choose from, I had a flight + a taster to cover as much ground as I could. Sometimes when a brewery offers too many, the flavor is compromised - but that was not the case here. I tried their Belgian quadruple, a blueberry ale, a milkshake IPA, and a milk stout - but my all-time favorite was one of their sours. Ice Cream At My Funeral was a Neapolitan ice cream sour with flavors of chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and lactose all in one. It was lightly sour, yet still tasted like ice cream - one of the most unique beers I’ve had!
Delicious flight full of color!
Food & Merch
Unfortunately for me I ate before arriving. After seeing all of the meals around me, I really wished I hadn’t! Wicked Barley is a full restaurant offering appetizers, wings, burgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos, wraps, and salads. I chatted with the visitors near me at the bar, both of which said their meals were delicious.
From a merchandise perspective, this was one of the most impressive selections I’ve seen. Two enormous sections were present, featuring clothes, hats, glassware, crowlers, to-go beer, and more.
I would absolutely recommend Wicked Barley if you find yourself in Jacksonville (and no, I’m not just saying that because it shares my dog’s namesake)! The selection, atmosphere, and food menu all make this stop top-notch. Stop by Wicked Barley to enjoy “naughty ales for noble souls.”
Cheers!
