INFINITE ALE WORKS - Brewery number 1
The first (of many) breweries that I have visited this year is:
INFINITE ALE WORKS
304 Magnolia Avenue
Ocala, FL 34471
352-521-0212
infinitealeworks.com
January 26, 2020
For my review, and for rankings, the scale is: (1) beer quality (taste) (1-20); (2) beer quantity (number available) (1-10); (3) beer varietals (differing types) (1-10); (4) atmosphere (look, feel and vibe) (1-20); (5) service (self-explanatory - hopefully) (1-20); and (6) miscellaneous (personal preference) (1-20). This will give me a 100 point scale to reference, and I will keep a running ranking of each of the breweries throughout the year.
So, I walked in and the place was very open, with windows along the front and one side - both of which opened up to the streets, as this location sits on a corner in downtown Ocala. There is limited parking in the other side - only 4 or 5 spots, but you can park in an open, grass and dirt field behind the brewery. So, parking was not the ideal first impression, but upon seeing the brewery, the brightness, and openness was welcoming. There are several tables to your right as you enter, and the bar with about 10 - 12 seats is about halfway into the building on your right. Service bar is about 1/3 down the bar from the left, meaning the bar seating is split, but on a late Sunday afternoon there wasn't much of a crowd for this to be a problem. If the bar is crowded, or if you have several people, you might have to select a table, or have some people stand if you choose to stay at the bar.
Off to the left as you enter, is a little alcove, a mini hallway, that ends with a wall, but the wall has a dartboard on it. So basically Infinite has answered the question about how to play darts in a drinking establishment safely, and eliminating bad throws, bounces off the dartboard, or people not paying attention and stumbling into the game as only one person can fit in the area between the throw line and the dartboard - presumably just to go retrieve the darts.
Just passed the dart aisle is a big open room, with a bookcase full of games and possibly books (I didn't walk in there as it was occupied by others and I didn't want to intrude. There was also a big table, presumably to play the games selected from the shelves.
The bar its self is a simple long (although not very long) bar, with all of the taps easily noticeable and readable on the back wall of the bar. Above the taps hang several large labels of beers along with medals won as the Best Beer in Florida for their respective types. Yes, I will have some of those.
This place, although a full brewery in the back, looks and feels like a cozy bar. Big plus for that.
Looking at the menu and the taps, we see that here are 24 different beers on tap, plus guest taps. There is a wide variety of styles, but limited choices within those styles. For example, two wits (regular and raspberry - but same base), a Pale Ale, an IPA, several stouts (but all versions of the same base), a belgian quad, etc. The one category of beer that is very populous is the sours. They have 11 sours. Eleven out of the 24 beers offered are sours.
I see that several beers have won Best Beer in Florida awards, so I proceed to have a flight in order to taste a variety of beers, including some (but not all) of the award winners. My thought process is that if I only taste the award winners, they should be great, and it may be a skewed observation of the quality of all of the beers available. I settled in on a flight consisting of: Witfinite Raspberry; Trails - a Pale Ale; Apeiron - a Belgian-style IPA; and Into the Dark Unknown - an Imperial Stout. After the flight, I ordered a full pour of the West Floridian - a Belgian Quad, and finished with the Into the Dark Roast with Vanilla, the imperial stout with, wait for it - vanilla.
Of these, I did not really like the Apeiron, and I thought the Trails was good/OK. The other four were all great. You can read more about these beers in an earlier post on this blog here.
Although two bartenders were on duty, one cut out within minutes of me arriving - and no, I don't think it was because of me. The bartender that served me was Daniel. He was very knowledgeable about Infinite's beer, and after speaking with me about my first Imperial Stout, he recommended the second to me, even though I was practically ready to leave at that point. [Ed. Note - Glad I didn't that last one was AMAZING!]. I observed Daniel as he moved from one set of customers to the other, checking on their beers, if they wanted another, cleaning a bit in their area, and they staying and chatting with them, staying just long enough to be friendly, but not so long as to be hovering or annoying. And, he held his tongue when a couple in their 50s kept playing "tiki bar" music on the Touch Tunes, bragging about how the albums they selected were the greatest "tiki bar" albums of all time, how Jimmy Buffet did not count as "tiki bar" music, all the while not playing anything remotely resembling "tiki bar" music - it was mostly light jazz. I, however, could not, but I wasn't reliant upon their tips. All in all, Daniel was a darn good bartender.
Another thing that I noticed about Infinite Ale Works is that it has a specified Happy Hours Monday through Wednesday, and Sunday - as shown below (from the Infinite Ale Works website - as are the pictures included herein.)
What I particularly like about this Happy Hour is that it might attract different people different days. For example, if you are particularly fond of their wits, you would go on Tuesday, or Wednesday if you are fond of their stouts. More likely is that someone will go on whatever day they have free or when they have agreed to meet people, and then might try the happy hour beers, even if not something they would ordinarily try, so you might expand the tastes of your customers.
Plus, having live entertainment on Friday nights adds a bit of the "bar" not "brewery" feel.
They also have a specialty club customers can join in which you receive special deals, and also special beers are available only to you.
RATINGS
BEER QUALITY - TASTE (1-20)
So, in total, I had 6 beers; four in the flight and two full pours. I loved the full pours, and loved 2 in the flight, one in the flight was OK and another was poor. I also had a taste of one of the specialty beers, which was really just the Imperial Stout with vanilla - but added toasted coconut. It was Delicious. Do I do have to take away some for the Belgian-style IPA, and the Pale Ale. I give the beer quality a SIXTEEN (16/20).
BEER QUANTITY - NUMBER AVAILABLE (1-10)
Infinite Ale Works had 24 beers on tap on the menu, plus at least one other specialty beer available to club members only. They also had about 6 to 8 guest taps, and those were from a variety of brewers, not just all from one. I give the beer quantity regarding number of beers available a EIGHT (8/10).
BEER VARIETALS - NUMBER OF TYPES AVAILABLE (1-10)
Although technically Infinite Ale Works had various types (Pale Ale, Quad, IPA, Stout, Sours), the brewery is heavily sour focused (11 of 24 taps), and among the other varieties, most were just based upon their primary brews. I do give them props for having choices, and the 11 sours (which I didn't try) were numerous. I give the beer varietals regarding the number of types available a FIVE (5/10).
ATMOSPHERE (1-20)
This place was very much a bar, which I like, but the bar set-up was a bit disjointed, at least for the customers. Some tables, but no table service that I could see (although it was a slow Sunday). The dart board and the game room with the extended table were pluses, and the windows on the front and one side of the bar gave it an open and light feel. I give the atmosphere a FOURTEEN (14/20).
SERVICE (1-20)
Daniel the bartender was great. He had the knack - as all good bartenders do - to know when to talk to you (and other customers) so that they feel welcome, but without hovering and without ignoring other customers for one party. He even recommended beers based upon our discussions of previously ordered beers. My main knock would be no table service, but they might actually have that on busier nights. So, this could actually be higher, but I give the service an EIGHTEEN (18/20).
MISCELLANEOUS (1-20)
It had the feeling that this place could be really rocking on a busier night. The openness would make you hear that it was busy (in addition to seeing it), while the higher ceilings would actually keep your own conversation from being drowned out. I like the specialty daily happy hours, instead of just a generic $2 off everything), and the games and live music give people something else to celebrate than just the beer (although the beer is still clearly the focus!) I would definitely go back, and I'll give this miscellaneous rating a SIXTEEN (16/20).
OVERALL (100)
Doing simple mathematics, Infinite Ale Works rates 77 (out of 100). This places it first (to date) in my rankings.
RANKINGS
1. Infinite Ale Works - Ocala, FL - 77
INFINITE ALE WORKS
304 Magnolia Avenue
Ocala, FL 34471
352-521-0212
infinitealeworks.com
January 26, 2020
For my review, and for rankings, the scale is: (1) beer quality (taste) (1-20); (2) beer quantity (number available) (1-10); (3) beer varietals (differing types) (1-10); (4) atmosphere (look, feel and vibe) (1-20); (5) service (self-explanatory - hopefully) (1-20); and (6) miscellaneous (personal preference) (1-20). This will give me a 100 point scale to reference, and I will keep a running ranking of each of the breweries throughout the year.
So, I walked in and the place was very open, with windows along the front and one side - both of which opened up to the streets, as this location sits on a corner in downtown Ocala. There is limited parking in the other side - only 4 or 5 spots, but you can park in an open, grass and dirt field behind the brewery. So, parking was not the ideal first impression, but upon seeing the brewery, the brightness, and openness was welcoming. There are several tables to your right as you enter, and the bar with about 10 - 12 seats is about halfway into the building on your right. Service bar is about 1/3 down the bar from the left, meaning the bar seating is split, but on a late Sunday afternoon there wasn't much of a crowd for this to be a problem. If the bar is crowded, or if you have several people, you might have to select a table, or have some people stand if you choose to stay at the bar.
Off to the left as you enter, is a little alcove, a mini hallway, that ends with a wall, but the wall has a dartboard on it. So basically Infinite has answered the question about how to play darts in a drinking establishment safely, and eliminating bad throws, bounces off the dartboard, or people not paying attention and stumbling into the game as only one person can fit in the area between the throw line and the dartboard - presumably just to go retrieve the darts.
Just passed the dart aisle is a big open room, with a bookcase full of games and possibly books (I didn't walk in there as it was occupied by others and I didn't want to intrude. There was also a big table, presumably to play the games selected from the shelves.
The bar its self is a simple long (although not very long) bar, with all of the taps easily noticeable and readable on the back wall of the bar. Above the taps hang several large labels of beers along with medals won as the Best Beer in Florida for their respective types. Yes, I will have some of those.
This place, although a full brewery in the back, looks and feels like a cozy bar. Big plus for that.
Looking at the menu and the taps, we see that here are 24 different beers on tap, plus guest taps. There is a wide variety of styles, but limited choices within those styles. For example, two wits (regular and raspberry - but same base), a Pale Ale, an IPA, several stouts (but all versions of the same base), a belgian quad, etc. The one category of beer that is very populous is the sours. They have 11 sours. Eleven out of the 24 beers offered are sours.
I see that several beers have won Best Beer in Florida awards, so I proceed to have a flight in order to taste a variety of beers, including some (but not all) of the award winners. My thought process is that if I only taste the award winners, they should be great, and it may be a skewed observation of the quality of all of the beers available. I settled in on a flight consisting of: Witfinite Raspberry; Trails - a Pale Ale; Apeiron - a Belgian-style IPA; and Into the Dark Unknown - an Imperial Stout. After the flight, I ordered a full pour of the West Floridian - a Belgian Quad, and finished with the Into the Dark Roast with Vanilla, the imperial stout with, wait for it - vanilla.
Of these, I did not really like the Apeiron, and I thought the Trails was good/OK. The other four were all great. You can read more about these beers in an earlier post on this blog here.
Although two bartenders were on duty, one cut out within minutes of me arriving - and no, I don't think it was because of me. The bartender that served me was Daniel. He was very knowledgeable about Infinite's beer, and after speaking with me about my first Imperial Stout, he recommended the second to me, even though I was practically ready to leave at that point. [Ed. Note - Glad I didn't that last one was AMAZING!]. I observed Daniel as he moved from one set of customers to the other, checking on their beers, if they wanted another, cleaning a bit in their area, and they staying and chatting with them, staying just long enough to be friendly, but not so long as to be hovering or annoying. And, he held his tongue when a couple in their 50s kept playing "tiki bar" music on the Touch Tunes, bragging about how the albums they selected were the greatest "tiki bar" albums of all time, how Jimmy Buffet did not count as "tiki bar" music, all the while not playing anything remotely resembling "tiki bar" music - it was mostly light jazz. I, however, could not, but I wasn't reliant upon their tips. All in all, Daniel was a darn good bartender.
Another thing that I noticed about Infinite Ale Works is that it has a specified Happy Hours Monday through Wednesday, and Sunday - as shown below (from the Infinite Ale Works website - as are the pictures included herein.)
HAPPY HOURS & LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
What I particularly like about this Happy Hour is that it might attract different people different days. For example, if you are particularly fond of their wits, you would go on Tuesday, or Wednesday if you are fond of their stouts. More likely is that someone will go on whatever day they have free or when they have agreed to meet people, and then might try the happy hour beers, even if not something they would ordinarily try, so you might expand the tastes of your customers.
Plus, having live entertainment on Friday nights adds a bit of the "bar" not "brewery" feel.
They also have a specialty club customers can join in which you receive special deals, and also special beers are available only to you.
RATINGS
BEER QUALITY - TASTE (1-20)
So, in total, I had 6 beers; four in the flight and two full pours. I loved the full pours, and loved 2 in the flight, one in the flight was OK and another was poor. I also had a taste of one of the specialty beers, which was really just the Imperial Stout with vanilla - but added toasted coconut. It was Delicious. Do I do have to take away some for the Belgian-style IPA, and the Pale Ale. I give the beer quality a SIXTEEN (16/20).
BEER QUANTITY - NUMBER AVAILABLE (1-10)
Infinite Ale Works had 24 beers on tap on the menu, plus at least one other specialty beer available to club members only. They also had about 6 to 8 guest taps, and those were from a variety of brewers, not just all from one. I give the beer quantity regarding number of beers available a EIGHT (8/10).
BEER VARIETALS - NUMBER OF TYPES AVAILABLE (1-10)
Although technically Infinite Ale Works had various types (Pale Ale, Quad, IPA, Stout, Sours), the brewery is heavily sour focused (11 of 24 taps), and among the other varieties, most were just based upon their primary brews. I do give them props for having choices, and the 11 sours (which I didn't try) were numerous. I give the beer varietals regarding the number of types available a FIVE (5/10).
ATMOSPHERE (1-20)
This place was very much a bar, which I like, but the bar set-up was a bit disjointed, at least for the customers. Some tables, but no table service that I could see (although it was a slow Sunday). The dart board and the game room with the extended table were pluses, and the windows on the front and one side of the bar gave it an open and light feel. I give the atmosphere a FOURTEEN (14/20).
SERVICE (1-20)
Daniel the bartender was great. He had the knack - as all good bartenders do - to know when to talk to you (and other customers) so that they feel welcome, but without hovering and without ignoring other customers for one party. He even recommended beers based upon our discussions of previously ordered beers. My main knock would be no table service, but they might actually have that on busier nights. So, this could actually be higher, but I give the service an EIGHTEEN (18/20).
MISCELLANEOUS (1-20)
It had the feeling that this place could be really rocking on a busier night. The openness would make you hear that it was busy (in addition to seeing it), while the higher ceilings would actually keep your own conversation from being drowned out. I like the specialty daily happy hours, instead of just a generic $2 off everything), and the games and live music give people something else to celebrate than just the beer (although the beer is still clearly the focus!) I would definitely go back, and I'll give this miscellaneous rating a SIXTEEN (16/20).
OVERALL (100)
Doing simple mathematics, Infinite Ale Works rates 77 (out of 100). This places it first (to date) in my rankings.
RANKINGS
1. Infinite Ale Works - Ocala, FL - 77
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