A sleeping giant is about to come to life in St. Pete’s brewery scene. Outcast Brewing Company is officially opening its doors on Friday, September 13 at 1776 11th Ave N, bringing new (and significantly upgraded) life to the former Flying Boat and Brutalist space.
The family-owned brewery has made a significant investment in the property, led by a plan to truly have something for everybody. We got a sneak peek at the facility (as well as an early taste of some of the beers), and they’ve truly done an impressive job with their plans and upgrades.
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In addition to excellent craft beer, Outcast will also feature an upscale wine list, cocktails and mocktails, NA and kombucha drinks, hard seltzers, and even root beer on tap, so parents and their kids can get a pint from the bar together. What’s particularly impressive, however, is the renovation to the indoor and outdoor spaces on the sprawling property.
Between indoor square footage and the huge outdoor patio, the property has always been one of the biggest breweries in St. Pete from a pure footprint perspective. The team at Outcast has transformed those areas and created a multi-faceted bar that can offer any experience you could want.
Outcast will be a family-friendly gathering spot
In addition to the main taproom inside the front door, there will also be a plush, dedicated wine and champagne room with higher end offerings and cozy seating; a dedicated sports bar room called ‘The Stadium’ replete with TVs and a projector for games, plus arcade games like Golden Tee, Cruisin’ USA and more; and a swanky Art Deco-inspired lounge in the back room that will have a cocktail and mocktail bar (as well as a few TVs for Bachelor watch parties).
Outside, the pet-friendly back patio is nearly unrecognizable with a new stage for live music every Friday and Saturday, a huge covered seating deck with fans and misters, a walk-up outdoor bar, and space for all the typical yard games like cornhole and jumbo Jenga. There are also three different spots surrounding the building for food trucks (along with electric plug-ins so there won’t be any noisy generators).
Plus, Outcast is opening up seating in the main brewhouse with a lounge right next to all the brewing and fermentation tanks, as well as a small stage for intimate concerts. Between it all, Outcast hopes to provide something for everyone and become a place that all people can comfortably and happily join in on the fun.
“We’re bringing everything under one roof to make it a more inclusive experience,” co-owner/founder Richie Hamm said. “We need a place where, say you’re on a double date, everyone can have fun.”
Outcast will be full of games and music
Even the name is a tongue-in-cheek nod to that come-as-you-are mentality. They’re close to downtown, and a stone’s throw from both Grand Central and the MLK corridor, but inside their neighborhood, they don’t fit neatly into any one nightlife and entertainment district. To Outcast, that’s perfect – it allows them to just be who they are, and welcome everyone else to come grab a drink and do the same.
“Out here we’re just on the edge of it, so we’re kind of like the outcast,” Hamm said. “We’re all outcasts in some way, so everybody fits here.”
Consider that mentality as you walk inside the doors and discover large murals of their mascot and logo, Roscoe the raccoon, a surprisingly cuddly creature painted by local artist Ashley Brown. Just like a raccoon can make it anywhere, so can anyone make it at Outcast.
Outcast has big parties planned for Friday and Saturday, September 13 and 14 in honor of their grand opening weekend. Going forward, the brewery will be open seven days a week, with live music and food trucks every weekend. Follow them on instagram to see the latest.
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