Breweries & Taprooms
Craft beer on Amelia Island — where to drink it, when to tour, and the festival worth planning around.
Amelia Island's craft beer scene is small, independent and entirely walkable if you base yourself downtown. It sits alongside something rarer: the Palace Saloon on Centre Street has been pouring since 1903 and is recognised as Florida's oldest continuously operating bar. Between the modern taprooms and that, you can drink your way through about 120 years of Florida beer history in an afternoon.
Mocama Beer Company
Mocama is the island's best-known craft brewery and this guide's sponsor. The taproom pours their own beer, and the same building runs a coffee bar — unusually, it works as both a morning and an evening room. Dogs are welcome on the patio. It sits just off the historic downtown, an easy walk from Centre Street.
Exclusive reader offer. Mocama runs brewery tours, and readers of this guide can book at $11 per person. Mention "Things To Do in Fernandina" when booking. See the offer and book →
The wider island scene
Mocama is not the only brewer on Amelia Island — First Love Brewing and Amelia Island Brewing Company are both part of the local craft scene, and the taproom trade here turns over enough that it is worth checking current hours before you set out rather than trusting any guide, including this one. Our dining guide and the daily-updated events calendar carry what is open and what is on.
Island Hop Craft Beer & Spirits Festival
The single event to plan a beer trip around. Island Hop is typically held on the first Saturday of October at Central Park, and benefits Fernandina Beach Main Street, the nonprofit that manages the downtown district. It is the one day the whole island's beer and spirits trade is in one place.
The Palace Saloon
Not a brewery, but unmissable on any drinking tour of the island. The Palace Saloon at 117 Centre Street has operated since 1903 and holds the title of Florida's oldest continuously operating bar. Two things to know before you go: it is 21 and over, and it is cash only. There is no food, though takeout from elsewhere is welcome.
Making an afternoon of it
Park once downtown and walk — the district is flat and compact, and the taprooms, the Palace and the Centre Street restaurants are all within a ten-minute stroll. Downtown parking is now paid, so check the parking guide first. Many taprooms carry live music, generally starting earlier and skewing more acoustic than the bar scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there breweries in Fernandina Beach?
Yes. Amelia Island has a small but established craft beer scene, with several independent breweries and taprooms in and around Fernandina Beach — including Mocama Beer Company, whose taproom and coffee bar are near the historic downtown.
Can you tour a brewery in Fernandina Beach?
Yes. Mocama Beer Company runs brewery tours, and readers of this guide can book an exclusive $11 per person rate.
Is there a beer festival on Amelia Island?
The Island Hop Craft Beer & Spirits Festival is typically held the first Saturday of October at Central Park, benefiting Fernandina Beach Main Street.
Where is Florida's oldest bar?
The Palace Saloon at 117 Centre Street in Fernandina Beach has operated since 1903 and is recognised as Florida’s oldest continuously operating bar. It is 21 and over, and cash only.