It has been quite the summer for South Beach Brewing Company.

In July, the brewery — known for its Florida-inspired brunch beers like the Blood Orange Sunset IPA — was slated to open its very first standalone brewpub in the form of a beachy bungalow on 11th Street between Washington and Collins avenues.

Those plans were halted in the heat of the pandemic, owing restrictions on breweries (and bars). To further complicate matters, the new brewpub did not qualify for federal relief from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

A few months removed from its original launch date, it’s time for another go.

Founder Lorenzo Borghese — whom some may recognize as the face of the Animal Aid USA nonprofit or from his stints on The Bachelor and Celebrity Big Brother UK — tells New Times the brewpub hopes to be open “in a few weeks,” pending the approval of a few remaining permits.

“While we haven’t been able to bring in revenue at the new location, there have been some positives,” says Borghese. “Had we opened, we likely would have had to furlough employees and we couldn’t have operated at a low volume. On the flip side, we’ve been able to focus even more on being authentic and build our brand.”

Among the recent developments: an increased emphasis on South Beach Brewing Company as a lifestyle brand, complete with snazzy T-shirts, hats and other merchandise designed by brand partner and Miami artist, Lebo.

Borghese also points to Lebo's vibrant new mural in the brewpub space that proclaims, “I Love Right Now,” and a retro-vibe mini model of the South Beach landscape at the bar.

South Beach Brewing Company Fighting The Fight Of It's Life.