Cycle Brewing to close downtown taproom this month after 12 years
/After 12 years, Cycle Brewing will close its tap room in downtown St. Pete this month | Cycle Brewing
Cycle Brewing, the city's oldest craft brewery and a cornerstone of St. Petersburg’s craft beer scene, will be closing its downtown taproom this month.
The cycling-themed brewery, which has served locals for the past 12 years, will not renew its lease at 534 Central Avenue, founder and brewmaster Doug Dozark announced earlier today on social media.
“The taproom will close in as early as a week or as late as the end of the month,” said Dozark.
While the tasting room will close, Cycle will continue to brew beer at its production warehouse at 2135 5th Avenue South—near the Orange Belt Railway and Pinellas Trail—where it bottles its beverages.
Inside Cycle Brewing’s taproom in downtown St. pete | Cycle Brewing
“After we resolve permitting issues, we hope to open something in the warehouse by this summer that could include retail bottle sales and eventually on-site consumption,” said Dozark in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.
Cycle brews a wide range of beers, including IPAs and sours, and is especially renowned for offering a large selection of barrel-aged stouts.
Some of the barrel-aged stouts include such as a barrel-aged stout with maple, cinnamon, and banana; another with coconut and hazelnut; and a brandy barrel-aged barleywine infused with vanilla beans.
A selection of barrel aged stouts from Cycle Brewing | Cycle Brewing
Dozark began brewing at Peg’s Cantina in Gulfport, a restaurant owned by his mother, Peg Wesselink.
Cycle opened its St. Pete taproom in August 2013, becoming the city’s first craft brewery. Later that year, Green Bench Brewing Company opened in the EDGE District. Now, there are nearly 50 locally owned breweries in the St. Pete/Clearwater area.
Though Dozark’s passion for cycling inspired the brewery’s theme, the name “Cycle Brewing” reflects a broader philosophy—embracing life’s journey, whether on two wheels or with a pint in hand.
The potential new taproom at the production warehouse may retain the Cycle Brewing name or adopt a new brand.
Owner and Brewer of Cycle Brewing, Doug Dozark | Cycle Brewing
“We have a lot of options and will take time to decide. Since the new location won’t carry over much from downtown, keeping the name might set the wrong expectations,” Dozark noted.
For now, Cycle Brewing remains open Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
