Beer Tasting with Victory Brewing’s Cameron Rollo

The Blind Monk’s February Beer Tasting With Victory Brewing’s Cameron Rollo

It’s no small victory that we had the pleasure of hosting our first February beer tasting with none other than Victory Brewing’s Southern Regional Manager, Cameron Rollo.

He rolled through the bar Wednesday for an intimate tasting to promote Victory’s craft beer selection currently available at the Blind Monk .

The tasting marks the first of many to highlight a specific brewery — a special meeting where a representative will be in-house to guide patrons on a tasting tutorial of their brewery’s own beers.

“We had Cameron in town, and decided to bring him to the Blind Monk,” says Kenny St. Cyr, the local sales representative for Fresh Beer, Inc., which supplies the Monk with its amazing craft line-up.

Why? Because, like Victory itself, the Blind Monk started with a dream — and humble beginnings — only to grow into something much larger than anticipated.

“Look at this place,” says Rollo. “The [Blind Monk] started out just like us — they have the same identity, and that’s what makes this a great relationship.”

Victory is just one of the many breweries to be found on the beer menu at the Blind Monk — a list of cherry-picked specialty brews where “no two are alike,” says St. Cyr. “It’s a diversified selection that really encompasses everything there is to offer in the [specialty beer world].”

Especially with the Victory beers, where diversity is key. The craft brewery — currently the 30th largest in the U.S. — uses German malted barley, both European and American hops, over 20 unique yeast strains, and the highest quality local water to create 20 different brews.

At the Blind Monk, you can taste five of their most popular beers, each covered in the tasting.

“I really like [our] Hop Whollop for [a Florida] beer,” says Rollo. “It fits well with its earthiness, and the strong hint of pine resin.”

Since coming to Florida, Rollo says that Victory has done especially well. Specifically with smaller venues, like the Blind Monk, which has a growing list of specialty beers and imports. These days, the craft beer line-up is never the same, adds St. Cyr, with more obscure selections than you’ll find anywhere else.

The reason: Just so happens wine drinkers are more open to diversity.

“The wine community has taken to the world of craft beer. They’re looking for the more complex products to give them a change from the wine. Here, it’s our portfolio’s higher end products, as well as the local beers,” adds St. Cyr. “At the Blind Monk, they can really have the best of both worlds.”

Just make sure to stay up-to-date: the list changes frequently, he adds, with two to three beers added each week. Since the grand opening, the list has grown from just 12 craft beers to just over 20 — with seasonal and limited release specials peppering the menu while supplies last.

Currently, the Blind Monk craft beer menu includes 17 breweries, everything from Avery Brewing and Ayinger, to Timmermans Framboise (strawberry lambic) and Well’s Banana Bread beer.

Victory Brewing, however, has been a steadfast stand-in from the very start, beginning with their Prima Pils (5.3%), a soft pale lager for $5. Need a little more bang for your buck? Try the Golden Monkey (9.5%), a fruity Belgium-style ale for $6, or the hoppy, complex Storm King Imperial Stout (9.1%) for $6.

Interested in attending the next beer tasting? Be sure to check our calendar for our MARCH tasting (we’re hoping to host Avery Brewery of Colorado next!). Tastings cost anywhere from $10 to $20, and spaces are limited to no more than 15 people. Questions? Call Reese or Krystal at (561) 833-3605 for all the details and information on upcoming events.