Beer bar named best in Florida

A business in the eastern Collier County town of Ave Maria has struck the mother lode of liquid gold — the kind that comes with a foamy head in a frosty mug.

The new town under development on the edge of the Everglades by Barron Collier Cos. now boasts the distinction of having Florida’s best beer bar, according to nearly 7,000 readers of CraftBeer.com who participated in the 2019 Great American Beer Bars survey.

Owned by Matt and Danee Williams, the winning tavern, Oil Well Craft Beer, is in the heart of Ave Maria’s business district, where 20 local, unique and hard-to-find brews flow freely from 20 taps. 

“Oil Well Craft Beer is a favorite spot for Ave Maria residents, visitors and neighbors,” says Ave Maria Director of Commercial Development Cee Cee Marinelli in a statement. “They’re deeply connected to the community here and are always hosting fun events in their tap room.”

According to CraftBeer.com there are more than 7,000 small and independent breweries in the United States, with beer bars playing a critical role in the growth of local breweries.