Photo by Christopher Collier
The Gulfport Brewery + Eatery earned statewide recognition for three of its submissions to the Annual Best Florida Beer Pro 2026 competition.
After the official judging in late January and early February, the medals were awarded on March 8 at the 2026 Brewer’s Ball held at River Tower Park in Tampa. The competition featured 747 judged entries spread across 61 medal group categories.
Brewing Gold
Beating out 13 other contestants to win gold in the Vienna-style Lager category, their beer, The Vienna Connection, is a lightly toasted and smooth beverage that’s a favorite of head brewmaster Jason Toft.
“The Vienna Connection winning gold blew me away,” Toft said. “I knew it was a great beer, it is a ‘brewer’s beer’ after all, so many local breweries make excellent examples too… To win this category is probably one of the highest honors I’ve received in my career.”
Gulfport Gold also took home gold in the American-style wheat beer category, competing against six other entries. The bright, crisp beer has been a staple of Gulfport Brewing since the brewery opened in 2020.
“It’s something you would drink on a boat all day long,” assistant brewer Athens Gibson said.
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The brewery also earned a silver medal for Gourd Vibes Only, a pumpkin amber ale.
“Like grandma’s pumpkin pie,” Gibson said. “It’s how you wish you knew how to make a pumpkin pie, but in liquid form.”
Gibson said the brewery’s success reflects not just the brewing process, but the community built around the business.
“It’s not just about beer; it’s about the experience,” Gibson said. “The more people who come, the better the experience.”
Looking ahead, Toft is excited for the future.
“We’ve been working on some expansion plans for both Gulfport and our new distribution-focused brand Boat Drinks Brewing,” Toft said. “You will definitely see the Vienna Connection become a staple brand for us… For Gulfport Gold, it’s gonna keep on chugging. It’s been our flagship brand for nearly six years now, and I’m going to keep Gulfport hydrated with it as long as I can!”
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