Craft beer is a world built on inspiration, innovation, and a deep respect for brewing traditions. For breweries like Cycle Brewing in St. Pete, the journey is often paved with lessons learned from pioneers and peers in the industry. It’s fascinating to consider the influences that shape a brewery’s identity, from operational approaches to the very beers they craft.
Reflecting on brewery inspirations, Cycle Brewing’s founder highlights a diverse range of influences, each contributing to a unique brewing philosophy. Oskar Blues, although a brief early experience, instilled valuable lessons in brewery operations and a lasting respect for foundational brewing knowledge. The creativity and boundary-pushing approach learned at Cigar City, particularly from Wayne Wambles, played a significant role in shaping a dynamic approach to recipe development and brewery management. More recently, the focus on style and deep brewing knowledge exemplified by Hill Farmstead has become a valued inspiration, particularly in refining certain beer styles.
Beyond these key mentors, inspiration is drawn from breweries admired for their specific strengths. Perennial and Side Project are noted for their exceptional beers and sustainable business models. Westbrook is recognized for its innovative and boundary-pushing beers, especially their canned Gose. New Belgium stands out for its commitment to quality assurance, impressive sour blending programs, and, remarkably, its environmentally conscious operations, including a wastewater treatment plant and methane recapture system. This tapestry of inspiration, combining operational efficiency, creative brewing, quality focus, and ethical considerations, contributes to the ethos of Cycle Brewing.
A defining characteristic of Cycle Brewing’s approach, evident in their IPAs, is a focus on single hop beers. While some breweries emphasize complex hop layering, Cycle Brewing finds clarity and brightness in single hop varieties. This philosophy champions the unique character of individual hops, allowing their distinct aromas and flavors to shine. Beers like Fixie, predominantly featuring Simcoe hops, Freewheel with its Nelson Sauvin focus, Crank showcasing Citra, and Hammer highlighting Mosaic, exemplify this single-hop approach. The Unicycle series further explores this concept, dedicating entire brews to showcasing different hop varieties. This dedication to single hop brewing allows Cycle Brewing to deliver beers with a vibrant and direct hop character, appreciated by those who favor a less muddled and more defined hop experience.
