Hi, I’m Gary—welcome to Chubby Mermaid Brewing Co.

Opening a brewery has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. For many years, my military service kept that dream on hold, but after retiring in 2021, I was finally able to turn it into reality. The same patience, discipline, and attention to detail I relied on during my service carried over into building this brewery. It’s been a slow, methodical journey to get here—and I’ll be honest, if I had known just how much work it would take, I might have had second thoughts… but probably not. I genuinely love this stuff.

A Passion for Brewing

I had been brewing beer at home for over 17 years, and from the very beginning, I was hooked. Every part of the process fascinated me—from recipe development to dialing in fermentation. Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours (and more money than I care to admit) researching, attending trade shows, working with vendors, and learning from other passionate craft brewers.

Through nonstop experimentation and refinement, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for how even the smallest adjustments can dramatically impact flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel. Brewing is a creative outlet, but it also requires discipline, curiosity, and a commitment to constant learning—values that align closely with my background in the military. At Chubby Mermaid, our team brings that same mindset and energy to every beer we create.

This spirit of developing and refining brought me to the plight of celiac and gluten-intolerant individuals who once enjoyed beer, but later found they could no longer partake. I took it as a challenge to learn the craft of true gluten-free beer production. The development and discovery process reignited those same feelings I had when I first started brewing — the excitement of creating something new and constantly learning more.

As with any endeavor, one person can’t be everywhere at once. That’s where Josh, my business partner, decided to jump into the journey alongside me as we worked to unlock the possibilities of crafting great beer without relying on traditional brewing ingredients. In doing so, it has allowed me to dedicate more time and focus to our traditional beer production while ensuring we continue pushing the boundaries of what gluten-free craft beer can become.

We hope your experience in our taproom is as enjoyable as it’s been for us building this dream—one pint at a time.

Supporting Our Manatee Namesakes

As our name suggests, we love manatees—our “chubby mermaids.” That’s why we proudly donate a portion of every beer on tap to the Calusa Water Keepers as part of our annual giving.

By enjoying a beer at our taproom, you’re also helping protect these gentle giants. Want to do more? We encourage you to visit their website and consider donating directly or scan this QR code below to donate. Cheers!