Sideward Brewing started as a one-barrel operation inside a coffee shop. That’s not a metaphor or a marketing line — the original brewhouse was literally sharing square footage with espresso machines at Austin’s Coffee on Colonial, which is a strange and wonderful origin story for what has since grown into one of Orlando’s more serious craft brewing destinations.
The taproom sits on Virginia Drive in the Audubon Park neighborhood, and I want to be upfront: I live close enough that I’ve walked here in flip-flops on more than one occasion. That proximity has given me a pretty thorough education in what Sideward does well, and the short answer is mixed-fermentation and sour ales done with actual intention. This is not a brewery that makes one flagship lager and then pivots to hard seltzer. The tap list rotates constantly, and there’s almost always something that required months of patience to produce.
First reason to go: the sours. Sideward’s barrel program is the backbone of the place. They work with wine barrels, whiskey barrels, and blended batches in ways that produce tart, complex beers without veering into the face-puckering novelty territory some breweries chase. A recent pour I keep thinking about was a golden sour aged in Chardonnay barrels with a soft stone-fruit finish — dry enough to drink two of, interesting enough that I nursed the first one for forty minutes. Prices for a 10 oz pour typically run $5–$9 depending on the beer, and specialty releases go a bit higher.
Second reason: the room itself earns a visit. The taproom is small but not cramped, with a corrugated metal aesthetic that could feel cold but somehow doesn’t. There’s a covered patio out back that fills up fast on weekend evenings, especially when the weather is cooperating, which in Orlando means roughly November through April. The staff knows the beer well enough to give real recommendations rather than just reading off a chalkboard, which matters when the menu has eight unfamiliar names on it.
Third reason: the food situation is handled honestly. Sideward doesn’t pretend to run a kitchen. They typically have a rotating food truck parked outside or partnerships with nearby spots, so you’re not stuck eating peanuts out of a jar while drinking a 7% wild ale. Check their Instagram before you go to see who’s set up — it changes week to week but there’s almost always something worth eating.
They do regular can releases for their more limited offerings, and those tend to sell out quickly when word gets out. If you want something to bring home rather than drink on-site, showing up early on release days is not optional — it’s the whole strategy.
The neighborhood matters too. Virginia Drive has become one of the more walkable stretches in Orlando, with Redlight Redlight nearby and a handful of small restaurants within a short walk. Sideward fits that block without trying too hard to fit it, which is probably the best thing you can say about any place.
Go on a Thursday or Friday evening when the crowd is relaxed and the tap list hasn’t been picked over. Bring someone who actually drinks beer.
