Grand opening: New Cape Brewery offers food, more
Cape Coral’s newest brewery is celebrating its grand opening today through Sunday.
Big Blue Brewing will offer food and drink specials throughout the weekend during its regular operating hours, which run from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Live entertainment will also be on hand.
“We’re like a gastropub, but take it up a notch,” co-owner JoAnn Elardo.
She runs the nearly 10,000-square-foot eatery, bar and brewery with her husband, Bob.
“Our restaurant fits almost 300 people inside and out,” she said.
For the grand opening, the specials will include $4 pints on the Big Blue beers.
“That we make here at the brewery,” Elardo said.
There is an Amber ale – a light body amber ale that is sweet with caramel malts and an earthy hop balance – along with an India Pale ale, which is described as being an “American-style IPA.”
“With citrus, grapefruit and floral aroma, with a hint of spice,” she said.
“Easy on the bitterness with a heavy flavor,” Elardo added.
Another is a Golden ale, which is a light-bodied ale with a crisp dry finish and slight malt sweetness, with citrus lemon flavor. The fourth and final brew at Big Blue is a favorite – Honey Brown ale.
“It’s our number one beer,” she said.
“It’s a medium-bodied malt complexity of sweet caramel and roasted nuts,” Elardo noted. “Infused wheat character for body, with local honey added for a well-rounded finish.”
Flights will be $8 during the grand opening.
“That’s when you get to sample them all,” she said.
The New York-based band New York Front will perform today and Saturday staring at 9 p.m. and Sunday starting at 7 p.m. Playing in the style of blues and classic rock, they are known in New York.
“They have played some major events,” Elardo said.
“We’re happy to have them here at Big Blue,” she added.
As for food specials, the spicy beer cheese and pub pretzels will be $5 all weekend. According to the website, it includes aged cheddar, hops and malt with Calabrian chili – also comes without spice.
For $9, the pork belly bao will also be available. The handheld is described as an Asian-inspired pork belly sandwich, with scallion, hoisin, sweet and hot peppers, stuffed in a traditional steam bun.
“It’s a new take on the old favorites and old classics,” Elardo said of a “gastropub.”
For example, the classic burger at Big Blue is what one would expect, with a twist. It comes topped with charred lettuce, compressed or heirloom tomato, pickled Bermuda onions and aged cheddar.
“It’s grass-fed beef from Florida, mixed for a unique taste,” she said.
Mustard barbecue park and jicama apple slaw on a pretzel bun makes the pretzel pork.
“It’s a cross between a croissant and a bun,” Elardo said.
She noted that the restaurant is very keen on the environment.
The venue’s straws – made from corn – are biodegradable, as well as its to-go packaging.
“We only use wild-caught fish from Florida,” she said.
Big Blue also labels itself as a “scratch kitchen.”
“We try and make everything in house,” Elardo said. “Salad dressings, soups.”
“Mostly everything we make in house, so it’s all made fresh daily,” she added.
Offering handcrafted cocktails, in addition to its in-house brewed beers, the eatery concocts its own simple syrups, makes its own juices and more in its effort to keep the ingredients and taste fresh.
One example is its Coco Mojito.
“This is made with fresh coconut cream, Wicked Dolphin Coconut Rum, fresh squeezed lime juice, locally grown mint and crushed ice,” Elardo said.
She noted that Big Blue uses craft bourbons and others when possible.
“The one thing we’re concentrating on is that we are taking advantage of the craft distilleries throughout Florida and the U.S.,” she said.
The Cucumber Ortiz, made with the crafted alcohol Western Son Cucumber Vodka, showcases this effort. The drink comes mixed with fresh lemon juice, agave nectar and organic cucumber liquor.
Big Blue also has several Florida breweries on tap.
“We focus on our local ones and then branch out,” Elardo said.
On Monday, the venue will begin giving brewery tours. They will take place on Mondays and Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Call to make a tour reservation.
After next week, Big Blue will offer breakfast after the Cape Coral Farmer’s Market.
“We’re working with the farmer’s market and some of the vendors, especially the organic ones,” she said.
For more information on Big Blue Brewing, call 239-471-2777 or visit online at: bigbluebrewing.com. They can be found on Facebook at “Big Blue Brewing.”
Big Blue Brewing is at 4721 S.E. 10th Place.