Engine 15 Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.97/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

One of the best places I have been to in Florida solely owing to (mostly local) beer selection, though I also liked the patio. In a strip mall near the coast. A long bar, with knowledgeable staff who knew the beer reasonably well. Decent house beers, with some very good guest taps. Fast to give tasters. Good sized samples. An effort to have many styles, with a bias toward saison a Florida favourite. Friendly people. Safe, relaxing, reasonable prices.

01-17-2013 03:29:28 | More by northyorksammy

Redrover

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

I was able to stop by here during my latest visit to Jacksonville. It is located in the same strip mall as Mojo BBQ, which makes a good one-two punch.

They have a small patio in front as you enter. The bar is to your right and I would guess it seats about 15. There are several picnic type tables to share. The brewing equipment is back and to your left.

They are still working out their permits to serve house beers, but you can brew your own on premise. A couple of guys were doing that during my visit and they were getting some expert instruction from the staff.

The bartender was quick and had good knowledge of their rotating taps. She is the type of tender that you hope to get at a good beer spot.

They offer 30+ taps with some really nice local and not so local options. I had a nice beer from Cigar City and a unique smoked lager from Germany. They offer several flights and give you the option to design your own flight. I though the prices were very reasonable. They offer a limited bottle selection stored in a cooler at the end of the bar.

I did not try the food this time, but in looking at the menu, I did see several things I will try during my next visit.

07-29-2011 16:07:33 | More by Redrover

CampusCrew

Florida

4.63/5  rDev +16%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $

Yes!!!! Another BA worthy place in Jacksonville. This place has alot of potential. Great setting, good food menu, and 20 taps rotating with quality brews. Throw in that in the future it will be a brew on premise and they will be brewing their own beer. great location in Jacksonville beach area too.

I went here for the world cup final with a small crowd and eveyone enjoyed themselves, the food, and beer selection. I have a feeling I'll be back many times. I'm excited to this place grow and be another force in the craft beer movement in Jacksonville. It's getting better!

If you are an out of towner, stop by here!

NEW *** Just had some pre-samples of E-15 beers at the Beaches SummerFest at Jacksonville to benefit MDA on 6/18/11.

www.facebook.com/beachessummerfest

They served a 15 Imperial IPA, a Rye Pale Ale, a standard IPA called Battleaxe, and exciting new Saison with Jasmine and Belgian rock candy. I had the Rye Pale which was well done and the Jasmine Saison which was amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing them in the bar. Looks like they have some serious talent.

07-28-2010 22:12:32 | More by CampusCrew

azorie

Florida

2.93/5  rDev -26.6%
vibe: 1 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3 | $$$

This is NOT A WORLD CLASS PUB, not even close.

July 2011 visit:
more food, better beer bottle list. Taps the same, chairs are horrible, too loud in there still. rating it higher but to us the atmosphere is just another beach bar, that is not on the beach, and is in a strip mall. They can brew now, but its a brew your own limited thing, that quite frankly makes the place even with less space, AKA they need a bigger place ASAP. Service sucks if your not at the bar, no 1 waits on your nor do they tell you that, you figure it out for yourself, and its not easy to get through to the bar if its packed.

Oct 23, 2010 visit:
went back to see if anything changed. The good point they got prices on the board now. still very difficult to read they should be over the bar, not on the other side of it. At least they got bottles listed. I give them a b+ for effort. Still its a Local's clique type place, the chairs are just what kills it for me.

We got over charged on 1 happy hour beer, was 3 but we just missed the start of happy hour by like 10 minutes? Not a deal breaker. Cheese plate was excellent. most places the Happy Hour is 2 to 7 hear its 4 to 7.

We got a laugh when I asked about tripels, the beer tender held up a Rochefort 8 and told me it was a tripel, I said not. he was not interested to learn, or just thought i was wrong, so funny, they know American beer but nothing much about Belgium beer. That said I have to be thankful they have a decent selection.

Still its our last visit, after nearly getting hit in the head by some game by the bathroom, and no apology about being overcharged, not to mention at shift change, they turned the music up so loud you could NOT hear yourself think, we will most likely never go back, besides they still cannot brew on Premise.

for a true beer bar, beer wise I say they are number #2 in town.
not saying much after KB, 84 taps

Sept 2010
New place in strip mall, newest one on Beach near Penman, not far from the beach.

ok i was not going to rate this place yet. 1 visit and all that. So I am hoping the place will get better. not sure it can its in a small place. That is not a bad thing really. I am hoping they will start letting folks homebrew on site soon.

A: so other wise its a small strip mall bar, with a L shaped bar, and way too many of the sorry, rock hard on your ass wooden bar chairs I ever sat in. I would think they would want folks to stay and drink since, there is only a small bar food menu.

Service: well at the bar at the start of happy hour, timed that right. No menus, and the beer is on a flat board on the back wall, hard to read and NO BEER PRICES IS a big NO NO in my book. What's the matter does the price change? heck even the receipt was void of prices. That bugs me, maybe things will improve.

Selection: well same standard overload of IPA, PA as most places with 20 taps in town.
Beer i had was ok, no big glass freak, so the ST creme B in a ST b glass no big deal, it was full to the rim so not bitching about that.

food: ok bar snacks mainly

its very loud in there, had a few nice tv's, tables outside for smokers. Not the most friendly place but few are at the beach. I noticed a old face moved here from Euro street, Andy, he was busy so he could not talk much.

all in all maybe they will make it and can expand and get better seats and tables, and bigger beer selection, but its just a watering hole, no bottle menu yet. Wife was mad no blue moon.

nothing earth moving great about it, its a strip mall craft beer bar, no BMC yet, but that will change I bet money on it.

mainly a local click place, outsiders not really welcome if you ask me.

09-04-2010 17:25:00 | More by azorie

kylehay2004

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

The atmosphere is decent. It is kind of small and the chairs are a little uncomfortable. The people seem to be your average beer lover and its a nice place hang out. The beer selection is excellent, both bottles and taps. The prices are excellent and you can pay $5 for a 4, 4ounce sampler of anything they have on draft for those wanting to try more beers. Their own brews are very good as well and I imagine they will just get better. The food choices are good for a brewpub. The flatbreads are excellent as are the gyros. Service is decent. They are fairly attentive and nice people.

10-07-2011 01:50:57 | More by kylehay2004

stakem

Pennsylvania

2.28/5  rDev -42.9%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2 | service: 2 | selection: 3 | $$$

I was in Jax for the week of the 4th of July visiting family. They told me there was this new place that popped up since my last visit that I should check out. Based on the name, I thought I had been there before but as we pulled into the parking area for this small shop-like brewery in a strip mall I knew this was a location that I would have remembered being at. Certainly, I was never here before and my pending experience proved that I would never return.

From outside, the first thing you notice is the 2-3 parking spots that they have built a wooden fence around to let patrons outside to drink/smoke. Going inside, the place is small and was packed to the gills with patrons on a random Monday/Tuesday evening. Regardless, I was here to try their house-made beer so I pressed on. The fellow with me was not big into beer so he made a random selection from the menu. I walked up to the bar, ordered our beers and watched as he filled them. When he placed the beers infront of me, he no longer knew which was which. Luckily I was paying attention to see the difference since both beers were similar in style and identical in appearance.

As far as their selection goes, they have 50 draft choices to pick from but it is disappointing. I am from PA and looking to try some local stuff. Imagine my surprise to see more beers from my home state being offered on draft than anything else (including their own beer which only occupied 3 of the taps.) Their rye beer that I tried was not that good. It had a yeasty finish that reminded me of dirty lines. Not pointing fingers here, just saying my thoughts based on initial impression. If I was at home, I would have drain-poured it. However, since my host for the week drove me out of the way, I manned up and chugged it down just to get rid of it. I was ready to leave after that but considering my partner in crime was outside smoking, I ordered a cigar city brew. 8$ for a snifter, what a kick in the dick. I should have just went and purchasd a 750ml bottle for slightly more.

As if all the above isnt enough, lets talk more about the atmosphere of this place. I am 30 years old. Ive been to college not too long ago and ive had my fill of parties that are associated with playing a college sport and how roudy/loud they can get. This place quite frankly made me uncomfortble. Between the drunks screaming and the DJ yelling over the obnoxious loudspeaker, I had a headache within minutes. This place is a fucking hangover before the party even starts.

07-09-2012 14:58:39 | More by stakem

unclejimbay

Florida

4.55/5  rDev +14%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

1/18/11
Update. This place is solid and keeping up with my original review. Brew On Premise service fired up last week, and things seem to be running smoothly. They plan to brew on Tuesday and Sundays, appointment is required in advance. This is a must visit beer destination in the Jacksonville area.

7/28/10
A new local beer bar in the beaches area for all things beer geek. ~30 taps that stay full, fresh, and newly rotated as of about 4 weeks after opening. Seems 3-4 new taps every visit once a week or so. The lines are clean and they plan to stay this way as the staff/owners are homebrewers going brewpub/pro.

The food is enjoyable and they do a good job for what they offer. Menu is limited but seems appropraitte if you need some viddles. FYI this is mainly a beer bar. It's supposed to be a Brew On Premise also, but the permit is pending >90 days of opening. More details to follow from others once this happens.

I will report on this place in a few months to see if they have maintained what seems to be the best/new beer bar in the beaches possibly jacksonville area. (...with kickbacks as the Florida as The Mecca of variety and an exception to this statement at this time...)

More details to come once they start up the Brew On Premise services also.

05-26-2011 19:58:30 | More by unclejimbay

cbak999

Florida

4.16/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Wow...first review for Engine 15. New beer bar that also plans to brew onsite, both for their taps and for customers to brew and take home. Great concept not seen in Jax before. As of today, they are about 4 to 6 weeks from brewing. Otherwise a nice selection of taps. 24 of them. Weyerbacher Double Simcoe was my choice. Seemed very fresh. Others include Lagunitas Pale, AVBC Hop Ottin, a couple of Lefthand taps, and some decent European selections, among others. Overall a nice bar. 16 and 20 oz drafts available. Happy hour gives a dollar of 20 oz. I talked to Andy, one of the owners and he is real beer guy. I like this place and will be back when the brewery is up and running.

07-23-2010 22:01:03 | More by cbak999

boldcity2008

Florida

2.55/5  rDev -36.1%
vibe: 1 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 2 | $$$

Wow strip bar a narrow place that gets worse as you try to go find the restroom. We had to try this place as it got such high ratings. Well its a decent place section beer wise. I do not think its a great value. Tried a few of the bar snacks, not impressed.

I think most that review this place are drunk when they review it and of course they only ever been out of town to see the Gators play. It's a typical dive bar really, seats are hard as rocks. Music is way to loud. The beer was served in standard shakers pints and some special glasses. You can brew beer here. Once the double the size we rereview the place, if that ever happens.

as it is its a local hangout that is very close nit. If they know you and like you it could be a nice place, if you can afford it.

03-02-2012 21:55:41 | More by boldcity2008

Schwarzwald

Tennessee

4.78/5  rDev +19.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I visited Engine 15 last month and was very impressed with it. What a great selection of tap beers that you normally only see in the bottle. The owners are great and are very knowledgable about their brew. I ordered a gyro and their must have beer nuts. Awesome food! The gents at Engine 15 will offer some brewing station enabling you to basically "home brew" at their establishment. They will ferment and you can bottle. Very cool idea! Stop by and have a look at this German infused restaurant/bar. What a find and what a comfortable place.

01-13-2011 15:39:01 | More by Schwarzwald