No Cause for Alarm – A “Big Storm” Is Coming To Texas

Beer drinkers in the Lone Star State will soon get a taste of Clearwater beer.

Big Storm Brewing Co. said Wednesday it will begin distributing its Florida-branded beers in Texas. Mikeska Distributing will offer some of the brewer’s brands in Austin, Fort Hood, and Waco.

The expansion is a marker of success in the ever-growing craft beer market in the Tampa Bay area, one of the largest in the nation, and shows the company still has plenty of room to grow its business, which has locations in Clearwater, Odessa, and Cape Coral.

“Big Storm produces high-quality craft beers and its knowledgeable staff makes it a great asset for Mikeska. I know Big Storm will be a hit in Texas and elevate the range of strong brands we already offer,” said Mikeska Distributing owner Charles Mikeska.

Mikeska became familiar with Big Storm at the National Beer Wholesalers Association trade show in Las Vegas last year.

Big Storm will distribute its core beers, including Tropic Pressure Florida Ale and Wavemaker Amber Ale.

The brewery launched in 2012 by founder Mike Bishop with two employees. Now the company employs more than 50 full and part-time staff. Big Storm Pinellas ranked No. 5 on the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Largest breweries List, with 947.3 retail barrels sold.

The company uses locally sourced ingredients in its more than 50 varieties of beer. Recently, it partnered with William Dean Chocolates to produce its Cocoa Convergence brew, a chocolate toffee stout. Big Storm Coffee & Creamery opened its walk-up window in Clearwater, Fla., in the summer of 2018. Made from craft-roasted beans, only the freshest ingredients go into creating signature beverages such as the Eye of the Storm, a French press coffee with one shot of espresso.

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