Pictured: Liquid Visions is one of the rotating specialty beers currently available at Sun Lab Brewing.

Sun Lab Brewing had its official grand opening this past weekend, but it’s a business that has been taking root for quite some time.

“I’ve been in the beer business for over twenty years,” says Sun Lab founder Keith Fekete. “Sun Lab is kind of a seed that I planted in my head many years ago, something that I always wanted to start up. I was finally able to do that in the fall of 2019.”

Sun Lab started off as a nomadic brewery, brewing beer at other facilities and putting it straight into distribution. But the ultimate goal was always to have a brick and mortar location with a taproom and brewery. After delays brought about by Covid and rising real estate prices, Fekete was finally able to open the doors to his new taproom in July of 2024. Fekete’s plan was to soft launch the brewery and taproom and do a grand opening earlier this month. Those plans were pushed back in the wake of Hurricane Milton. Fekete turned lemons into lemonade (or hops into IPA if you’d prefer a more thematic metaphor) used this weekend’s rescheduled grand opening to raise funds for The Blessings Bags Project, a local nonprofit organization. Funds raised will support hurricane relief efforts in the Cortez village area.

This community-minded approach is reflective in the atmosphere at Sun Lab, which Fekete describes as “super chill, very friendly”. There’s a small stage where the brewery hosts weekly open mic nights as well as performances from hyperlocal and independent musicians. Even the beer is easy to drink. Sun Lab specializes in hazy IPAs and fruited sours, which are perfect for the Florida heat. The brewery has three year-round selections available: a crisp and refreshing blonde ale called Sun Faze, a citrusy double dry-hopped hazy IPA called Sun Haze, and a sour ale called Sun Craze that is packed with juicy berry flavors. Sun Lab is also constantly featuring new specialty beers which are typically made once and then never again. Current offerings are Liquid Visions, a hazy IPA with tropical vibes and Stacks of Sunshine, a sour ale with sweet and tangy strawberry, passion fruit and peach.

While Sun Lab doesn’t serve food, the Coastal Smash food truck is permanently on-site ready to serve up flavorful smash burgers to go with the innovative beers. Sun Lab Brewing is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 4pm-8pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 12pm-8pm, and Sundays from 12pm-6pm. It is closed on Mondays.

Sun Lab Brewing, 803 17th Avenue West, Bradenton, 914-419-8737, www.sunlabbrewing.com.

Pictured: Liquid Visions is one of the rotating specialty beers currently available at Sun Lab Brewing.