Liquid Garage On Fast Track After Surviving COVID-19 Pandemic With Help From Friends

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — Longtime friends — Paul Roberts and Jo-Ann Roberts, Nicolle and Jeff Ashline, and Billy Lao — opened The Liquid Garage Co. brewery and taproom in New Port Richey in December 2019 full of hope. They were determined to create a place where customers could not only come to sample quality craft beers but have a good time.

Three months later, the coronavirus pandemic was declared, resulting in mandated closures that left many small businesses in Tampa Bay struggling to survive. Some were forced to close their doors permanently, while others, like The Liquid Garage Co., emerged all the stronger due to the determination of its founders and the loyalty of its customers.

With that in mind, Saturday, Dec. 11, not only marks the brewery's two-year anniversary but acknowledges the enduring spirit of the brewery's owners when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds and their gratitude for the support of the community.

"While COVID-19 was a challenge for all small businesses, Liquid Garage was able to maintain the quality of craft beer production, while growing its team and ensuring that customer experience continued to be maintained at the highest level possible," said Roberts, adding, "As a small craft beer brewery, we have been blessed by the support of our community."

It's that support that the co-owners want to acknowledge as they host a two-year anniversary party on Dec. 11, starting at 4 p.m. with music by Sworn to Rock and Remnants Alter, food from small business Super Galactic BBQ and craft beer from Liquid Garage Co.

Located in Chelsea Place at 1306 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey, The Liquid Garage Co. stands out for its garage-themed decor that includes bars topped with glass-covered license plates, a vintage pay phone and parking meter, and beer tap handles fashioned from old wrenches.

The Liquid Garage Co. also offers an outdoor beer garden and patio where beer lovers can bring their pets.

Customers flock to the brewery not only to sample the brewery's diverse craft beers but participate in weekly events such as trivia nights, corn hole tournaments, car shows, comedy nights, adult spelling bees, movie nights, jukebox karaoke, board game nights, Beer Olympics, chili cook-offs and the brewery's popular Thursday night Beer and Yoga event.

Equally important to the five co-owners is the brewery's commitment to give back to the community that helped keep the business alive during the worst global pandemic the world ever faced.

The brewery offers Heroes Night on Thursdays during which law enforcement, emergency personnel, doctors, nurses, teachers, firefighters, veterans and active military get 20 percent off their tabs.

Throughout the year, The Liquid Garage Co. also hosts a variety of fundraisers for nonprofits including Metropolitan Ministries, Feeding Tampa Bay and the Mike Tobias Scholarship Fund, named in honor of friend and brew master Mike Tobias who died two years ago. The scholarship helps a future brew master fund studies at the Brewing Arts Program at the University of South Florida.

Additionally, Liquid Garage supports a variety of other small businesses including the local food trucks it hosts at Liquid Garage throughout the week.

In keeping with its mission to pay it forward, the anniversary event will launch its 12 Beers of Giving charity drive for Feeding Tampa Bay.

"The craft beer community is a close and supportive one, and we wish to reflect that in everything we do for our team and our customers," said Nicolle Ashline, who also serves as the tap room manager. "We strongly believe in the power of giving with the support of our community. And if we can impact any life in a small way with food, clothing, gifts or money, we are fulfilling our own mission to support local.

"Supporting Feeding Tampa Bay helps so many that are within our local community," Ashline said. "We feel privileged to be able to help local and support local with the love, care and gift of giving from our team and supporters of Liquid Garage Co.

Head brewer Jeffery Ashline and Roberts, who serves as assistant brewer, have spent years studying zymology, the science of fermentation.

The result of those studies is a variety of traditional and unique craft beers that include High Speed Wobble, a Belgian tripel; Two Penny Porter, an English porter; Hippie Chick pale ale; No Hucks Given, a fruited sour; Mrs. Robinson cream ale; Backfire, a fruited sour; Highway Hi-Fi, a Hefeweizen wheat beer; Blue Collar Lager; Citranormous IPA; Stingy Jack pumpkin and yam beer; Low Beams American light lager; Do You Want S'more, a milk sweet stout; Coolant, a sour Berliner Weisse; Electric Ave, also a sour Berliner Weisse; Here You Gose!, a traditional Gose sour; The Gentleman stout; and New Wave Lemonade mead, all on tap.

The Liquid Garage Co. also offers Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio as well as ciders, meads and seltzers.

Visit the Liquid Garage Co.'s website or Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter page for details on the 12 Days of Beer event.