FOLIO
It’s been almost a year since BREW FIVE POINTS – a laid-back spot for grabbing a cup of coffee, beer, beer cocktail (an actual thing!), or bottle of craft soda – opened up shop in Jacksonville’s hipster haven. The works of area artists adorn the walls on a rotating basis, giving Brew a local feel.
Coffee drinks at Brew can be simple – a precision-crafted pour over (featuring a carousel of coffee roasters such as Bold Bean, Intelligentsia and Ritual, $4.75) and sweet – a honey or chocolate latte ($3.25). My go-to is the macchiato ($2.75) since I like less milk than espresso.
There’s even an option for a cold brew growler – a take-home glass bottle ($5, one time) that you can bring back and refill any time for $10.
Calli Marie Webb is the young chef behind Brew’s food menu and sweet and savory is her game. Chicken-IN-waffles ($8) – four fluffy, airy waffle segments with deliciously moist bite-sized pieces of chicken inside – are an example of Webb’s creative spark. Served with a scoop of blueberry butter and a drizzle of Cholula hot sauce syrup, chicken-IN-waffles is a savory, sweet, crunchy and spicy mix.
Brew also presents a line-up of artisan toasts featuring local Community Loaves bread. The Basic B!#&H ($4) on wheat piles creamy smashed avocado, miso butter, shaved radish, chile oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. It’s great for lunch, with a salad, or even for breakfast.
Sammies ($6), which change each week, are served on a handheld kolache bun and feature a perfectly runny-yolk egg. Mine had tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto, basil and aforementioned runny egg.
Brew’s curated craft soda selection spans the spectrum of tastes, from sweet to savory, offering a wide variety from butterscotch to bacon-flavored sodas. I recommend the Swamp Pop praline cream.
For the beer-curious, Brew’s got more than 75 local and non-local craft beers. In addition to a refrigerator stocked full of cans, there are several varieties on draft, along with a handful of beer cocktails like the easily drinkable beermosa (OJ + Beer = beermosa). I recently discovered a love for Baba Black Lager, from Uinta Brewery out of Salt Lake City, after noticing the cuddly little sheep on the label. And cider fans will enjoy the pear and wild berry flavors of Rekorderlig from Sweden.
And take note: Friday is Pie Day. If you’re lucky enough to have the rare opportunity to score a slice of Chef Webb’s chocolate peanut butter cold brew pie, with its silky-smooth filling and graham-cracker crust, I highly recommend doing so. You won’t regret it.
Caron Streibich
facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized
Follow FOLIO!