Local Beermeister Hopes His Orange Blossom Pilsner Honey Beer Creates a Buzz at DeLand’s February Beer fest

ORLANDO – Tom Moench, founder of Orlando-based Orange Blossom Pilsner, is one of more than 30 craft brewers who will be featured next month at the 2nd annual DeLand Craft Beer Festival.

The event, scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, will be held in the Artisan Alley at 118 W. New York Ave. in downtown DeLand.

Moench – a client member of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubator Program – said he fell in love with his first beer when he was only 12 and started brewing in his family’s garage at the age of 18.

After years of studying books on brewing, visiting breweries, and tasting lots of beer, Moench began experimenting with everything from ginseng and shitake mushrooms to coconut and fresh fruit. But, it was the 2.3 teaspoons of fermented orange blossom honey that seemed to give every bottle of his Orange Blossom Pilsner exactly what he had been searching for: a clean, crisp, yet complex, flavor.

The flavor combination has been a huge hit as Orange Blossom Pilsner currently is on tap at 50 locations in Central Florida and is available in bottles at more than 600 locations throughout the state, including many Publix supermarkets and ABC Liquors. It’s also the number one selling beer at the Mellow Mushroom.

In addition to his OBP beer, Moench also will be pouring two other samples at the DeLand festival: OBP2, which has the same ingredients as OBP but with half the water; and Toasted Coconut Porter, which Moench calls the “little brother” to stout beer.

Tickets for the festival – which are available from the DeLand Beacon, daVinci Cafe, The Abbey Wine and Beer Bar and the Mainstreet DeLand office – are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. For details, call 386-738-0649.
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About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

For more information about this release, please contact: Tom Moench, Owner, Orange Blossom Pilsner, Tom@OrangeBlossomPilsner.com; Melissa Wasserman, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubator-Orlando, 321-281-8384, mwasserm@mail.ucf.edu; Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-532-8862 or 407-644-4142; chagervandyke@yahoo.com

Avalon Park Group to Host Oktoberfest Oct. 17 with Alpine Dancing, Beer Garden for Adults, Car Show, Chili Cook-Off, Activities for Kids

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Avalon Park Group will host downtown Avalon Park’s annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 5 to 9 p.m. with a German beer garden for adults, German music by Europa, Alpine dancing by Schuhplattler Gruppe Alpenrose, stage performances by Magic Curtain Productions, the University of Doglando Weiner Dog Races, Avalon Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off, Avalon Rotary Car Show and children’s activities.

A special preview of the German beer garden is scheduled Friday night from 6 to 10 p.m.

Stephanie Hodson, activities coordinator at Avalon Park Group, said admission to the event is free and the public is invited.

For more information about the event telephone 407-658-6565. Avalon Park is located off Alafaya Trail south of S.R. 50 in east Orlando.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Coordinator, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565
Eric Marks, Vice President, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565
Beat Kahli, Owner / Founder, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

New Casual Dining Bistro Opens in Downtown Avalon Park

ORLANDO, Fla. - A unique casual dining restaurant with outdoor seating overlooking the lake at Avalon Park in East Orlando has opened.

Stephanie Hodson, marketing coordinator for community developer Avalon Park Group, said Eastside Bistro, located in the town center at Avalon Park on Avalon Lake Drive is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday until midnight.

Eastside Bistro features casual family dining with sandwiches, salads, flat breads, cheeses, spreads, pasta specialties, dinner specials nightly and a children’s menu, Hodson said. Draft beer, bottle beer, micro brews and an extensive wine list are also featured and happy hour is daily from 4 to 7 p.m.

Eastside Bistro is owned by Paul and Michelle Gref.

For more information, call 407-381-0096 or visit www.eastsidebistroatavalon.com.

For more information about this press release, contact:
Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Coordinator, Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565; Stephanie@avalonparkgroup.com

Brendon Dedekind, Director of Business Development, Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565; brendond@avalonparkgroup.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

Park Plaza Gardens Extends Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. with $2 off all Cocktails, Martinis, Wines, $1 off Beers

Park Plaza Gardens Extends Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. with $2 off all Cocktails, Martinis, Wines, $1 off Beers

Winter Park, Fla. - Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant & Café, the contemporary fine dining restaurant, with sidewalk café and bar on Park Ave. in downtown Winter Park, has extended its evening Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. seven days a week with reduced pricing for all cocktails, martinis, beers, wines and call brands.

Manager Daniel McGaughey at Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant & Café, said the Happy Hour crowd is growing and the restaurant is now offering $2 off all drinks and $1 off beers.

At the same time, McGaughey said Park Plaza features complimentary hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights.

“It’s a friendly gathering of young Winter Park residents who enjoy the streetside café experience and we’re welcoming new regulars every day,” McGaughey said.

For more information, contact

Ron Schwartz, Principal, Park Plaza Gardens 407-645-2475;
Ron Diaz, General Manager, Park Plaza Gardens 407-645-2475;
Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Downtown Avalon Park to host Oktoberfest Oct. 17 with Live Entertainment, Dance, Beer Garden, Children’s Activities

Downtown Avalon Park to host Oktoberfest Oct. 17 with Live Entertainment, Dance, Beer Garden, Children’s Activities

ORLANDO, Fla. - Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Downtown Avalon Park will feature live entertainment, dance performances, authentic German foods by the German American Club, a beer garden and a root beer garden for kids, said Stephanie Hodson, marketing coordinator at Avalon Park Group.

The annual tradition begins with a Beer Garden preview on Friday, Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday events will include Schuplattler Alpenrose Dancing, live music by Europa, a yodeling contest, chicken dance contest, stein holding contest and more, Hodson said.

The German American Club of Central Florida will be providing traditional German foods throughout the event.

Admission to the event is free, Hodson said.

For more information contact:
Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Coordinator, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565
Beat Kahli, Owner/Founder, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142