Redlight Redlight, a true venue in the Orlando craft beer scene, celebrates a big 2-O. How to mark an opportunity? 20th anniversary party to finish them all: Sunday (March 9th), starting at noon.
The doors are open for the first time at 11am, so patrons are ready for the long distance day filled with live music, a special menu from Chef Jestantaro, and of course plenty of delicious beers.
“Incredible” probably isn’t a stretchy phrase that describes the feeling of Brent Hernandez, the owner, who started Redlight with two friends when he was still in his 20s.
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“I didn’t think it would exist for 20 years,” he said.
Redlight Redlight’s original location opened just off the Hannibal Square in Winter Park. This is part of a town that is just beginning to synchronize with the cement grooves in the atmosphere of the Park Avenue area. Hernandez, the home brewer, initially planned at the brewery, but that part waits for two more moves before settling in the current location of Audubon Park, which has grown into food and drink force considered around the attractive range of red light.
In 2014, the brewery portion eventually combined, starting as a micro before the big blossoming four years later, and last year chef Jess Tantaro joined the team.
“We’ve always grown slowly and organically,” says Hernandez, who is most excited by the many musical performances on the deck on Sunday. These include the Thorns, a teenage group consisting of bands counting local brewers Garrett Ward (Sideward Brewing) and Tyler Rosenthal (Homestate Brewing), Skelotizer, and young musicians whose father’s own band have performed joy in the past.
“We’re thrilled to be a staple of such an amazing community,” Jes Tantalo said. “Cheers to the 20th year!”
Special menus at Tantaro include jerk chicken, white shrimp from tiyaki canaveral, or grilled tempe skewers with (v) jasmine rice and grilled cabbage. For snacks: cheese or pepperoni pizza, knock warst, chicken bids, pretzels with queso or mustard, tater tots, vegan green goddess and burnt cabbage, voodoo seasonings and cob corn.
SOIREE guests include Oyster Bob (who has oysters!), portrait drawings by Dawbry, and chair massages by Hokkaido Hank.
Do you want to reach out to me? Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @Amydroo or the Osfoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. Join Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook Group for more foodie fun.
If you’re going
Redlight Redlight: Corrine Drive, 2810 Orlando; 407-893-983. Live music, open at 11am, starts at noon. For more information, follow us on @redlightredlight’s Instagram.
Original issue: March 6, 2025, 1:06pm EST
