Intuition Ale Works

The initial whisperings that Jacksonville was going to get its second microbrewery started over a year and a half ago. From their first blog posts in July 2009 to the tapping of the People's Pale Ale on November 1 of this year and then the grand opening of the tap room on November 20, local beer aficionados have been waiting impatiently for their chance to put the eagerly anticipated and much hyped Intuition Ale Works to the test. And now that the wait is finally over, much to the delight of all, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, giving us a solid two for two on local microbrewery excellence.

Conveniently situated halfway between Bold City Brewery and Kickbacks Gastropub, the addition of Intuition Ale Works has established the area near the intersection of Rosselle Street and King Street as Jacksonville's brewing district and created one amazing pub crawl. The IAW compound consists of a small tap room and an immense brewing area that has a lot room for expansion and, given the latest reports of beer shortages, it looks like they're going to need it.

If there's one thing Jacksonville's microbreweries do better than many others, particularly those in Florida, it's the tap rooms / bar areas. Bare brick walls, concrete floors, muted lights, and unstained wood tables and bar make the tap room a cozy and welcoming place to enjoy a few beers. The brewing area also serves as overflow area for larger events and is the place to get growler fills.

But onto the most important factor: the beer. Just as when Bold City initially opened, there were only four varieties of beer being made: People's Pale Ale, King Street Stout, Imperial Red Ale, and Willow Branch Wheat. With the recent addition of the I-10 IPA, they're up to five and are working to rapidly expand the selection. The beers themselves betray the nascency of the business; mature in flavor and body, they're more akin to what you'd expect from a well-established craft brewery. The People's Pale Ale is one of the best pale ale's I've had the pleasure of consuming. It's characterized by a full body with a fragrant, citrusy hoppiness that isn't at all overbearing and rivals well-known brands such as Sierra Nevada. The I-10 IPA is also a shining example of that particular style. The India Pale Ale is a favorite among beer connoisseurs and every self-respecting craft brewery makes their own attempt but they can be hit-or-miss. Though an almost overwhelming hop character is the signature of the style, some brands are a little too extreme in this measure. Others sweeten the mixture too much in order to mask some of the bitter notes or then often elevated alcohol content. The I-10 IPA is hoppy enough to please the fanatics but balanced enough that most people can appreciate a pint.

The wheat, a favorite style of mine, is also pretty stellar yet, like the exemplary Fritz's Hefeweizen at Bold City, deviates a bit from the typical wheat beer. The King Street Stout is quite a hefty beast. Most stouts hover around the 3-5% ABV mark. I'd have to speculate that this one is more like 7-10% ABV. With its pitch black color, thick mouthfeel, and sweet flavor, this is a beer that should be carefully enjoyed as or with a dessert.

The wait is finally over and the hype was well warranted. Intuition has arrived to contribute to a rapidly expanding local beer scene, making Jacksonville the craft brew capitol of Florida and giving all of us around town something to be proud of.




Intuition Ale Works
720 King Street
Jacksonville, FL 32204
(904) 683-7720

Mr Taco

Driving past the tiny strip mall on Bowden shortly after the opening of Mr Taco, I audibly scoffed and flippantly proclaimed that I wouldn't be eating there. But after a few more passes over the following months, my curiosity about this little taquiera started to grow. Then the recommendations from trusted sources started trickling in. My initial prejudice was certainly out of order considering that most of my favorite restaurants are hole-in-the-walls with almost equally ridiculous names. So Mr Taco became a top priority, if only to clear my conscience for dismissing it so easily.

This particular strip mall on Bowden isn't particularly inviting. There's a small grocery store, which is essentially a cheap beer and wine depot with some snacks, and the parking lot is usually pretty empty. The Mr Taco logo above the restaurant's facade, with its sombrero wearing, mustachioed Mexicano might strike one as being a bit derogatory but as soon as you step through the door it becomes apparent that the owners and operators of the place are only engaging in some self caricaturization. Betraying his tough appearance, the guy who jumped up to take our order (who I believe may be the owner) couldn't have been any nicer or more welcoming. If warm service is one of your top priorities, they don't come much friendlier than Mr Taco.

Picking a representative menu item was a bit of a challenge. Despite feeling compelled to try the tacos because of the name, we both settled on burritos (I can't resist the allure of a good burrito) but resolved to go back and try the multitude of tacos, tortas, and quesadillas. We'd barely settled into our seats after raiding the salsa bar when our food came out. I'd imagine it might take a little longer when they're busy but that was still a lot faster than expected.

What can I say about the Chicken Fajita Burrito? I've had some amazing burritos and this ranks up among the best. While not taking the crown, there's certainly a lot of flavor and the chicken was sauteed in an absolutely delicious sauce. Definitely better than I had anticipated and enough to warrant repeat visits. Akin to really great street food you might get when traveling in distant lands and similarly priced.

Once again the best restaurants are found in the most surprising locations (with the most surprising names). Those who like authentic Mexican cuisine or even Mexican inspired food are doing themselves a disservice by not stopping in. And while I doubt Mr Taco will ever become as astonishingly popular as a similarly named local taquiera, I hope they'll at least get the appreciation they deserve.




Mr Taco
6426 Bowden Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32216