Downtown Winter Haven Toasts America 250 at Beer & Wine Tasting
Historic downtown Winter Haven had a relaxed but festive feel last Thursday evening as Main Street Winter Haven hosted The Great American Beer & Wine Tasting, presented by Bank of Central Florida.
The event, held on June 11 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., was a rebranding of the organization’s annual Beer & Bubbles gathering, reimagined this year in the Spirit of America 250 to mark the nation’s 250th birthday. Attendees checked in with their tickets and a map, then made their way through participating downtown businesses, each serving a pairing of an American beer or wine alongside a classic American bite.
The day’s celebration began earlier at Richard’s Fine Coffee, which had its own reason to mark the occasion. The downtown staple, first opened in 1996 as Polk County’s first independent coffeehouse, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. Owners Koreen and Jimmy Hobbs, who took over the shop in 2024, have a personal connection to the place that runs deep. Koreen first worked there as a barista at 16, and it was at Richard’s where she met Jimmy, who would become her husband. The couple purchased the business from longtime owner Dave Tuttle when he was ready to pass it on.
From there, the group moved the celebration to Adler’s, the downtown burger and beer spot at 543 Ave B SW, where guests enjoyed a tasting of J Vineyards Cuvée alongside truffle chips.
Tables across the evening’s stops were decorated in All-American style, and the self-guided format kept things loose and unhurried, giving neighbors plenty of time to linger, taste, and talk.
Sources: Main Street Winter Haven, mainstreetwh.com/event/the-great-american-beer-wine-tasting; Richard’s Fine Coffee, richardsfinecoffees.com/about; https://www.instagram.com/richards_coffee; Adler’s, adlersburgers.com; event photos, Becky McLachlan
