Jacksonville, Florida, boasts more than a dozen breweries, each offering local, craft beers and other drinks for everyone to enjoy. I recently visited Aardwolf Brewing Company, one of the city’s breweries I had heard much about but had not yet found time to enter.

The weather was still a bit chilly outside, so I opted to sit indoors. The space has an urban and industrial feel to it, as the actual brewery lies just behind the wall of the bar through which most of the beers are poured. Exposed brick, hanging lights, and sleek tables and countertops make for a casual but inviting space to sit back with a craft beer with friends or family.

At first I was unsure what beer to order; looking at a long list of beers can be overwhelming, especially when many of them look tasty. The bartender offered me a few to sample, allowing me to decide which I enjoyed best.

I still felt in the holiday spirit, so I ordered The Notorious F.I.G. This Aardwolf Brewing Company original is a Belgian amber with fig purée, vanilla bean and orange peel. I normally opt for more of a classic beer, but the unique flavors in this caught my eye, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to try this brewery’s own concoction. I was pleasantly surprised with the taste and found it wasn’t too sweet but had just the right amount of subtle notes of fruit and vanilla flavors.

Like any brewery, Aardwolf Brewing Company rotates its beer selections each season. Some of the other brews only found at this location include its own Belgian Pale Ale, an Indian Pale Ale, San Marco Sour and a tropical IPA called Emotional Damage. The menu often includes more than a dozen options, so anyone visiting should definitely sample some before deciding which one to order.

Another plus of this brewery is its hosting of food trucks, Wednesday–Sunday. Currently the brewery features Chancho King food truck, a company serving Ecuadorian cuisine, 3–9 p.m. on these days.

— Aoife O’Riordan, associate editor