MEET THIS LOCAL TO KNOW: Jared Witt is a Lutheran pastor at Orlando’s only brewery that also holds church service. Castle Church Brewing Community is located near the Orlando International Airport and opened its doors back in December. It’s a brewery that holds church service on Sunday and Wednesday.
Witt’s business partner Aaron Schmalzle started brewing beer in his garage every Saturday TK years ago. Witt joined him, and soon other community members joined their “beer club.” Eventually conversations about beer moved to Witt leading discussions about God and the Bible. When dozens of people started showing up every week, they knew it was time to expand.
FUN FACT: Most of the craft beers on-tap have names associated with the Bible. “This Little Light is a Pilsner,” “All Saints” is a Einbecker Ale and “Means of Grace” is a Brown Ale.
QUOTABLE: “There is a lot of people sort of left out of the sort of church paradigms that exist. There are a lot of people who don’t find their place in what’s there and we’re finding them.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED: Ever sung Amazing Grace as a pub chanty? On May 8 at 7 p.m., grab a drink and learn some hymns at Beer and Hymns event. Witt says John Lennon made great church music.