New Management is Causing a BIG STORM :(
I really hate to write this review, as I'm a long time, loving customer since 2017. I have had birthday parties here, first dates, I've brought my family, friends, and this was my mother's first ever brewery. It really pains me to say that this place is going downhill. I'm not basing this review on one experience either, but rather on the last several times I've been here.
I quickly became a fan of Big Storm back when I moved to Florida, when they didn't have a kitchen or an outdoor area. They literally had a tiny food truck preparing what little menu they served, along with a couple of picnic tables outside on a concrete slab. Anyone and everyone knows how much I adore this place.
I went for a birthday beer in September because I had gotten an email stating I get a free beer. I went solo, no questions asked, no ID requested, it was just a lovely September Friday with my journal and a Bromosa.
After the hurricane, they served us canned chicken on stale chips as nachos. I understood because we had all been through hell.
I went back for my bf's birthday beer in February, I called the day of to ensure they would honor the free beer. We got there and no one knew what was going on. It seemed the team didn't communicate. That night, the beer caused an allergic reaction, so we knew something was different. We had been drinking this beer for a long ass time.
In March, my friend and I went for a March madness game. To my surprise, it was completely empty, right after the FL Gators were playing...bad sign. This is when I really got pissed off.
The waitress came out and told me that I could get my own water. I wasn't mad about getting my own water, but this was new and she was rude AF from the jump. I asked her if there were any specials (again, knowing my favorite brewery and the specials myself), she said no. We ordered. My friend got a grilled chicken with no onions because she hates onions. She has also been to this brewery with me SINCE 2017! The waitress proceeded to question her with a straight face when a ton of onions were on her sandwich "what, are you allergic or something?" WOW
My sandwich wasn't great, and I was rather disappointed. Anyway, when I went to the restroom, I noticed the same specials sign that I'm very familiar with...which is still posted on the Big Storm Website itself... stating they did in fact have specials for that day.
The waitress (Kylie - worst I've ever had in my life, especially at Big Storm), brought us our checks, never took our leftover plates, never asked us if we wanted another beer (we had had one beer), then finally came back to get our bills. I politely said "hey, just so you know for next time, there are specials," and I showed her the picture I took from the poster inside. She immediately said "oh, we're under new management so those don't apply anymore" so I said "well, maybe you should take down the sign because it's false advertising" ANY OTHER SERVER WOULD HAVE HONORED THE ADVERTISED SPECIALS!
I don't think we'll be back. They wouldn't even turn sound on for a NCAA game for us when there were barely any people there. They were blasting music you'd hear at an old skating rink.
The beer is different, I guess that goes with new management. My all time favorite local beer, the Bromosa, is different. I asked about why it was different and she argued that it wasn't. I highly doubt that she's been going to Big Storm since there were only 2 picnic tables outside and a potential coffee/ice cream shop.
Super disappointing, very disheartening, and extremely sad to see a successful establishment being taken over by sucky new management. BUT, it happens all the time I suppose.
RIP Big Storm, you've lost some dedicated as fuck customers. I have spent so much money there, and my company goes all of the time for team outings...no more. read more