TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — What started as a way to sip on specialty craft beer Tallahassee, has now grow to thousands of people gathering at this brewery every week.
"We had been involved with craft beer in Atlanta and realized there was a demand and a need in Tallahassee for access to craft beer," Owner and Founder Byron Burroughs said.
Him and his wife Angela Burroughs moved here in the mid 2000s for another project, but when that fell through, they opened their first store liquor loft and became retailers.
"Our main focus was to have the best craft import and specialty beer and hard to find beers in the state," Burroughs said.
As he traveled looking for the best beer, he learned something very important.
"People were clamoring for Florida beer among anything else," Burroughs said. "We quickly realized we were just brand building for all of these out of state brands to sell in Florida, when people really wanted Florida local beer."
This realization turned into Proof Brewing Company.
"After doing that for a year, it was really well received by the city and we received the other missing thing in Tallahassee was a proper beer bar," Burroughs said.
Critics questioned this and said because Tallahassee is a college town, it won't do well since students only like cheap beer.
Burroughs didn't listen and proved everyone wrong.
He says students are some of his biggest customers, with many having Proof beer be their first legal drink.
With rows of beer ready on tap to a garden in the back, Burroughs said he's grateful to have the location everyone goes to today.
"We do call it our forever home at 1320 South Monroe, and we now have all the capacity we need, room to grow," Burroughs said.
A vision Byron says wouldn't be possible with Tallahassee.
This community made the brand Proof, one that is Totally Tallahassee.
