Not familiar with Botanical Brewing?
Well, that’s about to change.
The fast-growing non-alcoholic beverage company is expanding into two high-profile spaces in Cape Coral.
It debuted in Scotty’s Bierwerks’ large industrial space off Pondella Road on May 30 and will soon take over Rib City’s longtime spot on Leonard Street in South Cape.
“This just all fell into our laps,” CEO Jacqueline Rusher said. “Our lease was up and (Scotty’s North Cape space) came up at the same time as Rib City.”
For the last five years, Botanical Brewing had been brewing in Big Storm’s old space (and Cape Coral Brewing Co.’s before that) on Miramar Street, just a half mile away from Rib City.
“That (Miramar) building was just not big enough,” said Rusher, who founded Botanical with her sister, Caroline, in 2020. “We have such a great community there. We’re glad we’re just moving down the street.”
Botanical Brewing’s new taproom is a comfortable and welcoming.
And although the original space was small, it produced more than half a million cans annually.
“We did 570,000 cans last year out of Miramar,” head brewer James Jones said. “It was about 5,400 cans a day. Once we’re fully operational (at North Cape), we can do about 12 times that when we’re up to full capacity. The demand is there. Right now, we’re producing three or four times what we were. Eventually, we’ll be producing 24/7.”
What exactly is Botanical Brewing about?
James Jones is the head brewer for Botanical Brewing Co.
“We’re an alcohol alternative,” said Rusher, who also owns 20-plus Kava Culture locations with her sister (the first opened in Bonita Springs in 2017). “Kavas, elixirs. We have coffee. Our coffee is great. Think of it as a café during the day and more of a bar at night.”
It’s a plant-focused brewery that produces innovative botanical-infused beverages with a boost.
“We’re open all day long,” Rusher said. “You drink them at different times of the day.”
Kava, for example, is a root from the South Pacific and leaves you “calm and focused.” A natural muscle relaxer that won’t impact motor or cognitive abilities, it comes in flavors like orange dream, tutti frutti and sucker punch (a double-strength lemonade).
Botanical Brewing’s new taproom and brewery is located just south of Pine Island Road, off Pondella Road in Cape Coral.
Elixirs, meanwhile, are made with white, green and red kratom strains — like island breeze, tiki apple, and blueberry lemonade, respectively — that reportedly give a balanced uplift and relaxation without jitters.
“I’ll typically do a white the first part of the day for energy and focus,” Jones said. “Then I’ll switch to green later (for mood and joy boost).” Red is known for easing muscle tension and aches.
Delta-9 hemp seltzers (think lemon poundcake and perfect pear) provide a mind and body buzz, reducing stress and boosting focus.
“Our beverages are mood boosting,” Rusher said. “They give you an uplifting feeling but without alcohol.”
Botanical Brewing produces innovative botanical-infused beverages with a boost.
You’ll find it served on draft (there are 18 taps here at any given time) and in cans. Kraton and hemp drinks are for ages 21-and-up.
Since all production is done at the new Pondella Road spot, you’ll find more flavors there.
“We do a lot of wholesale,” Jones said. “Convenience stores, smoke shops, other kava bars all over the country. All research and development is done here, so all single kegs and small batches are pushed through for first test runs. We’re bringing back Tap That Tuesday, where we put a special tap on for that day.”
Botanical Brewing’s location off Pondella Road in Cape Coral has several seating areas and options.
Botanical Brewing is about more than just the drinks
“It’s a community hub,” Rusher said. “It’s a very friendly atmosphere. Everyone is welcome. You’ll see lawyers, doctors, police officers. There’s a wide age demographic. Teenagers will be talking with 70-year-olds. It bridges generations. We want it to be a place where people come and hang out and have fun.”
Take the recently opened North Cape taproom and brewery, for example.
“We had people coming down from everywhere for the grand opening,” Jones said. “It was great. And each day it’s getting busier and busier.”
Activities, like darts and pool, and events – yoga, trivia, live music and more – are offered at Botanical Brewing.
While Scotty’s had an industrial, brewery taproom feel to it, this Botanical Brewing is “more of a guy’s den feel.”
Picture leather sofas, a pool table, a dart board, and burnt-topped tables.
“We added TVs, painted, put up our logo, added cushions to the chairs,” Jones said. “We redid all the tables. It’s family and pet-friendly too. We added a kids’ play area.”
Events — like yoga, bingo, chess club, trivia (Zimco Entertainment is back on Thursdays!), and live music weekends and food trucks — are regularly scheduled. Happy hour specials are offered throughout the day (including the popular 6 p.m. and midnight Bula slams — traditional greeting and toasts). Food comes in the form of bula bites — think air-fried spring rolls, mini empanadas, hash browns and more. You can also bring your own food in. The outdoor picnic tables are now partially shaded.
Botanical Brewing will soon open in Rib City’s longtime location on Leonard Street in South Cape.
The back room is now closed to the public. It takes a lot of equipment — like a huge new automatic depalletizer and high-temperature short-time pasteurizer — to produce 60,000 cans a day.
South Cape Rib City location up next
Meanwhile, the old Rib City location on Leonard Street is just about ready.
“I hope to see it open in the next two months,” Jones said. “Inside is 98 percent done. It looks great. The main bar area is pretty much all done. As soon as we get the OK, that will open right away.”
In the meantime, Botanical Brewing North Cape, just south of Pine Island Road, is open from 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
“Just come and hang out,” Jones said. “It’s a place to come socialize without being around alcohol. It’s a fun spot.”
Check it out at 901 E. Industrial Circle, Unit 1-3, Cape Coral; (239) 257-1147; botanicalbrewingco.com or on Facebook.
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Botanical Brewing opens taproom in Scotty’s old Cape Coral space