Brew Hub of Lakeland was a powerhouse when it began. The contract brewer was founded by former ABI veterans who sought to bring the consistency of large-scale brewing to the craft beer market. The motto was “Where Craft Brewers Go To Grow.”
When the copackaging brewery and taproom opened its doors in 2014, promises abounded. Small brands like (at that time) Cigar City Brewing, Orange Blossom Brewing, and Green Man Brewing were able to brew more beer after maxing out their capacity and did not need to invest in costly additional tanks or renovations to house them. This concept also allowed a little-known brewery in Decorah, Iowa, called Toppling Goliath, to brew more beer for thirsty markets while also adding Florida to its footprint.
Best of all for beer enthusiasts, all of these beers – once a pipe dream to ever enjoy in Florida – were on tap in Brew Hub’s Tasting Room, along with Brew Hub’s house-brewed and award-winning beers.
Brew Hub was also awarded the opportunity to brew Publix’s in-house beers, like 1300 Mile IPA, which still has Brew Hub Brewing listed as the brewer of this beer.
Growing Breweries like Oyster City Brewing of Apalachicola joined their ranks, the brewery won two Gold Medals at the 2017 Great American Beer Fetsival® and the operation was cruising along.
In March 2025, news surfaced of an impending foreclosure of Brew Hub, and the brewery was sold to The Becker Organization of New Jersey and Great Southern Beverages acquired the brewing rights, according to a timeline from Lkld Now.
In July 2025, the brewery formally announced it would change its name. “We’ve got a new name: Great Southern Beverages
Same crew. Same great beer. We just have a fresh look that reflects who we are and where we’re headed.”
In March 2026, Yancey’s Brews announced that they would be taking over the taproom at Great Southern Beverages. By June 5th, the business had closed and deleted all of their social media content.
In September 2026, Southern Copackers, the company behind Southern Beverages and the brewing arm of the business, has stopped making beer to revamp for brewing nonalcoholic beers and deal with Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
The owner of the property, The Becker Organization, has filed for eviction in June, claiming that Great Southern owed $364,118 in back rent and property insurance, according to an article in The Lakeland Gazette. “The Chapter 11 filing automatically triggers a stay on state court proceedings, temporarily halting the pending eviction litigation while the company attempts to propose a court-approved repayment plan.”
According to the same court filings, the brewery “had resumed blending operations in late June 2026 with 24 returning workers on a four-day schedule, following missed payroll issues in May. The former Yancey’s taproom space was also transitioned toward private event usage.”
