Intuition Ale Works is at at Bay Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard. | Intuition Ale Works
Published on April 25, 2025 at 2:51 pm
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Intuition Ale Works founder Ben Davis has announced plans to sell the brewery that he founded almost 15 years ago.
Davis announced the plans in a news release Friday, saying the decision comes at a time when the East Bay Street operation is “operating from a place of strength and stability.”
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Davis said he will seek buyers who will maintain company values and culture as Intuition enters a new era.
Intuition Ale Works was established in 2010 on King Street in Riverside, then became the first craft brewery in Florida to can its beers in 2012, company officials said.
In 2016, Intuition moved to Downtown Jacksonville after outgrowing its Riverside brewery. It built the brewing facility, taproom, then Bier Hall music venue at Bay Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard.
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Davis emphasized that operations would continue as normal while discussions with potential buyers continue. He said he wants a buyer who will “preserve the brewery’s creative identity, local roots, and commitment to community engagement.”
Davis said he has taken Intuition as far as he can and wants to ensure the growth of the brand.
“I’m sharing this now because I care deeply about our team and want to be as transparent as possible about the future of Intuition,” he said
Chief Operating Officer Brad Lange told Jacksonville Today that reaction to the sale among the 40 employees was bittersweet.
“For them, I think Ben is almost synonymous with the brand, so a little bit sad to see him go for sure. He’s brought so much of his blood, sweat and tears to building the brand over the years,” Lange said. “But everybody loves him, trusts that he’s going to leave the business in a great spot for somebody to come in and take us to the next level.”
News of the sale comes after the recent closures of a number of local brewpubs and micro-breweries like A1A Ale Works and Ragtime Tavern, as well as Hyperion Brewing Co., Brewer’s Pizza, Lemonstreet Brewing, Barley and Pie Brewing Co. and Tabula Rasa Brewery
Lange said he does not think the sale of Intuition is connected with the shrinkage of local microbreweries.
“It’s a tough industry just like a lot of them have been tough in the past five years or so,” Lange said. “There was a moment, I think, where there was some oversaturation with craft beer, and we definitely weathered that. We are still very strong in the market, performing as strongly as any out there. There has been some natural correcting to that oversaturation.”
Meanwhile, Davis said nothing changes for now.
“We’ll keep brewing as much beer as we can, the taproom will remain the place to be before downtown events, and we’ll continue filling The Bier Hall with live music,” he said.
