Brewlando was named an honoree of the 16th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards, presented by title sponsors Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services and Holland & Knight. The honor comes one year after Brewlando was named a 2025 finalist, and it marks the second GrowFL honor for founder Shara Pathak, whose company TapNGo™ was named an honoree in 2024.
Recognized as Florida’s premier statewide awards program for second-stage businesses, the GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards honor a distinguished group of established companies with 6 to 150 employees and annual revenue between $750,000 and $100 million. Selected honorees have advanced beyond the startup phase and exemplify the exceptional leadership, innovation, resilience and growth potential shaping the future of Florida’s economy.
This year’s honorees emerged from a highly competitive field of nearly 500 nominations submitted from communities across Florida. Following a rigorous review process, 94 companies advanced as finalists before the honorees were selected based on their growth, leadership, innovation, company culture, community impact and potential for continued success.
“Being named a finalist last year told us we were on the right track. This year’s honor belongs to our team across all four locations. For me, as a woman business owner, being recognized by GrowFL twice, for two different businesses, is pretty special. Thank you to Ric Cieslak of CLA for nominating us, and to GrowFL for championing companies at this stage of growth,” said Shara Pathak, Founder of Brewlando.
Brewlando began in 2022, when Pathak stepped in to save a struggling Orlando brewery and the jobs that came with it. What started as an effort to help has grown into a hospitality-driven craft beverage company with four locations across Central Florida, including its flagship brewery on Hoffner Avenue in Orlando and The Winery & Tasting Room at ICON Park. Brewlando expanded in 2025 with the acquisition of Sanford Brewing Company, and its Sanford location now serves as an innovation hub for small-batch and custom beers made for restaurants, theme parks and other partners.
Today, Brewlando beers are available in select stores, stadiums and hotels across Florida, and the company is the Official Craft Beer of UCF Athletics, a partnership with special meaning for Pathak, a UCF alumna. Brewlando has earned six Best Florida Beer medals and was voted Best Brewery in the Orlando Sentinel’s Central Florida Favorites Awards two years in a row. The company is also preparing to open at Orlando International Airport (MCO). This recognition reflects how far the company has come since 2022, built on great beer, hospitality and a commitment to the Central Florida community.
“Being named a GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch honoree is a significant achievement,” said Sean Flannery, Chair of the GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards Program. “These companies distinguished themselves among nearly 500 nominations and a highly competitive group of finalists. They represent the entrepreneurial strength of Florida and the businesses that will help shape our state’s economic future. On behalf of GrowFL, I congratulate this year’s honorees and thank the nominators, partners, sponsors and judges whose commitment makes this statewide recognition possible.”
Come celebrate with us. Find a Brewlando location near you or see what’s on tap.
About GrowFL
GrowFL is Florida’s statewide organization dedicated to supporting the leaders of second-stage growth companies. Through CEO membership, leadership development, peer learning, statewide recognition and connections to experienced advisors and resources, GrowFL helps business leaders navigate the challenges of scaling their companies. By strengthening the leaders and businesses driving Florida’s economy, GrowFL helps create quality jobs, expand economic opportunities and build stronger communities across the state.
About GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch
GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch is Florida’s premier statewide awards program recognizing second-stage companies that demonstrate growth, innovation, leadership and future potential. Honorees are chosen through a rigorous review of company performance, leadership, culture and community impact. The program gives deserving growth companies greater statewide visibility and celebrates their contributions to Florida’s economy.
