COASTE | PERSONALITIES
men, the brewery is the culmination of their beer-lover’s and island-lover’s dream.
“So many people have tried more commercial beer and thought that was the way a beer is supposed to taste,” Costello says. “With Point Ybel, it’s been exciting to see that our brand is not only appealing to people who have always liked beer, but also people who thought they would never like beer. Customers tell us that ours tastes better than anything they’ve had before, and they keep coming back for more.” This match made in beer heaven began several years ago with Costello, who was raised on Sanibel. Like so many young locals, he had developed a healthy penchant for fishing — while his fascination with beer arrived a little later at St. Leo College and Florida Gulf Coast University. Though Costello considered going to law school, his knowledge of local waters, passion for fishing and entrepreneurial acumen led him to great success as a charter boat captain and guide. And while he had no problem guiding clients to the best local fishing holes, he was far more challenged in recommending what awaits the end of every great expedition — a fun-filled watering hole with a tall, tasty cold one on tap. “I’ve always liked good beer,” says Costello. “Some communities around the country offer a lot of choices, but locally, options were very limited when it came to beer. Most of what was available wasn’t very good.” Inspired Island Hoppers After coming across a guide to brewing, Costello resolved to try his own hand. Upon acquiring the necessary ingredients and learning the process, Costello was soon piling pots and pans atop his own kitchen stove to brew batches. It took repeated experimenting to develop the correct flavor profile — and the bottling formula had to be tweaked as well since a number of bottles “Beer making can make for a joyful mess.”
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