Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co.

Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co. sits at 111 W Georgia Ave in DeLand’s SoNY neighborhood, a small historic pocket just south of the main Woodland Boulevard drag that has become one of the more distinctive corners of the city’s food and drink scene. The brewery was founded in October 2014 by Robbie Carelli and Andy Sistrunk, two friends who had been home brewing together and decided to turn the hobby into a commercial operation in their hometown. More than a decade later, the taproom they built has become a fixture for DeLand residents and Stetson University alumni who return to town looking for a familiar pint.

The brewery describes its own approach with a phrase that says a lot about the place: “Drink Sensibly, But Get Weird.” That attitude shows up in a rotating lineup of beers that ranges from approachable session styles to more experimental small batch releases, the kind of variety that keeps regulars coming back to see what is new on the board. The taproom itself functions as a genuine community gathering space rather than a simple retail counter. Pets are welcome inside, board games are generally available, and the room tends to fill with a mix of longtime DeLand locals, Stetson students of legal drinking age, and visitors who wandered over from the shops and restaurants on Woodland Boulevard a block or two away.

Because Persimmon Hollow is a production brewery as well as a taproom, the beer poured on site is actually made there, not simply distributed from elsewhere, which matters to visitors who want to see where their pint comes from. The SoNY setting, short for South of New York Avenue, gives the brewery a slightly quieter, more residential feel than the storefronts directly on Woodland Boulevard, with brick buildings and a laid back pace that suits an afternoon spent working through a flight of samples. It is an easy stop to pair with a walk through downtown DeLand, whether that means browsing the antique shops near the courthouse or catching a show at the nearby Athens Theatre.

Locally owned and independently run since its founding, Persimmon Hollow represents exactly the kind of small manufacturing and hospitality business that downtown DeLand has actively worked to attract over the past decade, occupying a historic building rather than a purpose built commercial box and putting a genuinely local product behind the bar. For anyone exploring DeLand’s craft beer options, or simply looking for a relaxed place to sit outside of the more restaurant heavy stretch of Woodland Boulevard, Persimmon Hollow is worth the short detour to Georgia Avenue.