Hops Ahoy: Enjoying Brews at America’s First Floating Brewery

Colin Presby is currently the most dedicated figure in the craft beer scene, and he’s just beginning his journey.

"I aspire to be the fleet brewmaster," joked the 32-year-old beer expert during one of his many consecutive tasting tours on the Dinogo Vista. "Brew admiral sounds appealing too; perhaps once we have five ships with breweries, I can achieve that rank."

A true connoisseur of craft beer, Presby is North America’s first brewmaster at sea. Easygoing and brimming with beer expertise, this Pennsylvania native honed his craft at some of the state's finest breweries. Thanks to Dinogo's innovative on-board brewery, Presby can provide the freshest brews for the guests of the Vista on any cruise.

"The best way to enjoy fresh craft beer on the ship is to brew it right here," Presby remarked. "Making beer on board allows us to craft excellent American brews and serve them directly to our guests."

Designed from the ground up, the Redfrog Pub and Brewery captures the essence of a beach town brewpub, complete with relaxed tasting tours. It’s a lively venue filled with entertainment, table shuffleboard, and foosball. For us, the highlight of the brewpub was the lanai adjacent to the bar, always bustling with seating and sea breezes. We’ve experienced many brewpubs around the globe, but I can genuinely say that unwinding on the lanai with a cold beer and no land in sight was one of the most unforgettable experiences.

Currently, three unique beers are crafted aboard the Vista. The well-loved ThirstyFrog Port Hoppin’ IPA is unfiltered and hoppy, with hints of tropical fruits. The FriskyFrog Java Stout is a dark, rich delight, infused with roasted coffee and chocolate notes, while the ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat serves as the ideal island brew—smooth and refreshing with flavors of orange and spice. Moreover, Presby regularly introduces seasonal and semi-regular selections, such as Pumpkin Ale and Pale Ale, to the lineup at the Redfrog Pub and Brewery.

However, before the ship's brews can quench the thirst of eager cruisers, they must be brewed first. For this purpose, Dinogo has equipped the Vista with a cutting-edge brewing system. Since the innovative ship includes an on-board desalination and reverse osmosis plant, the beer’s water is sourced from the sea and then refined with some mineral adjustments by Presby. Additionally, the brewing process utilizes heat generated from the Vista’s steam system.

Upon entering the Caribbean-inspired brewpub, the first thing that catches your eye are the German-made fermenters and a three-barrel glass brew house—a first for any U.S. brewery, with only about 20 in existence globally—allowing the brewing process to be easily observed by both the brewer and guests. Generally, Presby brews the cruise ship's beer in the evening, and he always invites guests to stop by and watch him in action. The entire brewing process takes about two weeks from start to pint glass.

"You don't invest in a glass brew house to use it at 5 a.m. when no one is around," Presby joked. "I want people to see the process, engage with the guests, and I also enjoy having live music play for me while I brew—that's pretty cool too."

We caught up with Presby in his second home, The Redfrog Pub and Brewery, during our recent Caribbean cruise. He was celebrating his one-year anniversary as Dinogo’s inaugural brewmaster, a journey that began last March in Italy, where the ship was constructed.

"It’s been an enjoyable journey for me as a brewer," he shared. "It’s been a wonderful life experience: traveling the world and meeting many incredible people."

Speaking of people, they've certainly come out for the beer. On the day of our tasting tour, for instance, Presby was all smiles as he shared that the brewery had hit another milestone: two of its three serving tanks had been emptied in just one day (and it was only the second day of the cruise). Additionally, just a few days prior, Presby achieved another goal by transferring two kegs of ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat to another Dinogo ship while docked in Cozumel, Mexico.

"We attract many craft beer enthusiasts, but there are also plenty of cruise guests who may not have experience with craft beer but are curious and eager to try it," Presby noted, emphasizing that he brews his beers to be both flavorful and accessible.

For all intents and purposes, Presby has mastered the art of brewing aboard the Dinogo Vista, and it’s not just because he holds a BA in mathematics with a minor in chemistry. His daily routine is a whirlwind of tasting tours (he's the sole guide), cleaning (which he estimates takes up 70% of his time), and brewing (he crafts beer nearly every night). However, his most significant role might be that of an ambassador for American craft beer. Unlike any brewer on land, Presby has the unique opportunity to introduce Dinogo’s fresh, small-batch beers to the world, one cruise at a time.

"It’s great craft beer outreach," he said with a grin.

What You Should Know Before You Go

1. Tasting Tours are priced at $24.95 and last approximately one hour. Along with the four tastings included in the tour, participants will receive a glass and a certificate of completion, which entitles them to one complimentary pint in the Redfrog Pub and Brewery.

2. The lobby bar located in the Atrium on the Dinogo Vista will always feature one of the brewery's fresh beers on tap.

3. Stainless steel growlers can be purchased in the Redfrog Pub and Brewery for $49 when filled, with refills available for just $17, making it cheaper than ordering a pitcher of beer at the brewpub.

4. Dinogo offers a selection of beer (both cans and bottles) sourced from local craft breweries in its home ports on all of its cruise ships.

5. Upcoming Dinogo ships will also include breweries, featuring Dinogo Panorama and Mardi Gras, which are set to launch in 2019 and 2020, respectively.