First Love is first a brewery – with good food, minimalist design, and a very devoted following. Screens on the walls show sporting events on mute, while the atmosphere buzzes with happy people at the tables, bar, and vintage picnic tables out front.
I recently met my friend and photographer Lilly for supper at First Love. Lilly loves the Lily, the Belgian Tripel named Lily, which is also the brewery’s favorite. Flights of four allow me different tastes in one sitting – Ruby, Cardinal Truth, Lily, and Cadillac Rainbows. The specially-designed Amelia Island flight paddle starts with the lightest in the north. On the menu, everything is great, but to me, the delicate pizza crust is the finest of any around. Funghi and Butternut Squash are two seasonal pizzas that I adore.
First Love Brewing has been a passion project for Kevin and Jessie O’Brien for six years. They met in middle school in Maryland and began dating in high school. The ingredients of First Love began mixing early in their relationship. From the start, they felt they had what it took to run a business together, the culmination of each of their dreams. Both had been deeply infused with their parents’ work ethic of commitment to family, friends, community, and hard work.
Then off they went to University of Maine. There Jessie developed a passion for craft beer. After homebrewing for a few years, Jessie became a professional brewer, working in various East Coast breweries. Kevin’s athleticism led him to managing a tennis club, which taught him skills to open and manage a business.
They began to build what First Love is today in 2018 on the island they had visited for years. Kevin says that their love story is only part of what First Love means. “First Love is about following your life’s dreams and passions. We believe every person has their own First Love that is unique to them. Ours was to have a local business that made a difference in a beloved community. Jessie and I are extremely fortunate to have been able to build our life around First Love, and we want to share this First Love with our community, staff, family, friends, and visitors to the island as we once were. Support from this community has made it all come together, and for this we couldn’t be more thankful.”
In August, another of Kevin and Jessie’s dreams came true – they became parents of a beautiful baby girl named Ruby, and celebrating her arrival with the community has been amazing, they report. They are deeply grateful for all the good wishes. The baby has inspired Ruby, a grapefruit saison newly on the menu that is light and popular.
As First Love prepares to celebrate its sixth anniversary in June, Jessie has been developing a spring beer menu focused largely on Belgian IPA, citrus Kolsch, Belgian pale ale, and a fruited Belgian table beer. Chocolate Stout is already on tap. Seasonal food specials will continue, as will rotating weekly specials. Bruschetta pizza and lemon pepper wings are staples on the regular menu. Each of these flavor profiles captures the upcoming mood of their sixth-year celebration. First Love Brewing is located at 27 South 8th Street in downtown Fernandina Beach.