It was another typical rush hour in the Tampa Bay area, when I decided to escape the “parking lot” on I-275 south and seek sanctuary five miles west of Exit 28 at Cajun Cafe on the Bayou in Pinellas Park. And in addition to enjoying a delicious oyster po’ boy and talking beer with owner [...]
Atlanta’s Red Brick Brewing Company is becoming one of my favorite breweries in the Southeast, and I’m pleased to see that two more of their ales are now available in the Tampa Bay area. Red Brick Hoplanta (Red Brick Brewing Co.; Atlanta, GA; India Pale Ale; ABV: 6.7), named as a word play on the [...]
One of the things that makes The Walking Dead such a great television series is that like the comic book series the show is based upon, it pulls no punches in killing off main characters. Just last night, the ongoing tension between former best friends Rick Grimes, the group’s leader, and Shane Walsh, now his [...]
What happens when you take a saison and blend it with Pinot Gris grapes? Once again, you get a uniquely flavorful ale from Dogfish Head. Dogfish Head Noble Rot (Dogfish Head Craft Brewery; Milton, DE; Saison / Farmhouse Ale; ABV: 9.0) is brewed with Belgian saison yeast, wheat malt, then fermented with Botrytis wine must [...]
Tampa Bay Beer Week comes to a fitting conclusion this Saturday when Cigar City Brewing hosts its annual Hunahpu’s Day. Having attended this unique event in the past, I can attest that it’s a great day of food, festivities, music, and of course beer. Besides the guest beer of honor, there will be a variety [...]
The craft beer scene in the Tampa Bay area evolved further over the last week, as Darwin’s on 4th in downtown SRQ debuted their craft beers. If the first brewings are any indication, then the restaurant and brewery will entice patrons with fine craft beers to pair with the outstanding Peruvian inspired cuisine. We stopped [...]
Marzens tend to be traditional Fall beers, but I had the chance to try a different take on this beer style at Crum’s Bar and Grill recently. Cigar City Marzen Spring Lager (Cigar City Brewing; Tampa, FL; Marzen; ABV: 5.5) is also known as Cigar City Oktoberfest Marzen when it’s released during the autumn months. [...]
You can add Crum’s Bar and Grill to a growing list of exceptional brewpubs in the Tampa Bay area. Located in downtown St. Petersburg, and owned by Chris Crum and Lanette Miller, Crum’s Bar and Grill offers craft beer, food, and live music in a hip casual setting. Speaking of which, there’s 52 selections of [...]
The last time I was at the Cigar City Brewing Tasting Room in Tampa, I learned something new. Did you know that bats pollinate blue agave plants, which provide the ingredient found in tequila? So it’s fitting that I tried a double cream ale, named for the bat, that’s aged in tequila barrels. Cigar City [...]