Stopped by Willards Tap House in Largo on Wednesday night. St. Pete’s Trigger City Trio was on hand to entertain the crowd with a mixture of rock, funk, reggae, and blues, from their original music to unique covers such as Stevie Wonder’s “Sign Sealed Delivered” and The Beatles’ “Back In The USSR.” And of course [...]
Stopped by the recently renovated Shakespeare’s English Pub the other evening, and tried a Black IPA that has been making its way around brewpubs in the Tampa Bay area. Tommyknocker Hop Strike Black Rye IPA (Tommyknocker Brewery; Idaho Springs, CO; Black India Pale Ale; ABV: 7.2) is an interesting spin on the recent trend toward [...]
Anne and I were invited by Greg Rapp, brewer extraordinaire and founder of the Pinellas Urban Brewers Guild, to his home on Saturday for Rapp on Tap. The event featured more than 20 craft beers, including 16 of Greg’s brewings on tap, in addition to offerings from other PUBGuild members. There was a great turnout [...]
Fort McHenry is worth a visit the next time you’re in Baltimore. This star shaped fort, defended by a moat and cannons back in the day, was instrumental in the War of 1812, as it successfully repelled an attack by the British Navy and inspired Francis Scott Key to pen The Star-Spangled Banner. Speaking of [...]
Idaho brewery Laughing Dog crafts an impressive line of beers, from the Imperial Stout The Dogfather to the DIPA Devil Dog and Black IPA DogZilla. And I relished the chance to try another one of their ales. Laughing Dog Alpha Dog Imperial IPA (Laughing Dog Brewing; Ponderay, ID; Imperial India Pale Ale; ABV: 8.7) is [...]
I stopped by Mr. Beery’s the other evening for Beer Nerd Night. My offering for the gang was an imperial stout from a brewery known for its excellent IPAs such as Devil Dog and DogZilla. Laughing Dog Bourbon Barrel Aged The Dogfather Imperial Stout (Laughing Dog Brewing; Ponderay, ID; Imperial Stout; ABV: 11.0) is a [...]
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 [...]