Visiting Tampa/Orlando? LOOK HERE FIRST! Spring '15 Update

I would add a new option in the Orlando area. Crooked Can Brewing just opened in downtown Winter Garden which is about 15 minutes west of Orlando. Very nice taproom and some great IPAs as well as other choices.

 

Matters what time in the morning you are talking about. Before seven, or after nine it's not that bad. Between those hours traffic moves quickly for the most part but it can be really heavy. The I-4/I-275 interchange, lovingly referred to as "malfunction junction" is horrible all times of the day but especially that time of day so expect to add 20 min to your time just to get through that mile stretch. The exit for Cigar City has undergone a huge amount of construction recently so be careful, easy to miss. You take a right exit for Dale Mabry then I believe stay to your left at the fork to get to Dale Mabry. Turn right onto Dale Mabry than QUICKLY get over to the left (you turn left at the second light and you need to get over 4 lanes of what can be really heavy traffic). Just expect downtown traffic to be really heavy but it will keep moving (most of the time). Good luck! I would leave yourself about an hour to get from Orlando to CCB. Should be that give or take 20 min.
Cheers!

 

For visiting folks, I would also recommend The Brew Bus out of CCB. It makes stops at several breweries, a few beers are served onboard, and best of all, no DUI's.

 

Awesome, thanks for the info. How is the line at the brewery usually for the Tuesday growler fills? What time do I need to get there to be sure and get one? I planned to leave around 930 AM or so.

 

definitely back qjoker321, but give a little more time than an hour and a half. i-4/275 is always a cluster fuck. and it fucked me over on some of the growler tuesdays.

 

Thanks for all the info fellow BAs. I am going down to orange lake in May with my family, and am looking to take that drive out to CCB and maybe Cycle.

 

So what's going on this weekend besides funky Buddha events?

 

I would add the Brew Hub for those planning to visit Tampa/St Pete from Orlando/Disney...its located off I-4 and is currently serving Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue and another TG beer for growler fills...excited to have this near us!!

 

I'll be in Orlando for business early May. Staying at the Hyatt Regency. Won't have a great amount of time or a car, any of the places listed withing decent distance of the Hyatt? Any decent beer at the Hyatt? Thanks for any help you can give!

 

An up and rising bar in downtown Orlando is Eola Wine Company. Obviously great wine but they have nine taps including a dedicated nitro tap. Just tapped a keg of Last Snow tonight.

 

which one?

 

Every Thursday and Friday evening from 6-8pm+- Open House/Tour/Tastings
Saint Somewhere Brewing! If you're going to Dunedin...might as well make the short trip to Tarpon Springs!

 

Crowlers are 6 bucks at cycle on Mondays

 

Hyatt Regency on International

 

World of Beer - Dr. Phillips is probably your best bet.

 

I'm going to be in Tampa in 2 weeks and planning my craft beer stops. The last time I visited I hit CCB, Brew Pub and then 7venth Sun in one day. As someone mentioned above, the traffic is bad depending on the time and I'm trying to hit a few spots that are close together (ideally brewery and pub/food). Any suggestions? I'm in Clearwater. I'd like to hit Cycle but St Pete can be a hike. Maybe CCB-Brew Pub-Angy Chair - Independent or Willard's?

 

Clearwater and st pete are about 10 mins away. Pretty easy drive down 275. Well worth the trip

 

Willard's is going to be rough if you're coming from Angry Chair or CCBP. The Independent is a much closer option.

If you're looking for proximity it's really tough to beat downtown St. Pete. Green Bench, Cycle, and Ale and the Witch are within walking distance of each other (along with a few other craft beer bars). Plenty of great options for food along the way too. Heck, if you're ambitious you could even get to Urban Brew and BBQ and 3 Daughters on foot as well.

 

That's good to know. Thanks for the info.