Visiting Tampa/Orlando? LOOK HERE FIRST!! Fall 2016 Update

Discussion in 'South Atlantic' started by BKnarr, Aug 21, 2016.

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  1. BKnarr

    BKnarr Pundit (894) Sep 5, 2012 Florida

    Pumpkin brews are starting to hit shelves! That can only mean one thing! Ok it means two things: 1. It's still summer 2. It's time for the fall update! Not much new to add this time around. Tampa/St. Pete area is adding new breweries regularly as usual, but I've also noticed new Orlando area breweries opening at a record pace the past few months. Once I start to hear some good things from you guys about these places, I'll add them to the list. In the meantime, have a great autumn drinking season everyone! Oh real quick, in case you didn't know, specific to this season, the place you want to be for Oktoberfest is Rapp Brewing.

    If you think I'm missing something, please post below the main post.
    IMPORTANT : Locals PLEASE respond when someone recommends something. Like the post or create your own post about why you disagree. The big problem here is this: It's 2016. Everyone is opening a brewery. Every bar and restaurant is adding craft beer to their tap lists. Every grocery and liquor store is stocking their shelves with craft beer. Here's the rub: THEY CAN'T ALL BE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. To list every damn place selling craft beer would take me forever and would render this list completely useless. Please, if you think this list is a good idea, help me make it a quality product.

    Sorry if I am stepping on anyone's toes, or if I didn't step on toes that you thought needed stepping on. I went back at least 50 pages in the SA forum to see what BAs most often recommended in these towns, and I based my post on those findings. Your favorite brewery/bar/bottleshop may not be listed due to this. As I see places being recommended more/less, I will add/delete them. They do not reflect any personal bias.

    Happy drinking everyone!


    TAMPA area (includes St. Petersburg/Clearwater)

    (Almost) Universally Recommended "Must-Hit" Breweries & Brew Pubs
    Cigar City Brewery(Tampa)
    Coppertail Brewing(Tampa)
    Rapp Brewing(Seminole) OKTOBERFEST
    Cycle Brewing(St. Petersburg)
    7venth Sun Brewing(Dunedin)
    Angry Chair Brewing(Tampa)

    Other Highly Recommended Breweries & Brew Pubs
    Cigar City Cider & Mead(Tampa)
    Cigar City Brewpub(Carrolwood)
    Saint Somewhere Brewing(Tarpon Springs)
    Southern Brewing and Winemaking(also a homebrew shop)(Tampa)
    Tampa Bay Brewing(Tampa)
    Barley Mow Brewing(Largo)
    Green Bench Brewing(St. Petersburg)

    Highly Recommended Beer Bars
    The Ale and the Witch(St. Pete)
    The Independent(Tampa and soon St. Pete also)
    Willard's(Largo)
    Hops and Props(St.Pete)

    Highly Recommended Bottle Shops
    Luekens(check website for stock)(Various locations)
    Total Wine(check website for stock)(Tampa/Clearwater/Brandon)
    Shep's(St. Pete)
    Jug & Bottle(Tampa)*growlers

    (A Few) Beer-centric Restaurants
    Mr. Dunderbaks(Tampa)
    Datz(Tampa)
    Cajun Cafe on Bayou(Pinellas Park)
    Stein & Vine(Brandon)
    Brewers Tasting Room(St. Pete)
    Urban Brew & BBQ(St. Pete)


    Tampa Bay Brew Bus does wonderful tours if you'd like someone to curate your local brewery experience. They also have a nice hop on/hop off as you wish brewery loop on Sundays.
    http://www.brewbususa.com/tours/tampa-bay/

    Tampa Area BA listings - http://www.beeradvocate.com/place/city/69/

    Tampa Beer Map:
    https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msi...2,-82.544147&spn=0.929126,0.503138&dg=feature

    Able to sort area breweries in creative ways(growlers, kid friendly, food) Neat idea.
    http://thebrewerybay.com/


    Between Tampa and Orlando, visit Two Henry's Brewing(also a winery) in Plant City or Brew Hub in Lakeland. Because god forbid you have to drive an hour between beer stops.


    ORLANDO area

    Highly Recommended Breweries & Brew Pubs
    Hourglass Brewing
    Crooked Can Brewing
    Cask & Larder
    Redlight Redlight(best beer bar in Orlando, now also brewing their own too.)

    Highly Recommended Beer Bars
    Tap & Grind
    Thirsty Topher
    World of Beer - 5 locations (check WOB app for map and tap lists)
    Brass Tap - Multiple locations

    Highly Recommended Bottle Shops
    Knightly(Orange Blossom Trail location only)
    Big C Liqour
    3 Total Wine locations(check website for stock) Altamonte store has a growler station)
    Various ABC locations: (Apopka Vineland store is closest decent beer selection to Disney)
    Lake Mary & Winter Park ABC's have growler stations

    (A Few) Beer-centric Restaurants
    Oblivion Taproom
    Cask & Larder
    The Smiling Bison
    Gnarly Barley
    Frank & Steins

    Orlando Area BA listings - http://www.beeradvocate.com/place/city/80/

    Orlando Beer Map http://www.orlandobeerguide.com/orlando-beer-guide-maps.html


    Disney Tips
    For those traveling to Disney, many places throughout the parks and resorts now serve craft beer.

    Best craft beer selection on property is at the pool bar at The Grand Floridean.

    Yes variety in the parks is limited. Yes it's expensive to buy beer in the parks or at your hotel.

    Yes you can bring your own beer to Disney resort pools.
     
    #1 BKnarr, Aug 21, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2016
    TATURBO, BlackToothGrin, dtjager and 5 others like this.
  2. The_FishermanJay

    The_FishermanJay Pundit (936) May 16, 2010 Florida
    Trader

    @BKnarr is The Man. He's a pumpkin beer-hating man, to be sure, but The Man.
     
    #2 The_FishermanJay, Aug 21, 2016
    Viclovescourtney and BKnarr like this.
  3. Tim3167

    Tim3167 Initiate (0) Aug 12, 2014 Florida

    For the Orlando area I've really been enjoying the following:
    • Ten10 in Orlando, a great selection of beers and recently did their first bottle release; Bourbon Barrel Aged Weary Beast Imperial Stout
    • Red Cypress in Oviedo outside of Orlando, again a wide variety of taps with great flavors.
    • Central 28 in DeBary, a bit smaller selection but have done some great bottle and can releases.
     
    #3 Tim3167, Aug 21, 2016
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  4. johnyb

    johnyb Pooh-Bah (2,336) Aug 11, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Another good stop between Orlando and Tampa is BrewHub, a contract brewery that does some contract brewing for some well known craft breweries, including CCB and Toppling Goliath. I've picked up such things as Pseudo Sue there. Worth calling ahead to see what they have. It's right off I4 in Lakeland between Tampa and Orlando (closer to Tampa) but it's a bit hard getting on/off I4.
     
    #4 johnyb, Aug 21, 2016
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  5. BKnarr

    BKnarr Pundit (894) Sep 5, 2012 Florida

    It's in the post right at the end of the Tampa info, in italics.
     
    #5 BKnarr, Aug 22, 2016
  6. johnyb

    johnyb Pooh-Bah (2,336) Aug 11, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My bad, apologies.
     
    #6 johnyb, Aug 22, 2016
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  7. lionssoccer13

    lionssoccer13 Zealot (518) Jun 30, 2011 Florida
    Trader

    No great breweries in Orlando but Red Cypress and Bowingens have been the best I've tried. Central 28 is ok but pretty far from Orlando proper.
     
    #7 lionssoccer13, Aug 22, 2016
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  8. IPAkindaguy

    IPAkindaguy Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2010 Florida

    Little shout out to Craft Beer Cellar in Brandon. Small, crafted selection of beer, wine , mead etc. Use to go to the locations in MA all the time. Usually some of the harder to get bottles might linger here.
     
    #8 IPAkindaguy, Aug 22, 2016
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  9. BKnarr

    BKnarr Pundit (894) Sep 5, 2012 Florida

    Growler station too!
     
    #9 BKnarr, Aug 22, 2016
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  10. CanesHeatFins305

    CanesHeatFins305 Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2014 Florida

    Visiting Orlando 9/7 - 9/10

    Anything to look out for?

    Has anyone been to Ocean Sun Brewing or Dead Lizard Brewing?

    Thanks!
     
    #10 CanesHeatFins305, Aug 24, 2016
  11. Tim3167

    Tim3167 Initiate (0) Aug 12, 2014 Florida

    I have been to both of those near opening for each. I would like to go back when they have been going for awhile to try again. My current recommendation for Orlando proper is Ten10 north of downtown. I think they are doing some really nice things there.
     
    #11 Tim3167, Aug 24, 2016
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  12. Kevinhcraig

    Kevinhcraig Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2011 Florida

    Ocean sun is great. Beer is always on point but never amazing (no whales bruh) and table service is always quick and friendly. It's in a good location in a neighborhood just outside of downtown and the taproom is roomy and welcoming. Kid friendly.

    I went to dead lizard once and won't be back for a while. I had a flight with 4 tiny beers that I did not enjoy or finish. It was like $13 for the flight, too. The tap room is meh and it's out in the middle of nowhere. Not very kid friendly.

    I hope they can step it up and be successful. They seem like nice guys.
     
    #12 Kevinhcraig, Aug 24, 2016
  13. Kevinhcraig

    Kevinhcraig Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2011 Florida

    IMO hourglass should not be on this list.

    Ten10, Bowigens, Black Cauldron, and Ocean Sun should be added.
     
    #13 Kevinhcraig, Aug 24, 2016
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  14. BKnarr

    BKnarr Pundit (894) Sep 5, 2012 Florida

    Orlando folks: agree/disagree? Thoughts? Remember it's your recommendations that get the page edited. Reply with thoughts, or if you're in agreement with @Kevinhcraig, just like his post.
     
    #14 BKnarr, Aug 24, 2016
  15. CanesHeatFins305

    CanesHeatFins305 Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2014 Florida

    Thanks. #1 on my list. The surrounding area looks cool too. I want to hit up Pig Floyds ...unless you have better food recs?

    Well noted and thanks. I'll be staying at my friend's place which is 10 mins away from Ocean Sun so will definitely check it out as well.
     
    #15 CanesHeatFins305, Aug 24, 2016
  16. Tim3167

    Tim3167 Initiate (0) Aug 12, 2014 Florida

    Well I'm in full agreement on Ten10. Not as big a proponent of can't miss status on the others listed. I could go either way on Hourglass.

    Red Cypress though should have more chatter IMHO
     
    #16 Tim3167, Aug 25, 2016
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  17. The_FishermanJay

    The_FishermanJay Pundit (936) May 16, 2010 Florida
    Trader

    You'll help @BKnarr refine this list (presuming he continues to do this) if the next time -- and every time, for that matter -- someone asks where they should go in the Orlando area, you "chatter" up Red Cypress if you believe it deserves the patronage.
     
    #17 The_FishermanJay, Aug 25, 2016
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  18. lionssoccer13

    lionssoccer13 Zealot (518) Jun 30, 2011 Florida
    Trader

    Red Cypress deserves the recognition. Best in town, although I haven't been to Ocean Sun yet.

    Keep in mind that Orlando's best would still be comparable to mid tier Tampa breweries.
     
    #18 lionssoccer13, Aug 25, 2016
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  19. The_FishermanJay

    The_FishermanJay Pundit (936) May 16, 2010 Florida
    Trader

    That may be true but if someone has one day or one night and it's going to be in Orlando, the point of this list is to send our out-of-town guests to the best places our towns have to offer! And the reality is that even if the best Orlando brewery is "mid-tier Tampa," that still might be light years ahead of where a visitor's hometown breweries are!
     
    #19 The_FishermanJay, Aug 25, 2016
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  20. ukwildcat1995

    ukwildcat1995 Initiate (0) May 24, 2015 Florida

    Ten10 is my favorite Orlando brewery, and super close to RedLight RedLight. Hourglass is a huge miss for me. Nothing of interest there for me and out of the way. JMO.
     
    #20 ukwildcat1995, Aug 25, 2016
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