Visiting Tampa/Orlando? LOOK HERE FIRST! Summer '14 update

Ok so many people have vented concerns about the amount of "Where's the beer in Tampa/Orlando?" posts in the SA forum. While I know we are all generous BAs here in FL who want to help folks out, it gets kinda old answering the same questions daily.

SO, I'm taking a cue from the "Visiting Portland" thread in the Northwest forum that is updated seasonally. It's helped me out tremendously on my trips there, and kept me from posting redundant questions in the NW forum.

As a disclaimer, I do NOT live in Tampa or Orlando, but I visit both very often. That being said, I will be happy to "moderate" this thread, but I will need help from local Tampa/Orlando BAs to stay current and relevant. If you think I'm missing something, please PM me or post below the main post. If I've left something out or something new has opened(c'mon Angry Chair!) let me know, and I will adjust accordingly. Next update will be autumn on September 1.

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.


TAMPA area (includes St. Petersburg/Clearwater)

(Almost) Universally Recommended "Must-Hit" Breweries & Brew Pubs
Cigar City Brewery
Cigar City Brewpub
Rapp Brewing
Cycle Brewing/Peg's Cantina
Seventh Sun Brewing
Southern Brewing and Winemaking(also a homebrew shop)

Other Highly Recommended Breweries & Brew Pubs
Tampa Bay Brewing
Barley Mow Brewing
Green Bench Brewing
Dunedin Brewing
Three Palms Brewing
3 Daughters Brewing

Highly Recommended Beer Bars
The Ale and the Witch
The Independent
Willard's

Highly Recommended Bottle Shops
Luekens(check website for stock)
Total Wine(check website for stock)

(A Few) Beer-centric Restaurants
Mr. Dunderbaks
Datz
Cajun Cafe on Bayou
Stein & Vine
Brewers Tasting Room

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



ORLANDO area

Highly Recommended Breweries & Brew Pubs
Orlando Brewing
Cask & Larder

Highly Recommended Beer Bars
Redlight Redlight (May have to be moved to above category soon)
Tap & Grind
World of Beer Dr. Philips(closest to Disney)

Highly Recommended Bottle Shops
Knightly(Orange Blossom Trail location)
Big C Liqour
2 Total Wine locations(check website for stock)
Various ABC locations: Apopka Vineland store closest to Disney)
Lake Mary & Winter Park 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.

Visit www.beersandears.net or download the beersandears app to find out what beers are available at which parks and resorts.

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.

 

Was hoping we might have a new addition to the Orlando list soon when I visited The Mills Brewpub two nights ago. Unfortunately it's a "do not recommend". Food was mediocre at best. Printed tap list was 100% inaccurate and waitress wasn't completely sure what beers had replaced the burnt ones. Bottle list is decent, but unimpressive. Finally settled on "I guess I'll get a DFH 90" and it was $8.75. Seriously, I get you're in Orlando, but no need for Disney pricing. Hope it gets better!

On the other hand, Orlando has a booming craft cocktail scene with loads of good places for bourbon and bourbon cocktails. I won't post them here, as this isn't a bourbon forum, but pm me if you want more info!

 

Bumpin up to the first page because I see some folks asking questions that could be answered by this thread.

 

Well, per my own commitment, I've promised to update this list seasonally, which happens to be upon us. So, is there anything that anyone believes should be added to this list? Looking at comments I've seen theses things requested: World of Beer, Pair O' Dice, Three Daughters, Three Palms, St. Pete Brewing, and Keel and Curley.

As I have said before, I'm not just going to add every brewery/bar/brewpub in town. I'm trying to make this a list of recommended places locals love. I've added places that have been recommended again and again on this forum. If you just want a list of all local places, BA has a page for that.

Personally, World of Beer is a matter of location for me. Customer service varies so much at each one. I hate my locals(Sarasota/FT Myers), but I've loved downtown St. Pete, Key West, Dr. Phillips, and Savannah.

So, hit me with your honest thoughts on the places I've mentioned and any others you would like added. If there's enough(sorry I should have a quantifiable number here but I don't) requests, I will add it to the list for the fall update.

And remember: Only YOU can prevent multiple "visiting Tampa/Orlando" posts.

 

Per the above post by urielxvi, and it's accompanying "likes", I will remove Orlando Brewing from the list. Didn't receive any posts/msgs to the contrary. This will be the only change for the fall update. Here's to hoping we have new breweries for December update(seriously AC let's go!), and that those not being recommended step their game up by then!