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

Discussion in 'South Atlantic' started by BKnarr, Jun 27, 2014.

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  1. BKnarr

    BKnarr Pundit (894) Sep 5, 2012 Florida

    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.
     
    ryman546, basto, chinchill and 4 others like this.
  2. BKnarr

    BKnarr Pundit (894) Sep 5, 2012 Florida

    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!
     
    gjoker321 likes this.
  3. BKnarr

    BKnarr Pundit (894) Sep 5, 2012 Florida

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

    wingnutter Initiate (0) May 18, 2005 Florida

    Also in the Tampa bay area

    Three Daughters Brewery (St Pete)
    St Pete Brewery
    Pair O Dice Brewery (Clearwater about 3 miles from Rapp)
    Three Palms Brerery (Tampa near Brandon)
     
  5. antilite

    antilite Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2012 Florida

    Driving Tampa/Orlando? Try Two Henry's at Keel and Curley Winery just outside Plant City. They brew up a good IPA and other styles. Nice country setting. A couple of miles off I-4. No traffic. Mobbed on Friday and Saturday. (Just a fan here. No sales pitch intended).

    http://twohenrysbrewing.com/

    The new Brew Hub in Lakeland has got good reviews also:

    http://brewhub.com/
     
  6. FrankenMiller

    FrankenMiller Savant (1,194) Mar 5, 2014 Florida
    Trader

    Another good Beer Bar that is all over FL is World of Beer. Most of them have 40 Plus taps, a lot of FL beers on tap. Hundreds of Bottles. And for the most part really knowledgable staff.
     
    ufmj likes this.
  7. gjoker321

    gjoker321 Initiate (0) Dec 26, 2007 Florida

    Nice, I was looking for this thread the other day. Going to go ahead and bookmark this...
     
  8. GatorAlum

    GatorAlum Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Florida

    Willard's is one of my favorite go-tos. Actually met my love there. Bartenders are amazing. I highly recommend! Tell them Danny sent you, I'm mug number #87.
     
    BKnarr likes this.
  9. BKnarr

    BKnarr Pundit (894) Sep 5, 2012 Florida

    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.
     
  10. Nick_isthatstillcool

    Nick_isthatstillcool Initiate (0) Apr 28, 2014 Florida

  11. sendsilk

    sendsilk Initiate (0) Aug 31, 2007 Florida

    I live very close to Two Henry's. they're beer is not worth getting off of I-4 to try. The wine is good but the beer is completely lacking.
     
  12. antilite

    antilite Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2012 Florida

    I apologize.
     
  13. sendsilk

    sendsilk Initiate (0) Aug 31, 2007 Florida

    Why?
     
  14. urielxvi

    urielxvi Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2010 Florida

    IMHO: Orlando Brewing is horrible, I'd be pissed if someone recommend it to me and I made the trip out there.
     
    basto, Kevinhcraig and Mangbus like this.
  15. ryman546

    ryman546 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2013 Florida

    this should be stickied
     
  16. BKnarr

    BKnarr Pundit (894) Sep 5, 2012 Florida

    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!
     
    gjoker321 and urielxvi like this.
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