My wife and I both have job offers in Tampa(we currently live in Madison WI). Although it won't be a deciding factor, I am interested in the beer scene/culture in Tampa. I know they have Cigar City, and a handful of other breweries. Madison, WI has a really strong beer scene. Tap takeovers, brewing events etc happen almost daily. So, how is the scene down in Tampa?
I agree, just look at the events in Tampa Bay beer week alone, leave those cold winters behind! Awesome craft scene in Tampa!
those of us in the tampa area are really, really blessed with a great beer scene. CCB, Cycle, Rapp, Green Bench, Angry Chair, Coppertail... the list just goes on and on. i love it here.
I'd also have to agree, although I do love Madison!!! The Tampa beer scene has really taken off in just the past few years, and there are more breweries on the way. Overall, however, I'd have to say that in general there are more beers available in Madison. Total Wine & More and ABC liquors in Tampa are probably the best places to get beers, and in my opinion they're limited - Florida is just not the midwest when it comes to beer.
Decision tree: 1. Do you like 6months of winter? If the answer is "yes," stay put. If the answer is "no," move here. It's beeradise.
Ex-New Yorker here. You really think you're going to miss running out to your car in your boxers in -15 windchill just to start it 15minutes before you drive it so that the ice on the windshield will melt enough so you can scrape it. Then you move here and you actually don't miss it at all. It's weird. (I know they have automatic starters now. But do they have automatic ice scrapers? Checkmate.).
Ok, I hear what you are saying. I have a little concern about too many old people and rednecks, but I have no idea, maybe I am way off base. I know Madison is in WI, but it is the opposite of old people and rednecks.
i was worried it would be all blue hairs and meth heads. the gulf coast is great though. the closer you are to the gulf, the more normal it is. the worst you have to deal with is the snowbirds in the winter... but they are usually in bed by 7pm anyways.
Old people, aside from driving 15 miles below the speed limit, generally stay out of your way. Hell, they will keel over and die before you even know they are there. Granted, there are many of them in Florida, but like cacti in the desert, there are so many elderly that when you scan the field you kinda just mentally block them and their big black shades out over time. As far as rednecks, their kind is mostly relegated to the backwoods of northern Florida, also known as Southern Alabama. You can usually hear their strange monster truck/airboat hybrid vehicles coming well before you see them, so they are easy to avoid. Honestly, they are generally okay people when you get to know them, although in packs they can be a handful. In other words, try not to wind up at a Toby Keith concert or outside of any Walmart parking lots at the beginning of the month and you should do okay. Now the humidity on the other hand . . .
