Beers worth seeking out while in Florida?

SeekABrew is always a good resource. The right column here is breweries available in Florida that are not available in Iowa. Don't pass up Saint Somewhere if you're into farmhouse styles.

 

Flying or driving? If driving, a stop in Gainesville to visit Swamphead is a worthwhile detour. I always enjoy hanging out there when I'm visiting my folks.

 

Knightly Spirits (the location on Orange Blossom Trail), Whole Foods, and Total Wine are really your only major choices for bottle shops, with Knightly likely having all you need.

 

I'll also be in state in April. Flying into Orlando and staying for 2 days, then heading to Tampa for a few days before hanging out in Dade City for 2 weeks or so. Apparently there's a Brass Tap opening there when we arrive in Dade. Able to make trips to Tampa if need be.

Does Cigar City sell bottles on premise?

 

Affirmative

 

Brewery only stuff? Or can I find everything they sell at Total Wine?

 

They sell both regulars and brewery only stuff out of the tasting room. I would hit up both the tasting room and Total Wine, sometimes Total Wine has bottles that aren't being sold in the tasting room.

 

you should check out 7th sun brewery also. pretty good stuff.

 

What sort of brewery only stuff is available? Do they just release stuff whenever?

 

Ok... While in Orlando, check out Redlight, Redlight. It's a real geek bar with plenty of sours and IPAs. they usually keep 2 casks, which i think is cool, as well. They also have a tremendous vintage list, if you dont mind the price tag (i paid $17 for an 08 expedition last time i was there). I dont know about Orlando's bottle shops, but check out 4rivers BBQ, its freaking awesome.
While in Tampa... CCB is a must, of course. They always have brewery only stuff in their newly expanded tasting room, and periodically will have rare release beers available for takeout in the 750 format; you just have to be there at the right time... kind of hit and miss. 7venth Sun is fantastic, they make some killer berlinerwiesses. Key Lime Sublime is my favorite. 7S is located in Dunedin, about 45 minutes from the Tampa Airport.
There is a Brass Tap in Dade City now, they opened about two weeks ago. Pretty good beer list and they feature alot of local FL beers. Lots of camouflage being worn in there, which is weird to me. The best Brass Tap is in Wesley Chapel, about 25 minutes north of the airport, 20 minutes south of Dade City. If youre a skinny jean hipster type, check out The Independent in Seminole Heights, about 15 minutes east of the airport. Good selection, pricey bottles.
I also know a ton about the Tampa foodie scene if youre into that as well. I love promoting my city to people, especially beer people, just message me.

 

Any suggestions for food or beer in Tampa would be great.

We are coming in on 3/12 and hitting CCB & Pegs but can't decide where to stay and where to go out to at night.

 

I would recommend staying in Tampa somewhere around the airport. It's centrally located to the surrounding suburbs and has access to all the major interstates (75, 275, 4). Definitely hit up pegs, as their BA stuff is unbelievable. Also, the breweries i mentioned earlier.
So far as food goes-

In Seminole Heights:
Check out The Refinery. Cool little hipsterish bistro with an extremely inventive menu. They change the menu every Thursday. They (oddly enough) specialize in both vegan and gluten-free food as well as organ meat. strange i know. But impeccable. They'll have about 7 "small plates", 4 "bigger than small plates", 2 sandwiches and 1 or 2 deserts. I've had everything from beet salad to crispy pork belly to sea-salt roasted bone marrow to open faced lamb brain sandwiches to homemade Moo-Hoo ice cream. Always well prepared, always interesting. And their beer list is nice. about 6 draft options (CCB, Lagunitas, etc.) and maybe 40 bottles. It's reasonably priced (apps, dinner, desert, beer for 2 maybe $70).
Also Ella's Folk Art Cafe. It's got a wide ranging, eclectic menu. everything from gourmet burgers and pizza to bacon-wrapped meat loaf to Thai panang vegetables. They use fresh, local ingredients. If they have a fish special, order it. The sous chef is extremely talented, in fact today they are doing a Sierra Nevada beer dinner. They have a full bar, and a decent beer selection, a little better bottle selection than draft. entrees are in the $15-22 range.
Both of these restaurants have amazing Sunday brunches as well.
Looking for something quick and easy? Check out the Taco Bus, also in Seminole Heights. it features legit mexican food and cheap prices. Do not leave without getting the horchada, a cinnamon rice-milk drink. spec-freaking-tacular.

I can keep going, but im about to be off the clock, which means no more Beer Advocate today. Work sure is tough. If you like a specific style or whatever, let me know, i think ive eaten everywhere in this damn city.

 

Jacksonville has a couple of gems.

1. Intuition I-10 IPA.
2. Pinglehead
3. Greenroom Brewing

New place doing sours/wilds called Aardwolf Brewing. Haven't been yet, but will be there in 2 weeks.

 

If I have a week in Orlando, there's no way I'm not going to find time to make it down to Funky Buddha. Those dudes are ridiculous; I'd venture to say that I'd hit them before CCB, and that's saying something.

 

Discovered Rapps while in Tampa last week ..... very impressive!!

 

My vote in Tampa/St Pete area is RAPP Brewing Tasting Room - 15 or more varieties on tap all true to style and good .... and some hard to get styles