Coming to Florida...

Being from Tampa, I may be a little biased... but the Tampa area is a pretty cool place.

For outdoors/camping/biking, Fort Desoto has a campground that is pretty cool. I'm not too sure on their availability, but my in-laws camped there for Christmas last year, and it was pretty great. They have trails and beaches there where you can bike (and probably rent kayaks/paddleboards/etc.).

One other spot I'd try to get to while you're in the Tampa area is 7venth Sun - a little brewery in Dunedin that makes some really good beers. And in Tampa, Datz is a restaurant with a good beer selection and some great food. I'm sure others will chime in with other options, but those are two of my favorite spots around town.

 

A week in Tampa sounds like it can get awfully boring. I would recommend splitting that time with another city or 2, such as Naples. Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and the Keys are all better spots for spending more than a few days.

 

I suppose I could see a week in Tampa getting boring...

If this is a beer-centric trip (which it sounds like), then I'd think about going down to the Fort Lauderdale area to visit Funky Buddha (as well as Due South and Tequesta if you'd like) if I were you. Then depending on your timing, you could see the Keys as well.

 

Maybe you can stay near a beach (i.e. St. Pete) and then drive into Tampa for a day or two?

 

I would definitely hit up 7th sun if you are going to be in town for a while. I am very biased to a local craft beer bar, Willard's, since I do live close. But they have 41 taps, 10 of them are local beers, so you get to try local and get some really good craft beers. They actually tapped some goose island last night!

If you are into sours and that kind, you can hit up st somewhere brewery which is a little north of Tampa. But other the. That, cigar city, Tampa bay brewing and pegs are great places. There is a couple other bars in the area that have some craft beer and good food, if you are interested in talking more, bm me and I'll let ya know.

 

If you're stopping at 7eventh Sun, you might as well walk over to Dunedin Brewery for food. Of course the gas station across the street also makes a mean Cuban. I'd also suggest hitting Redlight, Redlight up in Orlando.

 

If you're in Dunedin on a Friday or Saturday, on the walk between 7th and Dunedin Brewery, there's an awesome BBQ stand called Eli's that I cannot recommend enough. It's also right on the Pinellas trail if you want to get some bike riding in.

 

OP said he was going to Pegs on Dec 21,aren't releasing their Rare DOS on the 22nd.That would be a better day to visit Pegs.

 

If you are thinking of heading to downtown st Pete you could hit up the ale and the witch, 32 American craft beers on tap and live music most nights of the week. They don't have any food but a bunch of places downtown will deliver. The downtown world of beer isn't too far of a walk from the ale and the witch and sports a huge selection (nothing crazy special most of the time, but at the same time they have over 500 different beers to choose from so you better be able to find something you like). I would avoid the independent, too much of a hipster douche craft beer scene for my taste.

 

For awesome food in Tampa:

The Refinery
Ella's Folk Art Cafe
Cafe Dufrain
First Choice BBQ (best BBQ around, in Brandon right off I75)
Brocatos (east Tampa, not near anything but some of the best Cuban food around)

Good Beer Bars:

The Independant (near Refinery and Ella's)
The Pourhouse (near channelside)
James Joyce (Ybor, sometimes their tap selection is boring, other times not so much)
New World Brewery (right down from James Joyce)

Cheers!

 

There are a few breweries to hit while you are in the Tampa Bay area. Saint Somewhere, Big Storm, 7venth Sun, Dunedin, Lagerhaus, Barley Mow, Rapp Brewing, Peg's Cantina, Yuengling, Three Palms, Tampa Bay Brewing, Cold Storage, and of course Cigar City.

If you are around the Dunedin area then I recommend eating at Smokehouse, Old Bay Cafe, or Dunedin Brewery. A few places I like to eat outside of Dunedin are Cajun Cafe on the Bayou, Refinery, Ella's, and have not gone yet but hear good things about Edison Food and Drink Lab. Plenty of good bars and restaurants in addition to the breweries and restaurants I listed.

If you can make it to Orlando for a day then I recommend Redlight Redlight, Cask & Larder Brewpub, and the BBQ at 4 Rivers Somkehouse.

 

As far as I can tell, the RareR Dos release is on 12/21:
http://beeradvocate.com/events/info/57845
https://www.facebook.com/events/165764480214446/

Have you heard different?

 

Stay away from Cold Storage, it's InBev crap disguised as craft. I do, however, 2nd Rapp Brewing. His O.M.G. is fucking OMG good!

 

Have not heard different,I just thought it would be a Saturday insted of Friday night.My bad,I stand corrected.Thanks dude.