Good Bottle Shops around USF Campus?

There's an ABC a few blocks away from campus off Fletcher Ave. USF is in a less desirable area of Tampa and the selection at that particular location is pretty weak. CCB or the Brewpub can both be easily reached within a 15 minute drive from the campus.

 

CCB is certainly further but the Brewpub is just a bit NW of the campus. From campus go to 275 and head North on 275 for about 2 miles and exit on Bearss Ave. Go West on Bearss for a few miles to Noth Dale Mabry. Turn North on Mabry and the Brewpub is less than a mile ahead on your right. They have bottles for sale at the Brewpub. If you prefer to go to the brewery turn South on Mabry instead and the brewery is about 8 miles away.

 

I've done conferences at USF before. Four days at a hotel around the corner from USF, but every single day I was driving 30+ minutes away to drink good beer. Driving to St. Pete is definitely worth it.

 

All solid advice. If you make it to the brewery there is a Total Wine right around the corner with a nice craft beer selection. And if you're flying CCB is very close to the airport. Check out Mr Dunderbak's for a great tap selection and some German food.

 

Heh, there is a CCB IN the airport.

 

Right, if you're flying Southwest or AirTran out of terminal C. They have the standards and occasionally something special. But you get the full Monty at the brewery!

 

I went to USF for an eternity, there's nowhere fantastic. Your bet would probably be the local "campus" store that's actually about 10-15 minutes away from campus past I75 - Party Liquors. They probably have the best turnover on craft in the area, which even then isn't fantastic. You should be able to find some fresh CCB staples and maybe some bombers, I used to be able to pull Zhukov off the shelf for months there.

If you really want to do some digging for good pre-aged beer, there's Beverage Castle on 56th right near campus. Absolutely do not buy anything from there that's not an age-able bottle without bottle dates. They're expensive. Very expensive. But if you like digging through dusty shelves, there's gems to be found there. I've found some of Lagunitas' Zappa series beers. Plenty of retired Ommegang beers. A nicely aged Allagash Black. My last visit before graduating USF just half a year ago, I dug out a 2008 Smuttynose Imperial Stout. If you're looking for fresh product, it typically just gets shoved in the first shelf, closest to the door, across from the coolers.

Cigar Castle right next door to Beverage Castle is actually a fantastic cigar bar with a great selection of cigars and whiskeys, and they usually have quite a few local and limited taps. Easily your best place to drink near campus without taking a 15 minute jaunt.