I’m traveling to Florida starting this next weekend. It’s very much a family trip, so not all beer. So I have to prioritize. If I should pick one bar in the Miami area, one in key west and one in Tampa what is the best bet? I would love to do some trades as well and have already posted in the IP trade forum. I have a bunch of cantillon (incl blåbær) to Trade for Florida beers. Cheers.
So much has changed down in Key West with The Porch and Krawl Off Duval gone. Shots and Giggles had a decent selection but I'm not sure if anything has opened up and replaced the two I mentioned above. I know there is Waterfront Brewery there but I haven't been so can't recommend it personally. I haven't been down there in a while.
I don’t get out much more due to young kids sucking up all my time. But if I can only make one stop in Key West, I’d probably go to Cork and Stogie. Or Waterfront Brewery if you don’t care to sample a variety of breweries.
The porch was so sick, bummed they closed. Waterfront brewery is actually a good spot for kids. They have lots of arcade games and air hockey and whatnot to entertain them. The one time I went they had a bunch of beers from all over Florida but that was also the same weekend of the Labor Day beer fest so I think a lot of breweries that happened to be down for the fest brought them kegs for that weekend .
If you going to Miami hit up the Wynwood area. Lost of art and shops for the Wife and Kids to do. A few breweries and Boxelder craft beer store.
The porch was my favorite bar, though IMO the last couple years there were not as fun. Waterfront is definitely a decent option if you have kids tagging along. But if the OP wants a variety of brewery options and has some kid free time, I’d go to Cork. Waterfront usually only has guest taps brewfest weekend, as you mentioned.
Thank you so much for the replies. Very useful. Since I’ll be with kids most of the times I’ll definitely go to waterfront brewery. Since I’m now spotting a way to combine beer, wife and children. Are there many children friendly beer bars in Florida? And where?
A lot of beer bars/breweries in Tampa are kid friendly but don’t necessarily cater towards kids/families. Tampa bay brewing company in ybor would prob be good for kids. It’s a restaraunt with pizza and burgers and a Dave and busters type arcade but geared more towards kids is right next door called called gametime. Tampa bay brewing co. has 12 or so beers on tap and usually cans/bottles in the cooler. Maybe you could sneak away to coppertail (also in ybor) for a beer or two while they’re playing games with a relative.
Waterfront Brewery in KW has a really good happy hour, all beers were 1/2 price from 3-6 when I was there last summer. Cheap appetizers too. We liked Green Parrot for music and drinks, not a real kid friendly place though.
Totally forgot about sparkmans wharf in Tampa! It’s an outdoor area in the channel district that just opened with a bunch of different restaraunts set up in converted shipping containers. They have a beer bar and beer garden that focuses on Florida beers. They’ve got a big area for kids to play and it’s right next to the aquarium too.
