Hey BA. I'm visiting the Tampa area this Friday-Tuesday, Siesta Key to be specific. We're visiting Cigar City before we go - already have reservations. Anything else I should hunt down while I'm there?
Here's a thread that highlights the Tampa/St. Pete area. You could spend days exploring here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...ando-look-here-first-winter-14-update.236546/ If you have "reservations" at Cigar City, that's just the brewpub. Make sure you go to the tasting room also. More options and different options are available there. Not sure what to tell you to "hunt down" bottle wise, but while you are in Sarasota be sure to visit JDubs brewing and Mr. Beery's.
Stock up at whole foods or total wine while at CCB. Once you get to Siesta Key you won't want to leave for any reason. It's beautiful. Just sit with your feet in the gulf and drink good beer. Make sure you get a cookie. This isn't Minnesota. Beer warms up around here. ENJOY!!!!!
Stop at cycle in St Pete for a couple of crowlers of Crank... It's on the way. Siesta Key is the best beach down here IMO. Bottles at CCB currently are Milkmaid, puppy's breath, Evander and Strawberry Shortcake. Should still be stocked on Friday, along with the core cans. Skip the brewpub reservation unless you are a diehard, food and beer are good, but it's 25 minutes up and back away from where you are going. CCB is close enough to the airport and better selection
Good tips, everyone. I didn't realize there was a brewpub separate from CCB's actual brewery, so maybe we'll skip it and hit the brewery proper instead. I'll definitely make sure to get some cookies - I mean coozies - as well. Glad to hear such great things about the beach as well. Thanks guys!
There's also a Whole Foods in downtown Sarasota, probably closest to where you're at. If memory serves me right, I think they had a pretty decent bottle selection last time I was there.
Also, if you're flying back out of Tampa on Tuesday, CCB does "Growler Tuesday" at 12p on every Tuesday. Usually get something exciting (hopefully), usually a treatment or something else cool. Never usually posted, just show up. They also do Crowlers if you want to take back, and it doesn't hurt that its' all of 7 minutes to the airport.
Closest good beer store to Siesta would be the new Total Wine on 41 a couple miles south of the South Bridge to Siesta.
Darwin's on 4th is a nice Peruvian brewpub near Siesta. They're open for dinner and have a tasty Belgian Dubbel.
Yes, the new Total Wine is 41 is handy for those traveling to Siesta Key...that's my brothers local and he does pretty well there. Love Siesta Key, have a wonderful trip!
