These family owned and operated sites are loaded with interesting and entertaining events for the entire family (even pets). Services you can expect on your visits include:
- bar/beer tasting room
- beautiful, restful bier gardens
- full menu restaurants with great, affordable cuisine
- retail items and memorabilia
- hotel rooms
- off-license sales, home delivery
- tours
- internet access
Here are 8 top ranked breweries, microbreweries and brew-on-premises right in the Tampa Bay area:
Rapp Brewing Company
10930 Endeavor Way, Seminole
rappbrewing.com
727-692-7912
Brewmaster Greg Rapp began his career as a home brewer over 30 years ago. He experimented with wines, later adding sake and mead making. He received a beer making kit one Christmas and the rest is history. Specializing in hand crafted small batch artisanal Ales and Lagers which have accumulated multiple awards, Greg and crew are launching a nano-sized brewery in Pinellas County, Florida. The building and location have been secured and Brewery construction has begun. The tasting room will be the focal point where his home brewing community will have the opportunity to brew their exceptional craft beers and make them available for public critique. Check out his website for the actual grand opening, fund-raising, special events and schedules as they are in flux right now.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company
1600 East 8th Ave., Ybor City-Tampa
tampabaybrewingcompany.com
813-247-1422 for reservations
Hours: weekdays: 11a-11p; Fri-Sat: 11a-MN; Sun: noon-11p
Tampa Bay’s entertainment district boasts Ybor’s only microbrewery. Their on-site brewery is equipped to produce up to 12 tap beers with 9 always on tap. From their signature Old Elephant Foot IPA traditional India Pale Ale to the Jack the Quaffer London old world porter, these excellent brews will assuage all thirsty taste buds. They are also basic ingredients in many of the tastier menu entrees.
TBBC was founded in 1996 by the Doble family with mother as general manager and son David as brewmaster. The company has grown to provide great brews, full menu for lunch, dinner and late nite dining, tours, special events in conjunction with other craft brewers and weekly specials from their cask conditioned Ales. These are naturally carbonated, unfiltered, served at cellar temperature (50 degrees) and poured with a beer engine or hand pull. And we can’t forget the hand crafted root beer for the little brewers.
Cigar City Brewing
3924 West Spruce St., Tampa
cigarcitybrewing.com
813-348-6363 x206
Bar/tasting room hours: Sun-Thurs: 11a-10p; Fri-Sat: 11a-12 MN
Tour hours: Wed-Sat on the hour from 11a-2p only
Drawing from its past as the world’s largest cigar producer, Cigar City Brewing melds Tampa’s fascinating and diverse cultures into a truly unique presentation of exotic beers reflecting the heritage of Tampa Bay. From the stunning dark bottles embracing each special brew to the colorful labeling signifying a specific flavor profile, these beers are creations of Florida history. Brewmaster Wayne Wambles adds his intricate tasting notes for each beer in addition to suggesting the perfect cigar to accompany and enhance the beer’s flavor. Shall we all retire to the smoking room?
The tasting room is home to all the beers CCB brews and an occasional guest tap. Visit their online store featuring apparel, glassware, wall hangers and miscellaneous “gotta-have-its. Brewery tours must have a 20 person limit, pay $5 each (includes pint glass with beer) and everyone must wear closed-toed shoes on the tour. If you missed Hunahpu’s Day be sure to mark your March, 2013 calendar. This is an annual event you must experience.
Yuengling Brewing Company of Tampa, Inc
11111 N 30th St, Tampa
yuengling.com
813-972-8500 for free tour times
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9a-3p; tours tentatively at 10a &1p
At 183 years old, Yuengling is America’s oldest family owned and operated brewery with the Tampa facility being the most expansive. Everything about this brewery screams history. Surviving family tragedies, business setbacks, the 18th amendment and political corruption , 6 generations of Yuengling men stepped up to the plate and successfully filled every niche. The proof is consistent 5 star, award winning production of some of the finest time-honored brews. See for yourself at the free daily tours. The online gift shop’s public hours are Mon-Fri: 9a-3p.
No greater way to spend an afternoon than learning about craft brewing up close and personal. You will even meet the Brewmeister John Houseman and chemist Randy to answer all your questions in one of the most entertaining, informative, history laden tours ever. This culminates with free samples of all the brews ( including premier introductions). You can “sample” to your heart’s content – for free. The parking, the tour, the sampling – all free. Always check the website for tour times as they are subject to change. Oh, did I forget to mention it’s all free.
Dunedin Brewery and Public House
937 Douglas Ave, Dunedin
dunedinbrewery.com
727-736-0606 for reservations & information
Hours: Mon-closed; Tues: 11a-11p; Wed & Thurs: 11a-1a; Fri & Sat: 11a-2a; Sun: 11a-10p; Happy Hour every Thurs: noon-7p
As the oldest microbrewery in Florida, Dunedin Brewery has consistently produced award winning, understated, great Ales and limited release brews. Under the watchful eyes of brewers Norman Dixon and Trace Caley, much of the production supplies the pub’s taps and kegs are shipped to bars and restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. The online gift shop also has the same public hours as the bar/beer tasting room, beer garden and restaurant. The menu sports great selections at very affordable prices and nightly entertainment for the entire family.
Juggling luggage, a large party, children or slow walkers? Public transit to downtown Dunedin is just a click away with either clearwaterjolleytrolley.com or psta.net. You must be at least 21 to tour Thurs, Fri and Sat at 5p only. There is a $5 charge that includes a logoed glass and samples of beer. If you are the designated driver parking is either on the street or their private lot; wheelchair accessibility.
Seventh (7venth) Sun Brewing
1012 Broadway, Dunedin
seventhsunbrewing.com
727-733-3013
Bar/Tasting Room Hours: Mon-Tues closed; Wed-Thurs: 5p-11p; Fri: 5p-12MN; Sat:1p-12MN; Sun: 1p-11p
Literally down the block and around the corner from the oldest craft brewery in Dunedin sits the newest addition to the craft beer industry. Led by owner Devon Kreps and owner/brewer Justin Stange the new microbrewery specializes in craft beers, Belgian style beers and specialty aged beers. The rousing response for First Pour Day from the locals (including the brewmasters from Dunedin Brewery) assures Seventh Sun’s place in the Tampa Bay craft brewers society.
Lagerhaus Brewery & Grill
3438 East Lake Business, Palm Harbor
lagerhausbrewery.com
727-216-9682
813-343-2449
One of the most historically impressive family brewing traditions began in the early 1400s in Bohemia. Balthazar Helm von Worlow started a brewery in Tabor, Bohemia where the building still stands to this day. Erna Helm, born in 1936, married Franz Rothschadl, Sr. who was also in the wine business. Brewmaster Franz Rothschadl V, born in 1956, is continuing the great family tradition. Mr. Rothschadl’s awards and achievements are extensive and legendary. Partnering with Mr. Josef Fischer, the father of the revived brew pub industry in Austria, culminated in hundreds of years experience in the brewing and culinary industries.
Now, let’s talk turkey (or German). The menu is quite extensive and varied enough to please everyone. However, if you don’t know what you’re ordering, you could be quite tipsy by the time it arrives. I suggest going online or their Facebook page to find the specials, discounts, entertainment, hours and review the full menu to plan ahead. Great German and American cuisine for lunch, dinner and late night dining. Old world knowledge and high-tech engineering produce a great standing list of lagers for the lover of classic German pilsners. 23+ on tap with frequent new additions and rotations. I suggest the beer flight sampler if you’re not a frequent flier. Wet your whistle or just order the big boy of your choice. When in doubt, you can never go wrong with buffalo wings.
Saint Somewhere Brewing Company
1441 Savannah Ave, Tarpon Springs
saintsomewherebrewing.com
813-503-6181: call ahead for the tour as it is a one-man show with Brewmaster Bob Sylvestor
If you are looking for a quaint enjoyable afternoon filled with Jimmy Buffet tunes and Florida history, this tour is for you. A few fans scattered around the tiny warehouse circulate the hot air. Brewmaster Bob always has a keg tapped of Saison Athene, a wild, spicy saison with lemon-pepper and pumpkin-pie-spice highlights. Nice, crisp refresher. Brewmaster Bob has been producing 3 hand-crafted Belgian style ales for several years with a wide mid-western distribution. These “living beers” are open-fermented, unfiltered and re-fermented in their bottles; just like they were 100 years ago.
According to his website he will furnish 6 bottles and a sandwich from a local restaurant if you help him bottle his beers. Fun way to scarf free coveted beer and some pub grub. You have to like Jimmy Buffet, though.
Through intelligence, training, passion, technical skill, hard work and creativity the Florida craft beer breweries no longer are competing for respect as a 2nd class beverage. The craft beer industry is consistently growing as a fun, cooperative community devoted to excellence (and world domination).
“Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.” – Benjamin Franklin
Images courtesy of Yahoo! public domain
#1 credit/copyright: courtesy of microbrew. Caption: Microbrewed beer of the month club. #2 credit/copyright: Aaron J Jackson Crabb. Caption: What every thirsty human wants after a long day, during their Happy Hour, pints & pints of beer.
#3 credit/copyright: Gerard Walen. Caption: Shipyard brew pub in Winter Park, Fl sells beer to go in its market area.
