Every year, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo holds several major fund-raising events.  The best of them, in this craft beer lover’s opinion, is WaZoo.  Listed by USA Today as one of the “10 Great Beer Festivals” in America, it is also – in the words of Cigar City Brewing’s Wayne Wambles – the “biggest sweat fest of all the beer fests”.  Held every year in the beginning of August, Lowry Park Zoo opens the gates in the early evening for a night of craft beer, food, and live music.  Tables and booths are set up all around the zoo, in many cases right next to animal exhibits.  The beer options run the full gamut from the B-M-C macros to local gems Cigar City Brewing, Saint Somewhere, Dunedin Brewery, and even local homebrew shop the Beer and Winemaker’s Pantry.  I have attended WaZoo several times over the years and it is always a lot of fun.  Great beers, good food, and a general lively and upbeat atmosphere.

Initially, I was not planning to go this year, however.  I had made plans to go out of town and visit family that same weekend, so I had resigned myself to the fact that I would miss the event.  But life happens, and due to weather and airport delays, I ended up having to cancel my trip.  I wanted to try to go, but $65 at the door was a tad steep for me, and of course I had not made any arrangements ahead of time.  In a conversation with a couple of friends I found out that they were going and volunteering for one of the distributors (Florida Micro Beverage) pouring beer.  I happened to know someone at FMB and fired off an email volunteering my services.  As luck would have it, they can always use an extra hand, and I was set!

I have never worked a beer event before.  I have been to many over the years as an attendee, writer, and reveller, but never spent any time behind the bottle.  I really didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out to be a great experience.  First of all, I drank far more water than I did beer.  It was so hot and humid in the early part of the evening, most of us were drenched within half an hour.  Moving cases of beer, kegs, and so on wasn’t hard, just hot.  I had not thought ahead enough to bring a shirt to change in to, but luckily I was provided a fresh Shipyard t-shirt once the gates opened.  I was assigned to the Atlanta Brewing Company/Red Brick table and was pouring Laughing Skull Amber, Red Brick Blonde, and Red Brick Double Chocolate Oatmeal Porter.  I had enjoyed these beers before, and was able to talk to those that were interested about them.  We were also joined by several volunteers from the Tampa Bay Parrotheads Club who apparently work the event every year.  Very nice people and what they lacked in beer knowledge they made up for in enthusiasm and hustle.  Several actually took the time to ask the other beer folks questions about the beers we were pouring so they could, in turn, answer others.

The fest-goers ranged in beer knowledge from the geeks looking for the “rarest” thing they could find, and asking questions about IBUs and grain bills to the self-proclaimed “non-beer drinkers” who wanted “whatever is closest to Bud Light”.  For me, the latter were the most fun.  You normally drink a light beer?  Well, try this blonde ale.  Its light in color, but there is some actual taste to it.  More often than not, the neophytes loved the flavor and character of this magical “craft beer”.  Even if only one person left WaZoo thinking “maybe there is more to beer than I originally thought…”, I feel like I performed a great service.

The flow of revelers was pretty constant, but I did take a break and got a chance to walk around for a bit.  According to Zoo officials, there were over “250 beverages from around the world” being served, but to be fair a good portion of those were nowhere near craft beer-like.  Tables for the macro-brews were big and flashy with attractive young women to reel in potential imbibers, and swag from these tables was handed out endlessly.  But tucked among them were great beers, and it was great to see people getting out of their comfort zone to try new and exciting brews.  As always, it was fun to see familiar faces and chat.

Eventually, I had to make my way back to my table and get back to pouring.  I noticed a slight change in the demeanor of the attendees as the night went on, and the inevitable one-who-had-too-many would come by looking to get another taste of “whatever you got”.  Of course I had always seen these folks at beer fests, but never while not drinking myself.  The humor I once associated with said behavior was lost on my sober state.  But to be fair, the vast majority were still fun and friendly, if slightly slurred and red-cheeked.

As the night came to an end we got a chance to breathe and hang out for a bit.  As always, beer events come down to the quality of people moreso than the beer.  Tampa Bay has some truly excellent beer people, both in the business and those that just enjoy it.  I greatly enjoyed my experience on the other side of the bottle and look forward to future opportunities.

These types of events are always fun, and the beer is inevitably good across the board. But what makes these festivals special is not the long list of readily available craft beers like Bell’s Two Hearted, Harpoon UFO, or Flying Dog Tire Bite. They are fine craft beers, no question, but the hunters among us are looking for something new and different. Something to talk about afterwards and dangle in front of those who were not fortunate enough to attend. That’s where the Florida breweries came in.

The best beers of the day were – without a question – from Florida brewers. From the well known Cigar City’s Marshal Zukhov Imperial Stout and Jai Alai IPA to the relatively unknown Little Giant from Anna Maria Island, local Florida beers stole the show. Soon-to-be-opening Swell Brewing was on hand with a fantastic line, including a “Drunkin Donut Porter” (made with real donuts) and a refreshing Orange Creamsicle Cream Ale. Right next to them was Gulfport’s own Peg’s Cantina, pouring brewer Doug Dozark’s delicious Rainbow Jelly Donut Beer, a tart and sour treat. Not to be outdone in the “oh, come on… really?!” department, the guys from Southern Brewing Supply had six different home-brew recipes on draft, ranging from a Blonde all the way to a Stout filtered through double-stuffed Oreo cookies. Yes, you read that right. Brewer Ben Romano rigged a top-down aquarium filter to run his milk stout down through crumbled and tightly packed Oreos, then back up to the jockey-box tap. It was sublime.

The event was not without its issues, though. Due to either lack of planning or just underestimating the turnout, tasting glasses ran out early and many were forced to use small plastic cups instead. Lines started to get long and the wait to get a small pour was far more than most found to be acceptable. The bigger issue, however, came to light about halfway through when the beer began to run out. First to go dry was the Bell’s table, followed shortly by BrewDog and DogFish. Soon, most of the “big” names were empty and the crowd started to get irritable. Quite a few left, not wanting to stand around and talk without a drink in hand. Interestingly enough, Cigar City, Swamp Head Brewing, and the Southern Brewing gang were still pouring long after.

After about thirty minutes, though, more beer arrived and was divided among the tables, but somewhat haphazardly. The new influx of brew was at least organized by brewery – all the Lagunitas together, for example – but basically the volunteers just found any open table to drop the beer off at.

Overall, it was a good event. A little more planning on the part of the organizers would go a long way, but just the local breweries alone made the festival worth it.

The northern route between Hilo and Kailua-Kona is a vastly different experience than its sibling down south. The Mamalahoa Highway (HI-19) follows the coastline out of Hilo, taking travelers along a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean, in and out of valleys, and atop cliffs overlooking smaller towns and rocky shores. Near the town of Honokaa, the Hawaiian Belt Road turns inland and begins to climb over three thousand feet above sea level. Tall trees, wide open green pastures, and the imposing sight of Mauna Kea to the south make for a stunning scene.

Waimea is the largest inland town on the Big Island with a resident population of over seven thousand. It is also the home of headquarters for two of the astronomical observatories located on Mauna Kea, the W. M. Keck Observatory and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Right on the highway that runs through the middle of town is a great restaurant and soon-to-be brewpub formerly known as Tako Taco and being transitioned to a new identity as Big Island Brewhaus and Taqueria. Confused? Don’t be! You see, not to long ago Thomas Kerns (former head brewer at Maui Brewing Company) moved to the Big Island and bought Tako Taco in 2008 with the idea to open a small craft brewery. He changed the name to Big Island Brewhaus (although they still answer the phone as Big Island Brewhause and Tako Taco Tacqueria) and brought in a great selection of craft beer. Kona Brewing, Mehana, and Hawai’i Nui have multiple taps available, as well as several from Maui Brewing – Bikini Blonde, Big Swell IPA, and the award winning CoCoNut Porter. Several other craft beers are tapped, including offerings from Sierra Nevada, Widmer Brothers, and Rogue.

Pssst... look in the top left corner in the window...

Sometimes change of ownership and direction of a well-loved local establishment can have a negative impact on the place. But the food that made Tako Taco so popular in the first place with locals has remained largely unchanged, and as Big Island Brewhaus continues to be excellent by all accounts. It is a family-friendly atmosphere with a large menu, and everything we had was excellent. Like most other great places we visited, everything was fresh and bursting with flavor and our very friendly server was not only knowledgeable about the history of the place, but easily answered questions about the food and beer. Anyone travelling through Waimea needs to make a stop at Big Island Brewhaus, even if they are not a craft beer love. The food alone is worth stopping for.

A chicken taco with a Maui CoCoNut Porter

Construction of the brewery finally and officially started on July 28th of this year (about a month after we left the island, unfortunately), after all the business aspects were taken care of. The progress has been impressive, and the day-by-day activity is being faithfully documented on their Facebook page. The expected opening of the brewery is Halloween of this year.

Travel between the two main cities on the Big Island of Hawai’i – Kailua-Kona and Hilo – is done almost exclusively via the “Hawaiian Belt” road. Also known as the Mamalahoa Highway, the Belt Road consists of Hawai’i State Highways 11, 19, and 190 that encircle the Big Island. The only other route is the Saddle Road, a steep and rough highway that goes between the peaks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, and is almost entirely prohibited by rental car agreements.

The southern path from Kailua-Kona to Hilo takes travelers past a host of beautiful and amazing destinations. Kona coffee farms, blue-green snorkeling spots, black sand beaches, and the Southernmost tip of the United States are just some of the places any adventurer should take time to see. As any good beer traveler would, I did a little “brew-scouting” before the trip, but found little to go on along this road. One thing that did catch my eye was an establishment called Shaka Restaurant, the “Southernmost Bar in the United States” in the town of Na’alehu. How could I pass up the chance to drink a beer there? We stopped in for lunch and a beer, and unfortunately we were very disappointed. To be fair, it was lunchtime on a weekday, so there were few people around. But the staff seemed disinterested and were unhelpful, the food was mediocre at best, and the beer selection (although they did have a few local beers) was mundane.

Luckily, less than an hour away is Volcanoes National Park and the town of Volcano. Situated at just under four thousand feet and just outside the National Park, Volcano is a beautiful little town. Bed and breakfasts dot the area and range greatly in price. We found a very affordable and wonderful one called – not surprisingly – The Volcano Inn. It’s a small town, though, so everything closes early. The local corner store had a small-but-good beer selection, including the full line of Mehana and Kona brews. For lunch the following day we stopped in to the Kiawe Kitchen restaurant and from start to finish, everything was excellent. The atmosphere is inviting, but upscale, the service was attentive and friendly, and the menu was enticing. And then I saw the beer list, and I knew I had found the right place.

All of the items on the menu are fresh, and the folks at the Kiawe Kitchen make a point to get as much local ingredients as they can. The menu makes changes daily based on what is available, and the attention to quality shows through everything. I had an amazing lamb sandwich with a mint sauce, accompanied by a Maui Brewing Company CoCoNut Porter. My wife enjoyed a caprese sandwich and a Bikini Blonde, followed by a Mehana Brewing Alala Hawaiian Crow Porter. Everything was delicious, and while a little higher priced than some other places, the food is absolutely top notch, and the beer menu can’t be beat. Travelers stopping to see Kilauea and Volcano National Park should make a point to stop in for lunch or dinner, and beer lovers can’t miss this place.

On the opposite side of the Big Island from Kona is the city of Hilo. Less touristy, fewer beaches, and the rainiest city in the United States, according to Forbes.com. Hilo is more of a “normal” small city. It is home to University of Hawai’i at Hilo, the Imiloa Astronomy Center, the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory, and was chosen as the site for the most recent International ROV Competition. It is also the home of the Mehana Brewing and Hawai’i Nui Brewing Companies.

Much like the rest of the Big Island, local brews are available nearly everywhere. Even in the most generic of beach bars, there are usually at least three or four Kona, Mehana, or Hawai’i Nui brews available. Some places have caught on to the craft beer surge, however, and not only offer a full range of local beers, but a good selection of other craft beers as well. Places like the Hilo Burger Joint, and The Emerald night club keep their taps filled with a good variety. What is nice to see is that the first thing they will offer is a “local brew”. I just love seeing support from the vendors like that!

Located in Hilo proper is the Mehana Brewery. It’s an unassuming warehouse (actually very reminiscent of Cigar City here at home) with a full production setup and a small tasting room/gift shop. They do not do brewery tours at this time, but Deva (pronounced DAY-va, not DEE-va), the young lady serving up the tasting flights, was very knowledgeable and informative. Being poured that afternoon were the following:

Mehana Humpback Blue
Mehana Mauna Kea Pale Ale
Mehana Volcano Red Ale
Hawai’i Nui Hapa Brown
Hawai’i Nui Sunset Amber Ale
Hawai’i Nui Kaua’i Golden Ale

All were good beers, but for me the standouts were the Mauna Kea Pale and the Hana Brown. My wife was particularly partial to the Humpback Blue, an “American Golden Ale fermented with an imported Belgian yeast strain.”

According to Nina Lytton, webmaster and all-around awesome helper, Hawai’i Nui Brewing and Mehana Brewing merged on January 1, 2009.  Hawai’i Brewing, founded by Keith Kinsey, Andy Baker and Lytton, acquired Keoki Brewing back in 2007. Keoki, founded by George Wells in 1998, was Kaua’i Island’s favorite local brew. Keoki means “George” in Hawaiian. Hawai’i Nui means Great Hawai’i (a la Great Britain). The Keoki golden and amber ales were renamed Hawai’i Nui Brewing Kaua’i Golden Ale and Sunset Amber Ale. Some restaurants on Kaua’i still use the old Keoki tap handles for sentimental reasons. Mehana Brewing was founded by Dustin Shindo in 1996. The Shindo Family has been brewing carbonated beverages (soda) in Hilo for 4 generations. Nina says that “all the brands have a following in the market, so we kept them all going. “ Hawai’i Nui and Mehana ales and lagers are the only microbrewed beer to be brewed and bottled locally in Hawai’i.

Any trip to Hilo should definitely include a stop by the brewery for a sampling and pick up a growler if you can!

A few months ago, fellow Hop-arazzi member Steve wrote about “Craft Beer on Vacation” and I think fairly represented the feelings of us craft beer lovers well. When I travel, regardless whether it is for business or pleasure, I make a point to try to find and sample local and different beers. While I do not have the luxury at this point in my life to travel specifically for beer, I am blessed with an understanding wife and children who know what makes me happy.

This year we were very fortunate to make the Big Island of Hawai’i our destination. Black sand beaches, lush tropical jungles, clear bue-green water, palm trees… and home to two craft breweries and a soon-to-be brewpub! The Island of Hawai’i (simply called “The Big Island” by most) is the southern-most island in the Hawaiian Islands chain, and – as one might guess – the biggest. It is also technically the tallest mountain on the planet if you measure from its base. You see, while Everest might be the highest point on Earth at twenty-nine thousand feet above sea level, Mauna Kea (one of five volcanoes on the island) actually measures right around thirty from its base deep below the ocean. The island also has the distinction of having twelve distinct climate zones, from tropical rain forests in Hilo and Ka’u’s arid desert to the snow-capped summit of Mauna Kea.

We began our trip on the eastern coast of the island in the town of Kailua-Kona. This is the tourist destination on the Big Island. The fancier hotels and restaurants are here, as are most of the tour companies for every type of excursion. It is also the home of the Kona Brewing Company.

Most people have heard of Kona Brewing. Their Longboard Lager and Fire Rock Pale Ale are available in many places on the mainland. I have had their Pipeline Porter at some festivals. Truth be told, I have never been impressed with any of their bottled beer that I have had on the mainland. They are distributed in Florida by an AB distributor and I had even heard rumors that they had been bought by the monolith.

But I was in Kona, and I knew that I had to visit. And I am so glad I did. First of all, I will dispel the rumor that they are owned by anyone else. This was empathically stated by the brewery tour guide. The brewery was started by father and son team Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa from Oregon, and the company is still privately owned and operated today. The brewery in Kona produces over ten thousand barrels a year, but none of that beer ever leaves the Islands. All Kona beer on the mainland is contract brewed by the Craft Brewers Alliance either in Portland, Oregon or Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Things began to become clear.

The tour was fun and informative, and the installation and brewpub are impressive. Kona Brewing has invested a lot to move towards sustainability and being “green”, and the very philosophy of the establishment is one of a progressive company. (Read more about Kona’s sustainable practices here.). But of course the real reason I was there was for the beer. Having had it on draft in several places on the Island, I already knew the beer here was better than any Kona beers I had ever had on the mainland. I was also introduced to several new labels and styles that I had never heard of, each one flavorful and fresh, and very enjoyable. At the time I was there, the beers available were:

- Big Wave Golden Ale
- Black Sand Porter
- Castaway IPA
- Da Grind Buzz Kona Coffee Imperial Stout
- Fire Rock Pale Ale
- Hula Hefeweizen
- Lavaman Red Ale
- Longboard Lager
- Oceanic Organic Belgian Saison
- 2009 Old Blowhole Barley Wine
- Pipeline Porter
- Wailua Wheat

And I have to say, I was very impressed with everything I had. The big standouts, however, were the Castaway IPA and the Imperial Stout. Truly excellent beers, in my opinion, and ones I really wish I could get here on the mainland, provided they came from the Kona Brewery.

Which leads me to the not-so-happy part of the article. I will be the first to say that I prefer beer on tap over a bottle almost always. And fresh beer at the brewery is almost impossible to top. And on principle, I have absolutely nothing against contract brewing. I know that it is a very common practice and it makes economic sense, environmental sense, and so on. That said, there is some huge disparity between what is brewed in Kona and what is being contract brewed for them. According to the Kona Brewing website, “The beer brewed at Kona Brewing Company’s partner breweries utilizes Kona’s hops, malt and proprietary yeast. The water mineral levels at each brewery are adjusted to replicate the water used in Hawai’i.” My guess is it’s the water. Having had a chance to drink the volcanic-rock-filtered water on the island, I can taste the difference. They may try to match it chemically on the mainland, but it simply is not as good.

But that discovery was a double edged sword. I learned that I really do like Kona Brewing’s beers, but now am disappointed that not only can I not get the ones I really like, but even if I could they would probably not be as good.

I will revert to a positive note to end this article, however. The brewery is making some very good beer. And not only that, it is available everywhere on the Island. One of the things I noticed very early on in my travels around the island is that nearly every establishment I visited had at least two or three Hawai’ian beers available. They even offer you one of the “locals” when you ask what is on tap. It was great to see the support the businesses of the Big Island gave to their breweries. I wish more states did that.

Next stop: Hilo

The event began at 7:00 pm with all 25 taps covered and labeled with simply a number. Attendees were given a checklist identifying all the beers available and were encouraged to figure out what was what. It was a fun exercise, albeit a tad humbling for some of us who thought we were good at this blind tasting thing. At 8:30, the taps were revealed and everyone checked their notes and by and large, people were surprised at how few they got right!

The format was an interesting one. One the one hand, it is a very different way of drinking beer. No labels, tap handles, or even a name to affect your experience. A very nice half-pint glass was given out to each participant for tasting, and pours were generous, to say the least. Granted, you had a list of twenty-five beers they could be, but you were really left to your senses for all practical purposes. Everywhere you looked, beer lovers were gazing at the color and clarity (or lack thereof), taking deep nose-fulls of aroma, and then long pulls from the glass to savor the unknown. Discussions and debates over not only what a particular beer might be, but whether or not it was a good one.

After ninety minutes, the beers were revealed.

1. Swamp Head Brewing 10-10-10 (Oaked)
2. Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shutdown
3. Avery Maharaja
4. Bell’s Two-Hearted
5. Brooklyn Brewing East IPA
6. Dunedin Brewing The Rock
7. Terrapin Hop Karma
8. Left Hand Brewing 400 Pound Monkey
9. Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot
10. Stone IPA
11. Swamp Head Brewing 10-10-10
12. Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale
13. Cigar City Humidor Series Jai Alai
14. North Coast Acme IPA
15. Oskar Blues Gubna
16. Dunedin Brewing Dropkick Red
17. Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous
18. Swamp Head Brewing Big Nose
19. Cigar City 110+OT #3
20. Dunedin Brewing Black Rye
21. Boulder Beer Company Mojo
22. Dogfish Head Festina Peche (later served via Randall)
23. Cigar City Jai Alai
24. Terrapin Monk’s Revenge
25. Dunedin Brewing Three Copper Coins

An embarrassment of riches, one might say, although not all were technically India Pale Ales. The truth is I have had most of these before. Only a few were new to me, so the real excitement came from seeing how well I could identify the beers. Some were easy; no one else ages their IPAs in Spanish cedar (Humidor Jai Alai), and even poured through a Randall of hops, a peach beer is a peach beer (Festina Peche). Stone’s Sublimely Self-Righteous is fairly unique, and that left Dunedin’s Black Rye as the other “dark” beer. The rest of the beers, while perfectly good and with their own distinct nuances, didn’t stand out. The exception, however, was not even an IPA at all, but a dry-hopped lager from Dunedin Brewing called “Three Coins”. Light, refreshing in the early evening heat, and very enjoyable. As one reveler said “yeah, this will be my go-to beer tonight.” At a modest 4.2% alcohol, it was the perfect session beer among the heavier field that ranged up to over 11%.

Overall the event was a solid one, and as usual attended by great people (#beerpeoplergoodpeople, as the Twitter hash-tag goes). I was lucky to get to spend a little time with Luke Kemper of Swamp Head Brewing, Paul Unwin of the Cajun Café, Blaine and Chrissy Smith of Willard’s Tap House, and Mike Bryant of Dunedin Brewing. It was also exciting to meet new people, some of whom I have only known “virtually” through social networking, and some new faces like Devon Kreps and Justin Stange, of whom I am sure you will be hearing a lot about in the months to come (oooooo… foreshadowing!).

Once again, a great time at Dunedin and a quality event.

In addition to the great beer offerings, the kitchen will have a spread including spicy redheaded franks and beans, spinach and artichoke taquitos, Buffalo wings and chipotle-honey wings, and gorgonzola crostinis. It will be a great opportunity to try pairing up some excellent hoppy brews with some tasty treats.

But the best thing about any beer event is the people. Brewers and beer lovers alike will toast one another and talk about beer, share beer stories, and offer their own insights and favorites. It’s a can’t-miss event, to be sure.

Tickets are available in advance on the Dunedin Brewery website for $25, or for $30 at the door. This is a 21 and over only event.

“Hoppy Endings” IPA Fest
Dunedin Brewery
Saturday, June 5th, 7pm-11pm
937 Douglas Ave.
Dunedin, Florida United 34698
(727) 736-0606
http://www.dunedinbrewery.com

To begin with, I realized that my tastes are broader than I knew. I have often knocked lagers as a style. Wholesale dismissal, you might even say. Too light, too boring. It was an unfair judgment. I discovered, however, that like so many things in life, sometimes you just need the right influence to change your mind and move you forward. Thanks to the Native Brewing Company’s Native Lager, I will be actively looking to try more lagers and Pilsners in the days ahead. Shame on me for closing myself to a style that has so much to offer, especially going into the hot Florida summer months.

Another observation I made about me was that I am fairly cynical. I am someone who likes to turn his nose up at “hype”. Everyone starts going on and on about a beer or – even worse – a beer that has not even been released yet – and I roll my eyes and inwardly mock those who buy into the mob-like adoration. This week I learned that sometimes the mob is right. Sometimes the hype is deserved, and the beer is even better than it was cracked up to be. Such is the Cigar City Hunahpu Imperial Stout.

As I was trying to find and choose my Florida beers, I discovered a few things. First of all, there are not enough of them on the shelves, even at the good stores. Part of the reason is certainly because many of the great brewers in our state make their beer for a brewpub alone, and it simply isn’t sold in bottles, not to mention our unfair growler laws. Another reason is that some are still so new that distribution has not made it this far yet. Gainesville, Miami, Jacksonville… not far on a map, but light years away for a small startup brewery. So while the off-the-shelf choices for Florida beer are slim right now, I think we are moving in the right direction and the best days are ahead of us. The other – and more encouraging – thing I realized is that people are starting to take notice of craft beer. The restaurants are starting to have better selections (some even offering pairing suggestions), bars are offering some better options, and more people are talking about beer in a serious way and not just as a way to get drunk.

But the best part of the week came Friday night when I was able to not only spend some time talking to a great, up-and-coming brewer, but have a “teaching moment” with my sons, ages six and ten. I have reviewed Peg’s Cantina and Brewpub before, and knew the food was great and the boys would like it since they are pretty adventurous eaters. As we sat and enjoyed the nachos and crab quesadillas (and I drank my Square Dancing Cody Double IPA), Doug Dozark, assistant brewer at Cigar City as well as the brewer for Peg’s beers, came out and said hello. I told my kids that this was the man who made the beer I was drinking. They seemed very impressed, although not nearly as impressed as when they found out he also made the root beer they were drinking. The discussion turned to supporting local businesses, through no prompting of mine, and I was impressed to hear my kids say “It’s cool when you know the person who makes the stuff you eat or drink. It’s like knowing the farmer who grows your food.” Out of the mouths of babes, eh? They also were keenly aware that supporting a local business was good for the community, saying “well if we spend our money here instead of at a chain, the money stays in town, right?” Smart kids.

Here are a few locales of note:

The Rex – St. Petersburg

“In celebration of “National American Craft Beer Week”, REX is offering one free draft* to all customers with any purchase, this week through Saturday! This week we have delicious drafts from Ace, Lagunitas, Great Divide, Ommegang, Anderson Valley, Smuttynose, Erie Brewing, Anchor, Shmaltz, Narragansett, among others! There are 20 delicious American Craft Beers to choose from!”

(*limited one free draft per customer each day; purchase is required.)

The Rex
2061 Central Avenue
Saint Petersburg, FL

Cigar City Brewing Tasting Room – Tampa

“In addition to Jai Alai and Maduro pints for $3.50 all week we’ll have the following limited beers this week:

Craft Beer Week Draft Goodies:

(As each one kicks the beer beneath it in the order will replace it)

Brandy Barrel Aged Zhukov’s Imperial Stout
2009 Zhukov’s Imperial Stout
Bourbon Barrel Aged Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout
Brandy Barrel Aged Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout

Also all week we’ll have on:

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Humidor Series: Gruit
Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout

Cask:
We’ll have a cask of 110K+OT Batch #3 (The Other West Coast) Double IPA which will be tapped at noon on Saturday. Snifters are $6 per. This is the first opportunity to try this beer before it is released on the 28th.

Guest Taps:

Swamphead Cotton Mouth Wit
Swamphead Midnight Oil Stout

Brandy Barrel Aged Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout Bottles:
Only 84 bottles were produced and only 60 of those will be sold. Since we have so few we are getting them to people thusly: Each day of Craft Beer Week you may obtain one ticket for the drawing of the beer. On Saturday we start drawing tickets at 11 AM and will draw tickets every half hour until all the bottles are accounted for. If your ticket is selected you may buy up to two bottles at $25 per. You MUST be present when your ticket is drawn. With so few bottles to go around we are purposely making it so the people that REALLY want them have the best chance at them and we figure this is the best way to facilitate that.”

Cigar City Brewing
3924 W Spruce St Ste A
Tampa, Florida, USA 33607
(813) 348-6363

Willards Tap House – Largo

“To celebrate American Craft beer week we will be offering $1.00 off any Florida brewed beer until the 23rd. This includes Cigar City, Dunedin, and Swamp Head. Also, Wednesday night is Widmer keep the glass night. Buy any Widmer beer and keep the glass (while supplies last). We will be pouring Widmer Drifter Pale Ale, Hefeweizen, Prickly Pear Braggot, and Drop Top Amber. We will also have 2 drawings for $30 gift cards to Willard’s. Hope to see you then.”

Willard’s Tap House
12500 Starkey Road
Largo, Florida United States 33773
(727) 581-8600

Dunedin Brewery – Dunedin

Tours at 4pm Tuesday through Saturday ($5, includes Dunedin Brewery pint glass and tastings)

Wednesday Night – Beer School – Come and discuss the aspects of all things zymurgy (the technical term for making beer) while tasting beers from breweries around the country. $5 includes samples. Limited to 30 people!

Thursday and Friday – Cask Tappings – 7pm (Call for details)

Dunedin Brewery
937 Douglas Ave.
Dunedin, Florida, USA 34698
(727) 736-0606