A Tour of Some of the Best Local Breweries in the Tampa Bay Area

Tampa bay, Florida’s own taste of the Cuban life-style, from Cigars down to Cuban sandwiches, the town is rich in culture that only an expensive plane ticket could show you elsewhere. Early Spanish maps named Tampa Bay as Baya De Spirito Santo, meaning ‘Bay of the Holy Spirit,’ and with the rise of brewpubs and breweries, one could argue that Tampa is quickly becoming The Bay of the Spirit once again, touting some of the best local breweries one will ever experience. Once the capitol of Cuban Cigars, Tampa has established itself as a contender in the beer-brew world with multiple breweries that most residents of Tampa not only have heard of, but attended, enjoyed, and swear by.

Our first brewpub pays homage to Tampa’s past with their name, ‘Cigar City Brewing,’ located on West Spruce Street. CCB, as it’s known for short, is the essence of a true brewpub; from the warm, inviting atmosphere, to the knowledgeable staff and many different beers and styles to try, you are in for a treat no matter when you go. Upon entering the tasting room, you are enveloped in a culture of beer that only a true brewery can supply you with, and come prepared to take notes, there can be a lot to take in when it comes to their beer. They have many different styles on tap and also offer sample platters of beer, so you can try them all before you commit to any. The staff knows their stuff and can tell you just about anything you want to know about their products.

What makes this brewery the favorite to this author, is the fact that CCB is constantly rolling out new products and styles. Cuban Espresso or Hopped up Johnny, the beer is not the same mis-mash of gas station canned beer, and is unique and unforgettable. Luckily, you won’t have to try to remember; CCB also sells bottles of their beer, so when you begin the long for that delicious Jalapenos Red Ale, and you can feel the happiness that a cold, masterpiece beer can give you, slowly fading, just reach for a bottle of it in your fridge and settle back into that warm ecstasy that only Cigar City Brewery can give you.

The next stop on our Beer bonanza is a little bit outside of Tampa, nestled in Gulfport on Bleach Blvd. is ‘Peg’s Cantina & Brewpub.’ Peg’s is an experience that is different than most brewpubs, capturing that southern hospitality that most bars tend to run from. The large open patio and warm lighting create the image of a picnic with the family, while the friendly staff is ready to serve you and make your beer-tasting experience a very enjoyable one. Peg’s also serves a southwestern/tex-mex styled menu and has live entertainment, but pay close attention to their hours or you may end up missing the party. Peg’s makes it very clear that they aren’t just your run-of-the-mill watering holes, but a world class, award winning brewery, and is defiantly worth the trip outside of Tampa.

This author’s personal favorite beer from Peg’s is the Gold Medal winning Square Dancing Cody, a dark golden Imperial IPA that smells and tastes like paradise with citrus hops and fruity tropical aromas. The beer was like enjoying a nice dessert, and finished the night off perfectly. The beer on my first visit was so great, I had to tell someone, and who better to tell than the owner, peg, herself? She was very grateful for the visit and was glad to hear that I had enjoyed the beer. Thank me? No, thank you Peg, for showing us what a real Brewpub is all about.

Tampa Bay Brewing Co.‘ makes no attempt to hide it’s homage to the Bay Area. Located in Ybor on 8th street, TBBC is a brewpub that embraces its Tampa Culture, from their food, to their atmosphere and appearance. The large patio is always jumping with a lively and welcoming crowd, and the food is an experience in it of itself. The beer on tap and cask are hard to describe other than just overall ‘great.’ Each has its own distinct style and flavor that makes it hard to forget, along with a host of other craft beers on tap to make the night an enjoyable night of tasting experiences.

My visit was less than glamorous though; with little to no life at the Brewpub. The patio that is usually filled was completely empty, and the décor reminded me of the countless TGI Friday-inspired restaurants, which seemed to take away from the Brew pubs expertise in beer making. My attitude quickly changed, though, once my food arrived; I never have recovered from how amazing the food was, and how it greatly overshadows anything I have ever been served in a pub before. The quality of food was plenty enough to keep me coming back, and the beer is the delicious, refreshing cherry on top of it all.

The Tampa area has a lot to offer its residents; from its rich history to its lavish nightlife, there is always something to do or see. A cold beer, from some of the best local breweries is never a bad decision. For the discerning beer critic, Cigar City brewery has some amazing beers to sample in their high class tasting room that are also readily available for purchase. Anyone looking to grab a bite with their brew shouldn’t even think twice about Tampa Brew Co. and just prepare for a food and beer experience that no other place can quite match. As for Peg’s, well, just head on over and let the southern hospitality and warm, cheery atmosphere take away all of your worries and enjoy a great pint of beer with some of the best in the business.


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