Discover Tampa’s vibrant craft beer scene with our guide to the best breweries in the area. From the renowned Cigar City Brewing to the innovative Coppertail Brewing Co., Tampa boasts a diverse array of breweries known for their distinctive brews and inviting atmospheres. This guide highlights the top spots for craft beer enthusiasts, offering insights into each brewery’s unique offerings, must-try beers, and overall experience. Dive into Tampa’s rich brewing culture and explore the flavors that make it a top beer destination.
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What Are The Best Breweries In Tampa?
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You can’t go to Tampa without someone mentioning the iconic Cigar City brewery. Now a subsidiary of United Craft Brews, their beer is known all over the country, and they’re famous for their “Jai Alai” IPA. This golden, caramelised citrus beer encompasses everything Tampa breweries stand for, putting fun and modern twists on much-loved classics. Feel free to book a tour of their brewery, or just enjoy their tasty options at one of their three taprooms.
Ever heard of “pastry stouts”?. This beer flavour is what makes Tampa breweries so eccentric and fascinating. One of the breweries that have taken to the trend is the Angry Chair brewery. They’re the most well known for their “German Chocolate Cupcake” stout. The flavours of vanilla, coconut and chocolate are intense and satisfying. Enjoy it seated on one of their angry chairs (their chairs are literally decorated with angry-looking portraits), and enjoy the humour of this quirky joint.
The Berliner-Weisse takes on a new pink-hued identity at the Brew Bus Brewing company. This fruity sour beer uses the method of the classic sour Berliner except raspberries are added during the fermentation process, making it way fruitier and taking on a fresh pink colour. Locals have started calling it a Florida-Weisse, as it has an identity completely separate from that of a Berliner. One thing for sure, it’ll be hard to find a beer like this anywhere else besides Tampa.
The Coppertail Brewing Company is another favourite among locals. It’s independently owned and strongly believes in its philosophy of using locally sourced ingredients and mastering the art of craft brewing. Their tap list is more traditional than some of the other out there joints, as their main focus is making the best of the simple favourites, like an old fashioned pilsner or IPA, but that’s not to say you won’t find some interesting beers on the menu. Opt for a tasting and see which unique brew is for you.
Which Brewery In Tampa Has The Best Food?
You’ll be pleased to know that Coppertail not only has an incredible assortment of beer, but one of the main reasons people come to visit is the food. The kitchen goes hand in hand with the brewery, serving snacks and mains that perfectly accompany the flavours of their brews. You’ll be able to get any Florida classics like buffalo wings, chargrilled shrimp, smash burgers and pulled pork sandwiches. No need to stumble into a fast-food joint after overindulging, the food will be right in front of you.
What Beers Are Brewed In Tampa?
You’ll pretty much find every beer under the sun in Tampa, but what you won’t find outside of the Florida area are their unique flavoured beers. Pastry and fruit flavoured beers are all the rage in Tampa Bay, thanks to its laid back, creative and outgoing city culture, these forward-thinking breweries Tampa has to offer are anything but traditional. The Florida Weisse beer, taking after its Berliner cousin, is sour and bracingly tart, but what makes it different is its fruity freshness that is hard to find elsewhere.
Is Yuengling Made In Tampa?
If you know anything about American beer, you would have heard of the Yuengling brewing company. This Brewery is known as America’s oldest brewery, founded in 1829. Since their foundation in Pottsville, Pennsylvania opened they’ve since expanded all over the states, and have now made Tampa one of their brewing locations. Set to officially open in the fall of 2022, this location will have a plethora of activities, tours and tastings to enjoy, in a state-of-the-art facility.
What Are The Major Beer Events Or Festivals In Tampa?
The people of Tampa Bay love to party, with emphasis on ‘love”. In fact, the parties of Tampa are one of the main attractions, so be assured a beer festival or event will be available. The Tampa Bay Beer Week is one to look forward to. Wonder around the bay on the “ale trail” and experience the wide variety of breweries participating. All you have to do is purchase a “passport” and you’ll be granted access to the trail, in addition to free samples.
The craft beer festival this coming May is also an excursion to appreciate the beauty of the Tampa Bay area. Drink and taste craft beers from all over the town under the light of twinkly stars, in a barn nestled beneath the willow trees. All proceeds will benefit the farm it’s hosted on, and you’ll be able to spend the night, so you really get a full rounded experience.
Enjoy Tampa Breweries Your way
If you can’t make it to Tampa this coming season, the unique beers of the Tampa breweries are exported all over the world. It won’t be too hard to find a Florida-Weisse online, and maybe if you’re lucky you can get your hands on a cupcake stout. There’s no doubt the breweries of Tampa have made quite the uproar in the beer community, and these beer makers are pushing tradition and hopping onto the craft beer bandwagon.
Tampa breweries have decided that beer doesn’t have to be for the true hop and malt flavour appreciators, there should be a style and a taste for everyone. A lot of potential beer fans can be put off by bitter flavours, and this has been revolutionised by adding ingredients that have never been added before, to customise a flavour as unique as the customer, whether it’s sour, or bitter, sweet or citrus.
Jake has been a craft beer and homebrew enthusiast since his college days. He loves scouring Europe for unique and unusual hops to add to his beers.
Founder of Jake’s Brew Haven – he currently hosts beer-tasting sessions at select local pubs in Baltimore.