American Craft Beer Week 2013: The Growing Scene in Florida

It is difficult to keep up with any industry that is suddenly exploding with growth, even if it is your full time job. It is nearly impossible when you do it for fun and a hobby. Ever heard the term “drinking from the firehose”? But I suppose that is better than the alternative.

First, the bad news. The growler bill in Florida died a quiet death at the hands of lobbyists and their lackeys in the state legislature. It is simply shameful the way that our elected representatives – and especially Representative Debbie Mayfield – ignored calls from the people and bent the knee to the lobbyists. I hope people are paying attention come election time.

But, the craft beer spirit in Florida is not so easily put down. It seems like almost every day I am hearing about another brewery, brewpub, or brewing venture somewhere in the state. You are probably already seeing Florida beers you didn’t even know existed six months ago (unless you are active in the scene here) like Pinglehead, Proof, Green Room. Before long, you will be hearing about Motorworks in Sarasota, Tomoka Brewing in Ormand Beach, Grasslands in Tallahassee, and Angry Chair in Tampa. And there are more being schemed out even as I type this. Remember the names V-Twin, Sunburn, and Archangel. Every time I go to a beer event, there is something new and exciting.

I have had people ask me if Florida is becoming over-saturated with breweries. If there is enough demand to warrant all these new startups. I say

(Herald-Tribune photo illustration by Nicole Sneed)

without hesitation: absolutely. If a town of less than 500,000 people like Asheville, North Carolina can support a dozen or more breweries, Tampa Bay certainly can. In 2011, North Carolina had 58 breweries, one for every 160,000 or so.  Florida had 44, or one for every 427,000 people. I think we have a lot of room for growth and expansion. Are all of them going to be good? Of course not. Will all of them succeed? Nope. No business has 100% success rate. But with continued innovation and talent, solid business plans and practices, and a thirsty craft beer community, I would be willing to bet that more will succeed than fail.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune writer Alan Shaw has done a great job of putting together an interactive map of Florida breweries. You should check it out here.

Finally, I wanted to say happy American Craft Beer Week to everyone!  There are going to be several “official” ACBW toasts going on tonight around the country. So grab a pint or bottle or can or growler of your favorite and celebrate the renaissance we are in now.

Cheers!

American Craft Beer Week 2013: Red, White and Craft Brews Fest

Last year, the good folks at J.J. Taylor distributing invited me to a special event on Armed Forces Day called the “Red, White, and Craft Brews Fest”. It was being held at the Armed Forces History Museum in Largo, and the event was a fundraiser for the museum. I had never been to the museum before, so I really didn’t know what to expect.

I was blown away.

Yes, the beers J.J. Taylor has in their lineup are great, but very quickly the event became more about looking at the amazing collection that the caretakers have put together. From uniforms to vehicles, weapons to photographs and personal effects, I have never seen a more impressive display short of the Smithsonian. Having a great selection of beers spread throughout the event was icing on the cake.

This Saturday, May 18th, they are doing it again. With over 75 craft and specialty beers offered, free food, and an incredible museum, this is a don’t-miss event.

The Armed Forces History Museum is one of the largest, non-government funded, museums in the southeast.

Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online at www.armedforcesmuseum.com, over the phone at (727) 539-8371 or in person at the museum.

Your admission includes:
Full access to the museums exhibits
Souvenir tasting cup (to the first 300 guests)
Free food and more!

* The museum will also be offering rides in their WWII Reconnaissance M8 Vehicle and Motion Simulator for an additional fee

What a unique and fun way to celebrate American Craft Beer Week!

Cheers!

American Craft Beer Week 2013: Beer Bites & Brushes: St. Pete Edition

What are you doing this week? Where are you drinking your American craft beer? Who are you enjoying it with?

On Friday, join fellow craft beer lovers, art lovers, and music lovers at Dan Painter’s Art Studio in St. Pete for Beer, Bites, and Brushes!

I attended the inaugural B3 event during Tampa Bay Beer Week in 2012, and thought it was great. It is really a natural fit. Great beers, great food, and great local art, joined by talented local musicians. You really can’t ask for more. This year, it will be held in St. Pete’s new Art Warehouse District.  With at least eight local breweries pouring their beers, four different musicians, and an impressive list of artists, this is a unique and fun way to feed all of your senses. (If you really need the tactile experience, That Damn Tom Barris will be giving out free hugs.)

This could happen…

Here are the details:

Friday, May 17th
8PM – Midnight @ Dan Painter’s Art Studio in the new St. Pete Art Warehouse District!

For Online Tickets:

http://www.daddykooltickets.com/

Music By:
DJ Re: Pete
Red Feather
Geri X
Emily Turnage

Featured Artists :
Jenipher Chandley
Stoic
Derek Donnelly
Zach Bowden
Sean Williams
Joe Limire
Sebastian Coolidge
Callie Ferraro
John Taormina
Also live art from YOU!

Bites by: Chef Ben Harris owner of The Spot Grill in St. Pete

Breweries:
Florida Beer Company (Event Organizer)
Barley Mow Brewing Company
Cigar City Brewing
Rapp Brewing
Saint Somewhere Brewing Company
Dunedin Brewery
Three Palms Brewing
Cold Storage Brewing

Don’t miss out on this event! It’s a great way to start your weekend and to celebrate American Craft Beer Week!

Cheers!

American Craft Beer Week 2013

It is here again, and it is time to celebrate the growing world that is American craft beer. With events across the nation, every craft-beer-loving person should be able to find a place to celebrate this week.  Here in Florida, we have a lot to celebrate.

First off, a huge congratulations to Cigar City Brewing founder and owner, Joey Redner. Last week, he was recognized by the University of South Florida Entrepreneurship Gala as the 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year. I don’t think anyone can argue that it was not a well deserved honor, and it just makes it sweeter for us all when it goes to a craft brewery owner. Cigar City has meant so much to brewing in the state of Florida, so it is only fitting that on this first day of American Craft Beer Week we recognize them.

Down in South Florida, newcomer Due South Brewing celebrated their one year anniversary this past weekend. I have only had a chance to sample a couple of their brews, but they are excellent. And while their character judgement my be in question (they hired both the miscreants from United We Drink, Mike and Joel), their beers are above reproach. Congrats and cheers to our friends down south!

Speaking of down south, perennial Florida craft beer darlings Funky Buddha Brewing are gearing up for their big expansion opening on June 1st. The new location not only expands their capacity significantly (and will allow for distribution!), but they will have a tasting room in Oakland Park as well. Anyone who has had the Buddha’s beers knows how amazing they are, so this is great news for all of us.

I also wanted to give a special shout-out (do people still say that?) to my buddy Rob Chalmers. A homebrewer and craft beer lover, he has earned a fantastic opportunity to be part of something very cool. If you are not familiar with the theatrical-thrash, heavy-metal band GWAR, think KISS-meets-World of Warcraft… Anyway, Rob is a longtime fan, friend of the band, and has brewed GWAR-themed homebrews in the past. Now he gets to do it for real, teaming up with Cigar City and GWAR’s Dave Brockie to brew Impaled Ale for the annual GWAR-B-Q. Check out the full story on American Craft Beer.

So… what are YOU doing for American Craft Beer Week?!

Florida Growler Bill Effectively Killed by Lobbyists

It is being reported by the Associated Press that the lobbyists for the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association, a group representing the Anheuser-Busch distributors in the state, among others, have convinced the key lawmakers not to proceed with the legislation that would allow the standard 64-ounce growlers in breweries in the state.

You can get the pertinent information from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune story by Alan Shaw here.

I have discussed this issue before, so I won’t repeat my arguments against this ridiculous ban. But here is what you, my friends, followers, and readers can do.

Write to Representative Debbie Mayfield (R-Vero Beach) and express your displeasure with her decision. You can send emails, but actual letters are far more effective. Phone calls are important, too. Then, if you live in Florida, contact your own representatives. Let THEM know what is going on and your stance on it. If you don’t live in Florida, your voice is important too. Our state depends heavily on tourism dollars, and this issue directly affects those monies. The lobbyists in Tallahassee wield a ridiculous amount of power, and the only way to he heard over the sound of their money is a thunderous noise from people.

When contacting legislators, here are some tips:

• State your position specifically and use facts, not rumors or hearsay. Educate yourself as best you can.
• Be respectful. Avoid foul language or namecalling. Nothing gets your letter tossed quicker.
• Do not accuse. The issue is what is important, not the Representative.
• Stick to the issue at hand. Do not muddy the waters by bringing up unrelated issues.
• In this particular case, this is a non-partisan issue. The bill was brought by a Democrat/Republican partnership, so leave the partisanship out of this one. All it does is whip party loyalists into a frenzy unnecessarily.

Debbie Mayfield can be reached in the following ways:

Mail:

Representative Debbie Mayfield
Capitol Office
303 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Phone: (850) 717-5054

or at her Vero office:
Representative Debbie Mayfield
District Office
1053 20th Place
Vero Beach, FL 32960-5359
Phone: (772) 778-5077

You can contact her through the official House website here.

Her email is Debbie.Mayfield@myfloridahouse.gov

Cheers.

P.S. I wanted to also point out that it is not ALL distributors in Florida that are behind this. There are other beer distributors in the state, led by the Beer Industry of Florida, that are supporting the growler law.

Expanding My Beery Horizons

I will be the first to admit to a tunnel-vision approach to beer for the most part. It has to be craft, and it has to be American. That is what i have focused on pretty much since day 1, with few exceptions. I have enormous respect for what the United States craft beer community has done in recent years, and I drink American craft beer almost exclusively. Part of that is accessibility, to a certain degree, but I honestly have not spent any time at all looking beyond our borders when it comes to beer.

That all changed two nights ago.

I was very fortunate and honored to be invited to the Micro Man Distributors 1st Annual Beer Trade Show on Wednesday night. Importers and brewers filled the ballroom of the Cuban Club in Ybor City and poured their offerings. The vast majority were imports, with Belgium being the most represented. I had forgotten how much I enjoy truly good Belgian beer. Some of the highlights for me were:

• Rodenbach Classic and Grand Cru
• BOON Geuze, Kriek, and Framboise
• Ter Dolan Bitter Belgian and Kriek
• Kortrijk-d’Utsel
• Thornbridge Halcyon, Jaipur, and Kipling
• Schlenkerla Oak Smoke
• Leipziger Gose

The options were amazing, and I was introduced to things I didn’t even know I liked! So you can expect to see some things in the coming weeks and moths that take us beyond our borders and delve into the beers from around the world.

This all continued last night at Saint Somewhere Brewing in Tarpon Springs. Bob Sylvester had a guest from Belgium visiting the brewery, the owner/brewer of Belgium’s “Brouwerij The Musketeers”, brewers of the Troubadour line of beers, Stefaan Soetemans.

This was essentially the debut of the Troubadour beers in this market, and it was a real treat to try them side by side with our very own Saint Somewhere. Soetemans introduced each brew and gave of some info on it. It was a lot of fun to talk to him and others in the crowd about brewing, beer styles, and some of the differences between the American and Belgian approaches to brewing and beer. The beers on hand were:

• Troubadour Blond – a delicious and smooth golden brew with just a touch of sweetness and spice.
• Troubadour Magma – a Belgian take on an American IPA, dry-hopped with Simcoe hops. A very different kind of brew, but really good.
• Troubadour Obscura – a Belgian dark strong ale, refermented in the bottle. Smooth and silky and with some great bitterness at the end.
• Troubadour Westkust – a Belgian black IPA, with a nod to the American “West Coast” style, using 100% Belgian west coast hops.

Also on hand her some of Bob Sylvester’s brews:

• Cynthiana
• Lectio Divina
• Saison Athene

Not to mention numerous amazing homebrews to sample. To top it off, a new food truck called Bufalina! was there, and reviews coming from the people around me were fantastic. Word has it he is at the St. Pete Saturday Morning Market.

So for the second night in a row, my horizons were expanded. I am looking froward to this journey, for sure.

Cheers!

Beer Dinner at Tampa Bay Brewing Company

As you may recall, one of my favorite events from last year’s Tampa Bay Beer Week was the beer pairing dinner at Tampa Bay Brewing Company with beers form TBBC and Cigar City Brewing matched up with each course. It was amazing. So when I was invited to come again this year, I could not pass it up. This year the beers were from TBBC and Southern Brewing & Winemaking.

When we walked in we were treated to the flagship TBBC brew, Old Elephant Foot IPA, and a delicious Cherry Cyser from Southern.  The appetizers were amazing: smoked salmon with English cucumbers, tuna tartar with Belgium endive chips, and some incredible sweet-sesame short ribs.

Sweet Sesame Short Ribs

Smoked Salmon with English Cucumbers

Tuna Tartar with Belgian Endive Chips

We sat down to our tables, and I was seated with three great couples whom I had never met, which was fun! We had a great time talking and swapping stories.

My tablemates

The second course was introduced to us by owner John Doble, who welcomed us and talked for a few minutes about the history of TBBC. Then the course came out: baby field greens, blood oranges, golden raisins, pan-seared Muscovy duck breast with One Night Stand truffle vinaigrette. It was paired with TBBC’s One Night Stand Pale Ale.

Baby Field Greens, Blood Oranges, Golden Raisins, Pan-Seared Muscovy Duck Breast with One Night Stand Truffle Vinaigrette.

The third course was introduced by YBBC brewer Brian Wing. A grilled Hawaiian kajiki (blue marlin) served with Peruvian potato, jicama slaw, and Winger mango vinaigrette. This was paired with TBBC’s Winger’s Orange Peel Pale Ale.

Grilled Hawaiian Kajiki (Blue Marlin) served with Peruvian Potato, Jicama Slaw, and Winger Mango Vinaigrette

As a palate cleanser, we were then served the Wild Warthog Weizen Citrus Sorbet, which is made with the TBBC beer of the same name. It is not just a great palate cleanser, but a delicious item in and of itself. So crisp and clean and refreshing, I would buy this by the pint for summer days! While we enjoyed the sorbet, fellow beer writer Gerard Walen (of Beer In Florida and Road Trips For Beer) gave a toast to the craft brewers and the community.

Gerard Walen leads us in a toast

Then it was time for the fourth course: seared fois gras Napoleon with duck confit, caramelized apples and Red Eye demiglaze. It was served with TBBC’s Two Red Eyes Double Amber Ale. It was outstanding.

Seared Fois Gras Napoleon with Duck Confit, Caramelized Apples and Red Eye Demi Glaze

The main course was superb. Mixed grill with wild boar sausage, buffalo filet, and Hawaiian blue prawn served with pumpkin puree and a rich stout reduction. It was paired up with The Heights Brown Ale (a.k.a. Browncoat Ale) from Southern Brewing and Winemaking. Brewer Khris Johnson gave us a description of the beer and how it paired with the food. The buffalo was especially delicious, particularly with the stout reduction.

Southern brewer Khris Johnson describing The Heights Brown Ale.

Mixed Grill with Wild Boar Sausage, Buffalo Filet, and Hawaiian Blue Prawn served with Pumpkin Puree and a Rich Stout Reduction

Finally, it was time for dessert, and our collective sweet tooth was in for a real treat. Creamy vanilla bean cheesecake served with chocolate ganache drizzle. And set perfectly with it was Southern Brewing’s MoonRaker Rum Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. A huge, but delicious beer. The rum really came through, and I love my rum… Southern Brewer Rick Etshman gave his insight on the beer and we dug in.

SBW Brewer Rick Etshman giving his insight on the dessert pairing.

Creamy Vanilla Bean Cheesecake served with Chocolate Ganache Drizzle

With stuffed bellies and high spirits, the night drew to a close. The Doble family asked me to give the closing toast for the evening, and we raised a glass of Glenfiddich 12-year single malt scotch to toast our hosts and everyone who made the event possible. It was truly an epic event, and definitely one I will want to be a part of every year. Everything was delicious, and the beers were perfectly matched with the food. You can’t ask for much better than that.

Glenfiddich 12-year Single Malt Scotch

“The happiest people are those enjoying good food and drink…
The best people are those that provide them.”

Cheers!