‘Tis the Season…
No, I am not confused. It really is the season… for Beer Events!
Now is the time of year when the weather is nice, the holidays are sufficiently celebrated (and recovered from), and the Bay Area begins to celebrate the culture of beer by holding a plethora of festivals and events. 2016 looks not only to continue the tradition, but to do it bigger and better than ever before. Remember, Tampa Bay Beer Week is only six weeks away.
Six. Weeks. Time to start training.
The last weekend in January is going to test your resolve, to be sure. You have some choices to make. The good news is, any of these would be the right choice!
Jan. 30 – Useppa Limited Edition Launch at Tampa Bay Brewing Company, Ybor City, 9am
Kick off the party early and grab a bottle of this special treat from one of the oldest breweries in Florida. As the story goes, Jose Gaspar took what his heart desired, but could not force a princess named Useppa to desire him. Driven by unrequited love and bitterness, Gasparilla killed her in a fit of rage. Out of remorse, he buried her body on an island we call Useppa to this day. Useppa Raging IPA embodies the myth mith delicate layers of floral notes, hints of the tropics, and a raging amount of hoppiness. Limit 2 bottles per person and only 350 bottles available. $10 each.
For more information, check the Event Page.
Jan. 30 – Local Fresh Beer Festival at The Ale & the Witch, St. Petersburg, 2pm-10pm
Celebrating their 5 year anniversary week, the Witch will be hosting a small beer festival inside the DEN. Broken up into 2 sessions (2-5pm) and (7-10pm) this event features 21 Florida breweries. Each session has only 100 tickets for sale, so it will be a fun, intimate beer gathering of friends celebrating the local fresh beer community. Each brewery will be featuring 2 rare selections and will be operating their own tables for conversation. This event is also a fundraiser for Tampa Bay Watch who works hard every day to protect and educate about local Tampa Bay waterways. Proceeds from ticket sales as well as a membership drive and a raffle will occur during each session.
For details and tickets, visit their Facebook Page.
Jan. 31 – Hops for Heroes Craft Beer Festival at St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, St. Petersburg, 2pm-5pm
This is the second year for the Hops for Heroes festival, and it is for a great cause. The Road Warrior Foundation works to providing adventures to improve the lives of veterans and empower them through challenges that honor their service. Come join over 25 breweries and honor our veterans who have served. There will be food trucks, music, a silent auction, and of course shuffleboard! Tickets are only $35 online, $40 at the door. All proceeds benefit the Road Warrior Foundation.
Tickets and additional information is available at www.RoadWarrior.org.
Feb. 6 – Cider & Mead Festival at Cajun Cafe on the Bayou, Pinellas Park, 2pm-6pm
If you have never attended a festival at the Cajun Cafe, you have missed out in a huge way. They know how to do it right. The beer festivals are the stuff of legends, and the Cider & Mead fest is no different. Come taste over 100 of the best ciders and meads from around the world, all on the banks of the bayou. Delicious food, live music, and a souvenir tasting glass will round it out for a great day among great people.
Get more details and a link to tickets on the Event Page.
Feb. 27 – 15th Annual Stogies and Stout at Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin, 7pm-11pm
This is one of my favorite festivals every year. If you love all things dark and roasty, you cannot miss this event. Florida’s oldest microbrewery brings an amazing lineup of stouts and porters each year from around the world, kicks some amazing jams with talented bands, and if you want to enjoy a good cigar, you will be in heaven. Even if cigars are not your thing, there is plenty of space inside away from the smoke, so don’t let that scare you away.
This event will sell out. There is no question. It does every year. So get your tickets well in advance and come celebrate the darkness. $50 includes commemorative tasting glass, choice of cigar, Oaxacan Street Food & Tasting of 30+ Local & National stouts on draft.
Taplist (ever evolving) and tickets are available on the Event Page.
Are you excited yet?
Cheers!
Beer for the Daddy 
Good post!
Somehow you missed the Feb 6, 2016 We Want Brew! Fest to benefit USO Central Florida (serving military families!) It’s from 6-8 pm (after the Cajun Cafe fest) at Brewers Tasting Room in St Pete. We have six teams (representing the six military branches each led by a local homebrewer and a team of military men and women) competing in the Band of Brewers with the winning team pouring their brew at Hunahpu’s Day. Then in the Tour of Duty, were have five homebrew clubs participating whose members chose a coalition country as inspiration for the beers they will pour at the fest:
– Beer Can Island Brewers (Belgium)
– Brandon Bootleggers (England)
– PUB Guild (Germany)
– St Pete Brew Club (Morocco)
– Suncoast Barley Mashers (France)
This is the same week as the USO marks 75 years of supporting military families and We Want Brew! Fest is a one of a kind festival linking the local craft beer scene in Tampa Bay with the military. Tickets are only $20 advance ($25 at the door) and available at WeWantBrewFest.com
We would appreciate your support and encourage your readers to join in to support this worthy cause!
Cheers!
HI Sean,
Wanted to add the 6th Annual HOB Beerfest in the Park in beautiful Edgewater Park in Dunedin. Last year we had over 100 local beers from 36 local Florida breweries 6 casks and poured over 14000 beers. Live Music Great Food and Great Time http://www.dunedinhob.com/#!craft-beer-fest/c10np Cheers!
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Useppa featured on Sean Nordquist’s blog | Tampa Bay Brewing Company said this on February 9, 2016 at 1:40 pm |