How Do You Beer Week?

We are in the thick of it, beer friends! The big weekend has flown by and we are rolling full steam into the rest of this amazing thing we call Tampa Bay Beer Week. So here is a little recap…

On Friday, we held the inaugural Ultimate Brewer challenge, and the participants did not disappoint. Thirteen breweries from around the area competed in a blind taste off, using their creativity and know how to brings these crazy flavors to life in beer form. The big winner of the night was Brew Bus Brewing with their Vanilla Jalapeno brew, taking the championship and having their name etched in the history books.

Brewer Kevin Butler of Brew Bus Brewing hoists the inaugural Ultimate Brewer cup.

Other beers in the lineup were:

Brew Bus Brewing – Vanilla Bean & Jalapeno (1st Place)
3 Daughters Brewing – White Chocolate & Pistachios (2nd Place)
Southern Brewing & Winemaking – Onions (Third Place)
Rapp Brewing – Orange & Old Bay
Mastry’s Brewing – Coffee & Curry
HOB (House of Beer) Brewing – Cinnamon & Lemon Peel
Cigar City Brewing – Horseradish
7venth Sun Brewing – Toffee & Bananas
Pinellas Ale Works – Thyme & Peaches
Green Bench Brewing – Bacon & Jalapenos
St. Pete Brewing Company – Oysters & Hot Sauce
Crooked Thumb Brewing – Maple Syrup & Pears
Stilt House Brewing – Dark Chocolate & Mango

A huge congrats to everyone who participated. I think it was a fun and interesting event and I can’t wait until the next one.

Fest goer Eric Hovland tasting the runner up brew from 3 Daughters Brewing: White Chocolate & Pistachio Pale Ale (look at that color!!!)

Saturday was the annual Florida Brewers Guild Festival, where Florida’s breweries get a chance to gather, drink some of the best beers in the state, reconnect with old friends, and meet new ones. It is amazing to me how every year there are more and more participants, and the quality of beers being made just gets better and better. I also enjoyed seeing new breweries that I had never heard of. The big question I am always asked is “so what was your favorite beer?”  Well, I am not going to fall in to that trap, but I will mention a few standouts for me. (Note: I am not mentioning the incredible beers that I have had before… that would take forever…)

Barrel of Monks – The Raspberry Quad was amazing. This was my first brew from the Boca Raton brewery, and I was blown away by the complexity and sheer awesomeness of it. Of course, it never hurts when you have the lovely Brother Phil Palmisano pouring for you…

Due South Brewing – I am a total fanboy for these guys out of Boynton Beach, I’ll admit, but they always bring it big time. The Silky Johnson Peanut Butter Chocolate Stout is everything you would want it to be and more.

Ulele Spring Brewery – Most of the beers I have had from Ulele (located in Tampa) are light in style and not really in my wheelhouse. But I got to try a barrel-aged dark lager on Saturday that was rich and complex and interesting. Now I am going to have to visit the restaurant as well!

Tampa Bay Beer Week – Guava Passionfruit Floridaweisse. Yeah, total homer move, but this beer that Coppertail Brewing did for us was outstanding. Perfect for the warm Florida day, light, tart, and delicious. And lots of other people said so, so it’s not just me!

Tres Beerigos: Brother Phil with #ThatDamnTomBarris and the Most Dangerous Man in Craft Beer

Sunday brought us to the Best Florida Beer Championship’s Brewer’s Ball. This is a special event that celebrates the best of the best in Florida breweries. Ninety-three beers selected from 558 entries, thirty-one styles. Each style awarded a Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal. All the medal winners available to sample and savor while enjoying the company of the brewers themselves, the gorgeous riverfront at Water Works Park in Tampa. Definitely one of the best festivals each year. Big congratulations to all of the trophy winners, too. it is a huge honor, well deserved.

Best Small Batch Beer 2016 – Vultures from the Past, 7venth Sun Brewing Co.
Best Beer in Florida 2016 – Oktoberfest, Big Storm Brewing Co.

Big Storm Brewing Company wins Best Beer in Florida for their outstanding Oktoberfest Marzen Lager.

Runner-Up Best Small Batch Beer 2016 – Not Your Heidi Klum Blonde, Southern Brewing
Runner-Up Best Beer in Florida 2016 – KUMquat, Tampa Bay Brewing
Best Mead or Cider 2016 – The Strange, Cigar City Cider and Mead

2nd Runner-Up Best Small Batch Beer 2016 – Chocolate Stout, Fort Myers Brewing Co.
2nd Runner-Up Best Beer in Florida 2016 – Cruiser Kolsch, Motorworks Brewing

Best Small Brewery – 7Venth Sun Brewing Co.
Best Brewery – Fort Myers Brewing Co.
Best Brewpub – Tampa Bay Brewing Company

Vicki and John Doble of Tampa Bay Brewing Company holding the trophy for Best Brewpub

For a full list of all of the beers that won medals, you can check out the Best Florida Beer Championship Page.

So again, personal favorites? Among the new beers I got to try, there were a couple standouts:

Escape Brewing Company – I had always heard good things about this New Port Richey brewery, but have never had the opportunity to try any of their beers. The Other West Coast IPA was well deserving of it’s gold medal for sure.

Tomoka Brewing – I have known Jen and Peter from Tomoka since before they opened, and they have impressed in the past with some great offerings. Their Tangerine Florida Weisse was amazing and earned a Silver medal to bring back to Port Orange.

Grasslands Brewing – Pickle Tickle Dill Gose. Yeah, you read that right. And this gold medal winning beer was exactly what you would expect. It hit every note just right, from the garlic to the dill to the cucumber. it was definitely the talk of the fest, and people kept coming back for more.

Pickle Tickle Gose from Grasslands Brewing Company in Tallahassee

The weekend was amazing, an excellent beginning to Beer Week. And it is only Tuesday… what does the rest of the week hold for us?

Cheers!

~ by Sean Nordquist on March 8, 2016.