Orlando/Tampa Beer Scene

[Guido]

My wife and I are headed to Orlando for a week. When we were there last--about two years ago--the craft beer scene was pretty lame. We found a BJ's, but that was about it. Has anything changed in that time?

We're also planning a day trip to Tampa. Cigar City is a definite stop. We thought we could have a few at the tap room before going to the Salvadore Dali Museum in St. Pete. Is thre anywhere else we should hit?

As always, thanks in advance.

Cheers...Mark

[rlynge]

There are a couple newer beer locations that you might want to check out. I am glad you already have CCB on your list. There is a world of beer in Tampa and Orlando. It is a bar that carries over 40 craft beers on tap and over five hundred in the bottle. If you are looking to buy bottles I would suggest Total Wine and More. There is a Tampa and Orlando location as well. If you enjoy German food with good beer then I suggest that you visit Mr. Dunderbaks in Tampa. It is one of my favorite places in Tampa. This is also where the local home brew club meets.

[dmtaylor]

Orlando doesn't have any real brewpubs. However, there are a few decent English and Irish pubs and such. Look for Cricketers Arms, and the Harp and Celt, for a couple of good places that I managed to find. Probably my favorite I have seen so far was the Harp and Celt, which has authentic Irish food, and all is owned, cooked, and served by actual red-headed folks (no hair dye!). Cute little place.

Tampa, on the other hand, has a much better beer scene. Ybor City has a lot of good bars to choose from. Check out the New World Brewery, which although they no longer actually brew, still serves dozens upon dozens of domestics as well as Belgians, both in bottles as well as ON TAP!. Also see Tampa Bay Brewing. It's been a few years, but I'd enjoy Tampa again in a heartbeat, and it's WAY better than Orlando, by a longshot.