If you are reading this, you are the lucky recipient of the first Beer Bites Double Issue. I’m leaving next Thursday for the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to cover the 15th annual Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival for my other site, Road Trips for Beer. (Psst. You can win a two-day tasting past here).
This means that I’ll likely be too busy doing, um, research to have the time to put this together next Thursday, so this column will include events for the next two weeks. If something comes up that isn’t included here, please mention it in the comments section or add it to the Beer in Florida interactive events calendar.
Let’s get to it.
Irish Eyes are Crying
Some sad news from our friends at Ticket Sarasota. Longtime Sarasota watering hole The Irish Rover will be pouring its last beers in August. I visited the place a few times when I lived there, and I can say without hesitation that it is the most authentic Irish pub that I’ve been to in the state. The good news is that owner Paul Duffy says he’s looking for a new location to re-open.
But Will There Be a Torch?
The Barlympics Greater Sarasota begins Monday, August 1. Thirty Games, 60 days. That’s all I’m going to tell you here, other than that there are prizes involved. Get the details on the website.
Hit the G-Spot
The folks organizing the Grovetoberfest on October 15 are holding a free beer tasting called “Invasion of the Belgians” on Monday, August 1, at the The Grove Spot in Coconut Grove. RSVPs are required; check out the details here.
South invading the North
No, this isn’t a Civil War re-enactment; it’s cooler than even that. A group of staffers and regulars from World of Beer Sarasota will invade World of Beer Carollwood in Tampa for Dogfish Head Brewery Night on Tuesday, August 2. This is not a secret mission; you can read the details here.
Dinner at the Shipyard
The folks at the Shipyard Emporium in Winter Park are holding their first beer pairing dinner on Thursday, August 4. Each of the four courses will be accompanied by a brew to complement the food. The cost is $35 plus tax and gratuity. More information here.
Muy Bueno!
Padrino’s Cuban Cuisine in Plantation will hold a Cigar City Beer Pairing Dinner on Thursday, August 4, from 7 to 10 p.m. Expect five courses of Cuban cuisine, each with a Cigar City brew specifically chosen to complement the food. Cost is $29 per person, plus tax and gratuity. More information here.
An overdue acknowledgement
The guys behind a new beer app, developed here in Florida, have been asking me to give them a shoutout for a while. I don’t have much of an excuse other than the fact that the “smart phone” I have is a BlackBerry, and no one really acknowledges their existence anymore, so I haven’t been able to test the app. I’ve heard good things about it though, so in an attempt to make amends, I urge you fancy-pants iPhone, iPod and iPad users to attend the official launch part of the Brewski Me! app, taking place Saturday, August 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Orlando Brewing Taproom. There will be happy hour prices, guest taps from Cigar City, Swamphead and Florida Beer Co., and food for purchase from the C&S Brisket Bus, which sounds pretty damn delicious. There will be a group tour of the brewery at 8 p.m., too. More information here.
Down the Road
Gainesville House of Beer will be opening in the next few weeks. “Like” its Facebook page to keep up with the progress.
That’s it for this special jumbo edition of Beer Bites. I’m sure I missed a few things, but at least I tried.
Do or do not. There is no try.
Ah, c’mon Yoda, give me a break!
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Until next time, Florida, remember: We are Here! We are Beer!
