Lots of news and events this week for the Florida craft beer scene, so let’s get right to it.
Award winners
The Florida Brewers Guild released its lists of the winners in the recent Best Florida Beer Championships. Swamp Head Brewery in Gainesville took gold and silver medals in the Best of Show for Blackwater Floridian Dark Ale and Smoke Signal, respectively. Pensacola Bay Brewery won the bronze for its Banyon Brown. Here’s the complete list.
In the homebrewers competition, Thomas Crawford won gold for his St. Alfonzos Pecan, Richard Etshman took silver for his Pumpkin Spice Dessert Ale, and the bronze went to Eric Koenig’s Hop Grenade. Here’s that list.
More C-R-E-D for F-L-A
Beer Advocate release its lists of top 100 beers for various regions, and the Sunshine State dominated its list, with 36 of the beers from Florida, 34 of those from Tampa’s Cigar City Brewing. See the list here.
Get on your bikes and ride!
Speaking of Cigar City, the award-winning craft brewer is the main sponsor for Saturday’s third annual Cigar City Brewing Twilight Criterium and Festival. “Criterium” means “bicycle racing.” Read all about it at the Creative Loafing website.
Bon Beer-age
Beer Advocate announced this week that it has entered into a partnership with Bon Beer Voyage, a beer touring company run by a Boynton Beach couple. The outfit has several upcoming tours this year, including Ireland, Belgium and St. Augustine.
Festivals this weekend
- The Destin Beer Festival: Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Destin Wine World. $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
- The 15th annual Greater Gator Beer Festival: Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Magnolia Park in Gainesville. $20 in advance, $30 online, $35 at the gate.
Other events
- Central Florida Home Brewers Belgium Express: Saturday from 11:45 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Tour begins and ends at Fiddler’s Green in Winter Park. Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 day of the tour.
- Mr. Beery’s Bell’s Beer Circus: Circus runs Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. Bell’s Beer Total Tap Takeover continues through closing. Free. 2645 Mall Drive, Sarasota. (941)343-2854.
- Food-beer pairing dinner: Sunday at 7 p.m., with Chef Mo from Taj Mahal Curry in New Port Richey, at The Wine Toad, 14251 Powell Road, Spring Hill. (352) 796-WINE. Cost is $25.
- Big Hop Weekend: Friday to Monday, Abraxas Lounge, Miami Beach.
- Orlando Brewing Maibock Release and Toga Party: Saturday, Orlando Brewing, Orlando.
- Pour House Tampa 1st Anniversary Party: Saturday, 1 to 11 p.m. Pour House Tampa.
Craft Beer Bar Discovery of the Week
Spooky’s Black Cat Café and Milk District Marketplace in Orlando advertises on its website that it serves more than 100 beers, and the food is pretty awesome, too, according to my friend Sean Nordquist, who ordinarily knows what he’s talking about when it comes to such things.
Reminder: Please use our free interactive calendar to promote your upcoming craft beer events. The link’s on top of the Beer in Florida home page.
That’s it for Beer Bites this week. Feel free to email trips4beer@gmail.com with any ideas or story tips.
Until next time, Florida, remember: We are here! We are Beer!
