Image courtesy of B Cups
One of the joys of living in – or visiting – Florida is the poolside bar at a hotel or resort.
Few activities are more pleasurable during our brutal hot summers than sipping a cold beer just a few feet away from a cooling dip in the water.
Except that, at least for the craft beer aficionado, the beer usually sucks.
Most hotel and resort pool bars just don’t seem to get it.
There might be a “crafty” beer or two from one of the big brewers, or even a tap from one of the larger craft breweries, but I can’t recall ever sitting at one, looking at the beer list or tap handles, and thinking, “Wow, this place serves some awesome craft beer.”
Some are doing better. At the BEECH bar in the Hilton Bonnet Creek near Orlando, for example, the beer list currently includes Cigar City’s Invasion Pale Ale, and they serve cans of Jai Alai from there as well, along with New Belgium’s Sunshine Wheat. But otherwise, it’s macrobrews and macro-imports.
Craft beer has made significant inroads into other venues where it once was unusual to find, such as casual dining restaurants, cruise ships and casinos, but the typical Florida pool bar still lags behind.
Why can’t poolside bars up their beer quality?
I suspect there might be misconception involved. Perhaps food and beverage managers worry craft beer won’t sell because it’s not “light” enough to be enjoyed in the sunshine. Not the case. At one time, the craft movement may have been dominated by high-alcohol, bitter IPAs and sticky sweet stouts, but that was years ago.
That argument doesn’t hold water anymore because less oppressive styles are now more common, such as saisons, goses, session IPAs, and hefeweizens, which offer a refreshing alternative to the nearly tasteless and ubiquitous, mass-produced light pilsners. (Not that pilsners are a bad thing; some craft breweries are offering great versions of that style, but without rice or corn and more attention to creating a delicious beer).
Or maybe there’s a degree of snootiness on the part of the craft-beer consumer because pool bars can’t supply an essential ingredient in the proper enjoyment of a finely made beer – proper glassware. Glass is not allowed on the pool deck, after all, for obvious reasons. Either it’s straight out of the can or a flimsy plastic cup that does nothing to enhance the aroma and flavor of the beer .
So what can the craft beer fan do? First, let the resort or hotel’s bar managers know that you’d like better beers to be available for poolside. Be specific. If enough customers ask for it, they might just order it.
Or, alternatively, bring your own. Though drinking your own brew at the bar might be frowned upon, most places don’t mind if you bring your own poolside, as long as it’s not in a bottle or drunk out of a glass.
The way to get around that is to purchase some B Cups for your beer. These specially designed plastic beer cups are more than a step above the red party cups and flimsy clear plastic containers served by the bartender.
Though engineered to especially complement pale ales and IPAs, these new-to-the-market containers enhance the aroma and flavor of nearly any beer poured into them.
Don’t believe me? I’ll give one of you a chance to try them out and report back. Just leave a comment below about, well, anything related to drinking a great beer outdoors: the best craft beer selection you’ve seen at a pool bar, a beach bar with a view and an extensive taplist, drinking a stout you packed to the top of a mountain – you name it.
On Sunday, June 28, at noon, Monday, June 29, at noon, I’ll use a random number generator to choose a commenter to win a four-pack of B Cups to be shipped to you, hopefully to arrive by the Fourth of July weekend. So keep your eyes peeled for an incoming email that day.
UPDATE: A winner has been chosen, and a four-pack of B Cups will be on its way to him soon. Thanks for playing, and if you still want some, information on purchasing them is on the way.
If you don’t want to wait, you can order B Cups here, or pick them at one of the Tampa Bay area locations on this map. Be sure to call ahead – they go quickly once they are stocked.
Cheers!
This post has been sponsored by the manufacturer of the B Cup, but all opinions are my own.
Also, big thanks to Amanda of WheresAmanda.com, a self-proclaimed foodie with travel tendencies and a slight affinity for running, wine and craft beer, who helped answer a few questions I had while writing this post.
Would love to check out these BCups sitting poolside with a SwampHead Wild Nigjt or Stump Knocker
Disney is doing their part and uping the poolside beer list. Wilderness Lodge has (December) Jai Lai and 420 on draft as well as some Cigar City cans. Since I travel for work and always try to stay at the same brand (Hilton) I talk with bartenders and management at hotels that have bad tap lists. I also always comment on their beer selection when they send me a survey.
I hammered Disney for decades. Hell the last time I had a serious conversation with a bar manager the family that owns Bold City was sitting at the bar with me, awesome way to meet folks in the Florida scene.
Love sitting either poolside or lakeside drinking a nice cold beer!
Nothing beats a session IPA on a hot day by the pool. My current jam has been New Belgium’s Slow Ride. Crisp, hoppy, delicious, without getting too boozy, so that I can enjoy a few and not be crunk drunk. And I agree about the pool bar scene, which is why I almost always pack my own in a little cooler.
Nice idea! There are plenty of great beers that would be fantastic while hanging around a pool bar. Also good for those home pools!
We are always on the lookout for locally brewed beers when we go out. We enjoy drinking craft beers especially in the lovely Florida weather. How could you go wrong with these cups? Would love to try them to pour my favorite local beer into and enjoy in the great Florida sun!
I love the idea of these cups! Not only would they be great to have at a resort, but I would love them for the house too. Looks like the perfect thing for a summer BBQ!
Hmm…I might just get off my chair and into the pool if my beer can come with!
I love to drink a craft beer while swimming in our pool!
I really enjoy a beer fresh out of a growler.
Some of the best brews are made in Florida.
These would really up my theme park parking-lot drinking game.
I’ve been using those thin-plastic wineglasses at the beach for my beer for years (note — do not use while camping for coffee. They’ll melt). Having something designed specifically for beer is pretty appealing, but I haven’t ordered any yet because I’m a #cheapskate. SEND ME THE B-CUPS, GERARD.
B cups would look great by my pool get a way when not in the 100 degree brew houge/garage
Will be enjoying some cold craft beer by the pool in West Palm Beach next month for Davecation!
I drink naked at the community pool and they always yell at me for drinking my beer out of a shaker pint. I know, right? B cups would be a much more preferable way to enjoy a beer… they sell out so fast I haven’t been able to purchase them.. I believe I should win some. thank you for listening.
Wish they would branch up to orlando! could use some of these on my pool days!
They are available online, Bob G. The link is in the post.
I agree that most poolside bars don’t have the best beer selections but I discovered something a while back from a server. If you ask, they often have more selections at the larger inside hotel/restaurant bar and will gladly get them and bring them outside to you in a plastic cup of course. Also, when I am at home I primarily drink beer by the pool or outside and don’t want to risk broken glassware so I’m glad to see improvements in clear plastic-ware.
Gerard,
Great post (as usual) – I’d certainly be willing to try out the “B” cups this summer as I plan to have at least a dozen poolside jaunts (including Ashville) where craft beer will be consumed.
Keep up the great writing and reporting!
Carol
I love a fresh, cold IPA while chilling poolside but the primo outdoor experience for me has always been getting a bonfire started and sipping a big, roasty stout.
You can keep your sticks and burnt marshmallows because they’re all in my glass!
I was in Playa del Carmen in April and by accident stumbled upon a Craft Beer Fest at the Blue Parrot called Soy Cerveza. Good thing was that a portion of the bar/venue was on the beach so I enjoyed a ton of Mexican craft beer that day while digging my feet in the sand and enjoying the Mexican sun. 🙂 Cheers (at the festival/beach https://instagram.com/p/1GavWLHSxT/ )
I once played beer pong On a raft in my pool with ten fidy. It wasn’t good.
That being said I have often spoke of the lack of proper plastic beer ware. Your product seems perfect. Pretty please let me try it
Nothing better than drinking a weiss or wheat beer outdoors in Florida during the summer, and even better if its in a B Cup!
I love a Kolsch, Pilsner, or Blonde Ale in, at, or near the water! More substance than the typical macros, but yet good in the heat. I suspect there’s also a cost/profit-margin consideration, but I agree, I’d love to see more craft at said bars. In fact, I have left some bars because of the “generic” beer selection.
The best place I’ve had a craft beer outside was at Universal Studios in the Harry Potter area. US upped the bar on theme park brews: all the HP themed beers are specially made for US by Florida Brewing Company. I especially love the Hoghead Red
April…Can we hold hands and sing Kumbaya for a minute?
I was at Uni earlier this month. Specifically in Diagon Alley and had the pleasure of trying Wizards Brew. Being a Potterhead I was quite literally in nirvana the entire time. I’m not much of a dark beer drinker but I downed two pints of it that night. I may just have to buy a season pass so I can get in to sample some of the other selections.
Is there anywhere outside the park to purchase the exact beers sold there under another label?
I’m pretty sure they are exclusive to the parks, Amanda, but as April said, they are brewed by Florida Beer Co. in Cape Canaveral. The next time you sail out of the port, get there early, swing by the tasting room and ask if they have something similar on tap. Thanks again for the help!
Nothing compares to enjoying a cold Jai Alai or a home brew on the lanai next to my pool. It would be even better if I didn’t have to worry about a glass breaking.