At least these festival-goers in Cleveland know there's some craft beer in Florida.
After a week’s hiatus, Beer Bites returns. I spent last weekend at the Bluegrass and Beer Festival in Keystone, Colorado, and what a great time it was! Even though this Florida boy was gulping air at 9,300 feet, the sunshine and mid-70s was a welcome respite from the stifling heat and humidity we endure in August.
Naturally, there was plenty of great beer, but I had too many conversations that went along these lines:
Festival-Goer: “Where you from?”
Me: “Florida.”
FG: “Yeah I (lived in/visited) Florida. Not much good beer there, is there?
Me: “When did you (live there/visit)?”
FG: “1995.”
Me: (Long spiel about how the craft beer scene is booming here, ticking off a list of breweries and bars, festivals, etc.)
FG: “Wow. I did not realize all that.”
What I’m trying to say is that, when we travel outside our state, we must all be craft beer ambassadors and spread the word about the great things happening here. Otherwise, we don’t get no respect, no respect at all. *tugs ties, silently apologizes to Rodney Dangerfield.*
On to Beer Bites.
Now You Can Be Big Brother
How would you like to check out the crowd at your local watering hole without leaving home? Thanks to a Central Florida company, it’s now possible. MyCrowdCam.com has installed webcams at (currently) seven Orlando-area bars, clubs and restaurants. The cameras post snapshots of the crowd, updated every five minutes, that can be accessed on the website. Now you can find out if the place is hopping or Deadsville before you put on your beer goggles. Of course, if you tell your spouse that you’re going to the bar for a drink or two, you’d best show up. And behave. There are perks too, including a free beer or soda through August when you show the barkeep a logo from MyCrowdCam.
Your Own Personal Beer Bong
OK, I know it’s crappy beer, but I find this hilarious.
A Really Good Trip
Lee Roy Selmon’s is giving away a round-trip for two to the Great American Beer Festival. Does it come with barbecue nachos? More details here.
The Chronicles Continue
Dunedin Brewery will release the third chapter of its IPA Chronicles on Thursday. No, it’s not a book; it’s a beer. More here.
Get on the Bus to Take Me to Brews
Swamp Head Brewery has arranged a field trip of sorts. A bus will take a group from the Gainesville brewery on Saturday for a pub crawl of some Jacksonville craft beer hot spots. It will leave at 1 p.m. and return about 12 hours later. More here.
Spread Your Wings and Eat
Oh, I so wish I could make it to this event. Dunedin House of Beer is holding Wing Fest on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. The bar is rounding up wings from various Dunedin restaurants, and for $15 you can get all you can eat and any draft from the rail. Taho Fox will provide the music. More here.
Beer Pairing
On Monday, the Independent Bar and Café will feature the beers of Cigar City Brewing at its first monthly beer dinner. Cost is $45. More here.
Baseball and Brews
Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter will hold Baseball & Brews on Saturday. Admission includes a souvenir tasting mug, 20 beers for tasting AND a minor-league battle on the diamond between the Bradenton Marauders and the Jupiter Hammerheads. More here.
That’s it for this week’s Beer Bites.
I’ll strive to do it again next week, but I’m in the midst of moving plus I’m leaving Thursday for the 2011 Beer Bloggers Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Here’s to hoping I won’t have to engage in as many “Florida has good beer” conversations there, but I’m ready to do so if called upon.
Please email trips4beer@gmail.com with any ideas or story tips. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Until next time, Florida, remember: We are Here! We are Beer!
Don’t forget ” Fruit In The Room” at Cigar City Brewing next Sat.
Love your updates. The Swamphead pub crawl sounds like a lot of fun, if only I’d known a little sooner. Such is life. I’ve found that many beer people hold the belief that Florida is a wasteland for craft beer. We’re getting better every day!
Cheers!
Thanks, Dale.
The problem is that until the bottle law was changed 11 or 12 years ago, Florida WAS a craft beer wasteland, expect for some notable exceptions like the Cock & Bull in Sarasota and Mr. Dunderbak’s in Tampa. A lot of people who haven’t been here since those days still believe it’s that way, until a Florida craft-beer lover brings them up to speed.