June looks like it will be a hoppy month in Florida for lovers of Humulus lupulus, also know as “hops.”
A pair of festivals in the Tampa Bay area will showcase IPAs and other beers crafted to maximize the characteristics of the hops flowers, used in the brewing process to impart aromas and bitterness, and help to preserve the brew.
First up will be the Dunedin Brewery’s India Pale Ale Festival 2011 on Saturday, June 4, beginning at 7 p.m. This event will be similar to its Stogies and Stout festival in February, but this time all of the brewery’s taps will flow with hoppy brews, including about 10 brewed right on the premises. Guest beers will include Terrapin Beer Co.’s Hopsecutioner, Cigar City Brewing Twigs and Berry (a cedar-aged IPA with juniper berries) and even some of coveted Bell’s Hopslam.
Admission of $30 in advance includes a sampling cup for generous pours of the offerings, snacks and live music. Food will be available for purchase. Get your tickets ASAP; the event will sell out.
Then on June 18 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa, the Hoptomic Bitter Beer & Food Festival 2011 will be the place for the pursuit of hoppyness. Beer distributor JJ Taylor is throwing what looks to be a great bash that features not only hoppy beers, but a variety of complementary – and complimentary – food samples provided by local artisan restaurants, specialty grocers and craft beer bars.
The major sponsor is a little brewery out of Chico, California, that you may have heard about: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. And the beer list is phenomenal, with more likely to be added.
Tickets are $58.50 and can be purchased over the phone by calling 813-229-STAR, online or at the Straz Center box office. Admission includes beer and food samples, and live music. You might want to consider booking a hotel in downtown Tampa: The Hoptomic website mentions something about 5 oz. pours!
