Beer in Florida

You can have your label design next to these

Fancy yourself an artist who always wanted your work on a beer bottle? Well, if you live in the Tampa Bay area, here’s your chance.

Cigar City Brewing and Hampton Arts Management are inviting artists to submit designs for the Tampa brewery’s 2011 release of Tocobaga Red Ale. The top 10 entries will be exhibited at the craft brewery’s tasting room from June 3 to July 10, 2011, and guest judge Todd Smith, Tampa Museum of Art director, will choose the winner.

If that’s not enough to awaken your muse, consider this:  The winning artist will receive $500 and a free case of Tocobaga Red.

Beer writer Sean Nordquist describes the beer:

“Tocobaga Red Ale is a deep-colored amber ale with hop flavor and aromas dominating and a subtle caramel malt sweetness to balance in the finish. Only available on draft currently, it comes in at 7.2% ABV. and is quickly becoming a favorite not only of regulars to the tasting room, but of the brewery staff as well. Tocobaga pours a slightly hazy reddish-amber color with an off-white head and great lacing. The aroma is amazing – hoppy and citrusy with tropical fruit notes like pineapple and hints of sweet caramel malt too. For a red ale, there is a surprising and delicious hop bitterness one would associate more with an IPA, almost West Coast style, but there is balance, too. The mouthfeel is excellent and very dry. I am not usually a big fan of red ales in general, but this is really, really good.”

The label design contest is open to all artists living or working in the Tampa Bay area (Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties).

Digital submissions must be in by 5 p.m. on February 25, 2011. Mailed submissions must be postmarked by February 18, 2011.

For more information and complete contest rules, go to http://www.hamptonartsmanagement.org/ccb/.

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