One of the greatest advantages of many of the Bay area’s coolest neighborhoods — St. Pete’s Grand Central and EDGE districts, Tampa’s Seminole and Tampa Heights, downtown Dunedin — is their walkability. Everything you could want (or want to drink) is just a stroll away.
There’s another side to that coin, however. When multiple great restaurants, shops and, more to the point, craft breweries are all within a few blocks of one another, it’s easy to get locked into patronizing the same old familiar places, seeing the same old familiar faces. It’s convenient and comfortable, but what might you be missing? Tucked all over the region are single craft breweries, holding their own in their respective neighborhoods and, in all probability, offering something you haven’t tasted yet.
Some weekend soon, fill the car with some friends and go on a little mini-road trip to one or more of these out-of-the-way breweries.
Due to its wide regional distribution, you’re probably familiar with Motorworks’ flagship beers, like its V-Twin Vienna Lager. But if you haven’t visited their home south of the Skyway, it’s definitely worth the trip. This Bradenton brewery is not only home to Florida’s largest beer garden — a killer outdoor event and recreation space featuring bocce, cornhole and even a putting course — but it’s also the perfect place for beer drinkers whose friends maybe aren’t into the whole craft thing. The taproom sports a full lineup of liquor on top of its 30 taps, and Motorworks partners with food trucks for regular service and often offers live entertainment as well. 1014 9th St. West, Bradenton, 941-567-6218, motorworksbrewing.com.
Billing itself as Hernando County’s first full-production craft brewery, Marker 48 is a breezy hour up the road in Weeki Wachee. There’s always something going on in the tasting room and/or beer garden, from live music to events benefiting local causes. Plus, if you’re really looking for a little more to do than hang out at the brewery, you’re in freakin’ Weeki Wachee, home to plenty of attractions (some with fins). 12147 Cortez Blvd., Weeki Wachee, 352-606-2509, marker48.com.
Another brewery and taproom just on the other side of the Sunshine Skyway, Darwin makes some of the most unique and distinctive beers in the area, thanks to brewmaster Jorge Rosabal’s penchant for incorporating South American flavors and ingredients into a wide variety of classic beer styles. A comparatively intimate space, tucked away behind LECOM Park where the Pittsburgh Pirates do their spring training, it’s a wonderful place to take a load off (maybe before or after a baseball game), try some refreshing new profiles and maybe talk beer with the friendly, accommodating staff. 803 17th Ave. W., Bradenton, 941-747-1970, darwinbrewingco.com.
“Laid back” is a pretty accurate way to describe the overall vibe of Pinellas bayside city Safety Harbor, and its sole craft brewery (for the time being) fits that character perfectly. The 6,000-square-foot facility is a renovated ’60s warehouse that formerly hosted an auto body and paint shop; now that space boasts an airy taproom (featuring the now-standard roll-up garage door) and outdoor beer garden in addition to the brewery. It’s a great place to while away a weekend afternoon, or stop in to wet one’s whistle after a day exploring the city’s quirky shops and beautiful green spaces. Crooked Thumb’s Grapefruit Gose has quickly become a local favorite, but the Tangelo Wheat, Chai Porter and others also draw raves, and it seems like there’s always high-quality original live music on tap as well. 555 10th Ave. S., Safety Harbor, 727-724-5953, crookedthumbbrew.com.
One of the Bay area’s newer and perhaps lesser-known breweries, Brooksville reps for its namesake town with a core lineup of brews running from Ashley’s Lemon Ale and Brooksville Blonde to the Galaxy IPA and Lucky’s Milk Stout. The brewery also has a limited but intriguing menu that includes multiple items made with its signature suds. This tripworthy stop had its official grand opening just a few months back, but it’s already making a name for itself not only with its taproom, but through distribution as well — particularly to other independent restaurants around the area. 1320 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, 352-507-5543, brooksvillebrewing.com.
You might not think of Apollo Beach, over on the eastern shores of Tampa Bay, as a hotbed of coolness. But there’s one destination beer drinkers want to keep on their radar: Four Stacks, which features 18 taps and balances the usual craft-brewery taproom feel with more of a neighborhood bar character. At press time, Four Stacks’ tap list included several pales, two porters, a sour, a brown ale and more among the brewery’s own output. They’ve got wine, too, and, like a lot of their peers on this list, plenty of live music. 5469 N. U.S. 41, Apollo Beach, 813-641-2036, fourstacksbrewing.com.
