CL regularly presents focused listings of the best dining options in Tampa Bay’s neighborhoods. This week, we’re doing things a little differently by giving you a guide to some of the best craft and import beer bars and brew pubs in Tampa Bay.
Brew Garden 904 N McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, 727-797-6622 or thebrewgarden.com
Brew Garden sets itself apart from many of the local beer bars by specializing in European imports. You’ll still find some American craft-brews on tap and in bottles, but the focus is definitely on Belgian classics.
Cider House 1752 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-822-7400 or ciderhouse.us
This cozy pub is just a few blocks from Tropicana Field, with 80 beers that make it a no-brainer for brew-loving Rays fans who want a change from the usual stadium-adjacent sports bars.
Cigar City Brewing 3924 West Spruce St., Tampa, 813-348-6363 x206 or cigarcitybrewing.com
You probably won’t want to hang out for hours in the somewhat sterile setting of Cigar City’s tasting room, but it’s well worth taking a set and downing a few pints of one of Tampa’s (and the world’s) best beer when you come in to fill your growler.
Datz Delicatessen 2616 S Macdill Ave., Tampa, 813-831-7000 or datzdeli.com
Although Datz still suffers from multiple personality disorder — is it a deli, or a restaurant, or a bar? — the beer program here fits into whatever guise the place has on at the moment. There’s a healthy selection of interesting beer by the bottle, sold at prices more geared to the retail market than bar consumption.
This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2010.