In the heyday of craft beer, hipsters (as they were called in the ancient 2010s) would line up for hours outside breweries waiting for new releases. Nowadays, people will only wait hours for beer if it comes with a meet and greet with their favorite weatherman.
Last year, at one of multiple tastings for Crooked Thumb’s “Rule #7” citrusy IPA, fans waited four extra hours to meet the man who made the rule, Denis Phillips. The iconic WFTS meteorologist’s Rule #7, “Don’t freak out unless I’m freaking out,” has been around since 2004 when hurricane Charley struck the Bay Area.
After Hurricane Irma hit in 2017, the suspenders-sporting weatherman was honored with his very own beer. And just before hurricane season starts again, he’ll grace fans at Crooked Thumb with that TV-worthy smile for at least a couple of hours this weekend.
Rule #7″ Beer Release and Meet & Greet with Denis Phillips
Time Sun., May 24, 3-5 p.m.
Location Crooked Thumb Brewery, 555 10th Ave. S, Safety Harbor
This article appears in May 07 – 13, 2026.