The Ale and the Witch Tap House grand opening in Downtown St. Pete – Thursday, February 3rd

As the craft beer renaissance continues nationally, so does the growth in Tampa Bay. Following the successes of craft beer bars like Willard's Tap House and The Pour House, there is a new destination for craft beer lovers in Downtown St. Pete.

Nestled in the patio area of the Tower Plaza in downtown St. Petersburg, The Ale and the Witch has opened, bringing 32 taps of American craft beer with it. With a good crowd for a soft opening on January 26th, and a packed house expected for the official Grand Opening on February 3rd, owner Brett Andress seems to have already captured quite a following.

The Ale and the Witch occupies a historically unsuccessful spot in the patio are of the Tower Plaza. A coffee and sandwich shop and a French crepe restaurant were the last two tenants in the past five years, and the space across the courtyard that once was home to Zapata's Cantina still sits empty.

This article appears in Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2011.