We've all got our favorite places to enjoy a brew — neighborhood joints close to home or work. But the Bay area, and the beer world at large, have more to offer than the comfort of your local pub.
Yes, sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name. But there are other times when you just want to find that little-known craft-brewed Flemish red from Texas or drink a beer from every continent or down a few pints of something Belgian.
Here's a primer on the places in the Bay area that have the best selection, most diverse taps or hard-to-find paraphernalia. These businesses are temples to the amber art whose acolytes transform beer from a refreshing beverage to an obsessive hobby. For everyone who worships the world's oldest alcoholic beverage, pilgrimages are recommended.
You want to know beer? Get to know these places.
BOTTLES
Beer World Even with its confused layout and occasional pockets of old product, this unassuming converted convenience store manages to surprise customers with an amazing array of brews that are almost impossible to find in Florida, especially high-end limited bottlings from American craft-brewers. 2144 Ridge Road, Largo, 727-588-1577.
Beverage Castle A big selection of Belgians, along with a lot of everything else, is combined with an often knowledgeable staff and great storage techniques. Staffers put together sampler packs for novices, and there is a huge selection of singles. Prices can be a tad high. 11730 N. 56th St., Tampa, 813-985-0455.
Mr. Dunderbak's Helmed by local homebrew supporter and beer guru J.B. Ellis, Dunderbak's has become a destination beer joint with over 20 frequently changing taps and 300 different bottles devoted to both classic European styles and esoteric American craft brews. And the German food is darn tasty. 2222 University Square Mall, Tampa, 813-977-4104.
Shep's Deli A sandwich shop and converted convenience store that just happens to have a multitude of coolers devoted to beer. There're lots of singles and a deep Belgian and craft-brew selection. 2001 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-823-6565.
Total Wine & More This chain store comes with the perils and advantages of big-box retailing: good prices, great organization, often unknowledgeable service and wide but not deep selection. If you're looking for straightforward items, the prices are hard to beat. 1720 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-350-9601.
World of Beer All and only about the beer. Huge selection, well-organized, smart and interested staff and a goodly array of glassware make this small outlet worth the drive from anywhere in the Bay area. 2809 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, 727-797-6905.
World of Beer Just like the store in Clearwater, but with more room and a bar. They do cheat a little at this location, with the addition of a small wine list as a sop to non-beer drinkers. Sellouts! 9524 W. Linebaugh, Tampa, 813-852-2337.
BREWERIES
Dunedin Brewery The biggest and baddest on the block when it comes to Bay-area brewing, Dunedin is the one-stop shop for anyone interested in beer. The brewers distribute their beers around Florida, coordinate a local homebrew club and have a kick-ass brewpub on the premises featuring regular live music and serviceable bar food. They're the beer-world triple threat! 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, 727-736-0606.
Saint Somewhere Brewing Co. Not usually open for visitors. Call ahead. 1441 Savannah Ave., Unit E, Tarpon Springs, 813-503-6181.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company Now in Centro Ybor, TBBC has been serving up exceptional house-made brews for 10 years. Nine taps dispense BrewCo's own stuff, but you should also be sure to sample the one cask-conditioned beer they always have available. The food is surprisingly good — especially anything with beer as a main ingredient. 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor, 813-247-1422.
BARS
The Independent Maybe the snazziest beer bar in the Bay area, with expert bartenders and a brew selection that leans heavily toward classic European styles. 29 Third St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-820-9514.
Mellow Mushroom MM may be a chain pizza place, but it's always had a devotion to American microbrews. Both locations feature a healthy bottle list and over 20 taps, most connected to moderate or rare drafts. 11955 Sheldon Road, Tampa, 813-926-3600 and 10959 Causeway Blvd., Brandon, 813-685-1122 or mellowmushroom.com.
Mr. Dunderbak's See above. 2222 University Square Mall, Tampa, 813-977-4104.
New World Brewery With a walled-in beer garden and casual atmosphere, New World (which does not brew beer anymore) is a relaxing spot to enjoy a couple dozen exciting drafts and a fairly wide bottle selection. 1313 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa, 813-248-4969.
Tank's Taproom A truly astounding 45 different taps spread amongst American and European brews — with occasional surprisingly rare selections — makes Tank's the king of draft beer in Tampa. 13150 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-961-BEER.
BREW IT YOURSELF
Beer and Winemaker's Pantry There is a wide selection of kits and shortcut ingredients, but the store is mostly devoted to winemaking. 9200 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, 727-546-9117.
Brewshack The best selection of brewing materials in the Bay area, but then again, it's also the only serious brew shop around. If you can't find what you're looking for, or don't know what you're doing, just ask. The person behind the counter might even pull out his or her own brew to show you the glory of hard work. 4025 W. Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-885-4544.
Dunedin Brewer's Guild There's a lot to be said for a homebrew club sponsored by an actual brewery. Besides the regular meetings, DBG also sponsors frequent events and tastings. dunedinbrewersguild.com.
Tampa Bay BEERS (Beer Enthusiasts Enjoying Real Suds) Currently meeting at Mr. Dunderbak's the first Tuesday of every month, BEERS is home to two Beer Judge Certification Program master level judges. That's a big deal; there's only one other master judge in Florida. tampabaybeers.org.
BEER WEBSITES
beeradvocate.com, ratebeer.com, pubcrawler.com All of these websites rely on customer ratings for beers, bars, retail stores and brewpubs. They tend to attract a devoted following, and the people who post are often well-informed and concerned about the beer community. All are great ways to find beer joints here in the Bay area or when traveling, although pubcrawler.com is much less extensive.
This article appears in Oct 17-23, 2007.