Beer aficionados seeking handcrafted brews, from rich malts to golden ales, must plan a trip to Tampa, Florida. While most travelers are seeking sun, sea and solitude, Tampa is also home to a thriving craft brewery scene. Whether you’re looking for a bit of respite after an adventure-filled day or spending a lively night out in the historic Ybor City, Tampa offers a wide selection of craft beers for all walks of life.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to grab your beer stein and hit up six of the best craft breweries in Tampa Bay.
Zydeco Brew Werks
Located on the iconic 7th Avenue in Ybor City, Zydeco Brew Werks should be the first stop for any beer lover. Combining a craft brewery with a New Orleans-inspired eatery, Zydeco Brew Werks offers a relaxed yet fun atmosphere where guests can dine, throwback a few cold brews and listen to live jazz music. The oysters come highly recommended if you plan to dine in, but of course, we’re here to talk about the beer.
Housemade – you can see the brewing drums from the bar – and featuring a variety of flavors, some of Zydeco Brew Werks most popular brews include the Pablo, a quietly dank IPA with notes of citrus, Savage, a golden ale with baked-in malt tones, and Easy Rider Red, a Vienna-style lager with a sweet bready taste.
Coppertail Brewing Co.
Another beer hot spot in Ybor City is Coppertail Brewing Co. A production brewery and tasting room, Coppertail Brewing Co operates under the motto of Florida Inspired. Tampa Brewed. The brewery’s passion for crafting Florida-inspired beers also extends into the local community with support for a variety of organizations such as Tampa Bay Watch and Walk Bike Tampa. Brewery tours take place on Saturday and Sunday and cost $10 but that price includes a souvenir pint glass and a single beer token for any of the beers on tap. Just speak to one of the bartenders and they’ll get your tour scheduled.
Now you’re probably wondering – what about the beer? Well, Coppertail Brewing Co. offers up a diverse list of flavors that are sure to please even the pickiest of palates. Sample the Free Dive, a malt-hop combination bursting with citrus and pine, or try the Night Swim, a dark and rich porter with underlying chocolate flavors.
Angry Chair Brewing, LLC.
Just north of Downtown Tampa, Angry Chair Brewing is a 1,900-square-foot brewery that specializes in stouts paired with a snackable plates menu. The inspiration behind the brewery comes from constantly wanting to push the limits and evolving its stout flavor profiles. Dine on their housemade pickle dip or fried green tomato caprese while sampling some of their popular beers such as German Chocolate Cupcake Stout whose name says it all, and Rocky Road, an imperial milk stout with the perfect balance of sweet and bitter.
The Brew Bus – Tampa Bay
When University of Colorado student, Anthony Derby, found himself unable to travel to multiple breweries on the same day due to a lack of convenient transportation, he came up with the idea for The Brew Bus and the rest is history! Founded in 2012, The Brew Bus is an on-the-go brewery that not only handcrafts its own beers but hosts public and private tours of select Tampa Bay breweries. There’s even a tasting room in Seminole Heights thanks to the growing popularity of The Brew Bus and the demand for its flavorful beers.
Signature staples The Brew Bus is known for include the You’re My Boy, Blue!, a fruit beer with notes of blueberry, Last Stop, a highly drinkable American IPA, and Rollin’ Dirty, a sweet and malty Irish Red Ale.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company
With two locations in either Ybor City or Westchase, the Tampa Bay Brewing Company is a hot spot for locals and travelers seeking craft beer in Tampa. Beyond developing high-quality beers, the brewery is committed to advocating for Florida’s natural habitats and supporting Tampa Bay’s wildlife and marine life. Both of the brewery’s taprooms offer a rotating menu of new and seasonal beers, and signature favorites are on tap all year long. Fun fact – new beers are released weekly on Thursdays at 4 PM.
While there’s a large selection of beers to sample, some of the must-try flagship flavors include Reef Donkey, a dry-hopped American pale ale with lemon-lime notes, Old Elephant Foot, a hoppy American IPA, and Last Days of Summer, a mango-peach sour ale with banana notes.
Florida Cane Distillery
Rounding off the list is the Florida Cane Distillery. Although it’s not technically a brewery, this place has charisma and charm that you just can’t pass up. The distillery is located on 15th Street in Tampa and offers tours, tastings, distillery renting, and a hands-on distilling class. Featuring a wide selection of vodka, rum, whiskey, and moonshine, all handmade on site, the distillery takes pride in utilizing Florida-grown produce. Be sure to try the Florida Cane Premium Vodka, a smooth and sweet sugar cane vodka, El Canto Silver Rum, a white rum with banana and citrus aromas, and Red Drum Bourbon Whiskey, a spicy, high rye bourbon aged two years in oak barrels.
