Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Tag archive

Cigar City Brewing

Toast of the Bay/Dump Into the Bay: Cigar City, City of Tampa; Eric Lynn, new Pier designers

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

With a week as chock full of local political news as the previous one, there are several candidates for the Toast of the Bay and Dump Into the Bay. This being the first time I’ve handled this feature, I gave myself some flexibility and have several Toasts and Dumps. A Toast to Joey Redner on the sale of his Cigar City Brewing to Colorado craft beer company called Oskar Blues. The Tampa Bay Times estimates the deal could be worth more than…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Jeff Houck: Growler ban was full of gas

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

In the beer world, a growler is a vessel used for transporting freshly brewed beer. The legend goes that the name came from the sound of carbon dioxide escaping from beneath the lid of the metal pails used in the 1930s to transport beer. These days, growlers have evolved into glass jugs. The escaping gas? It’s more political in nature. For three years, Florida’s craft beer proponents fought to get the Legislature to change state law to allow craft breweries…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Cigar City comes in 5th at 2015 U.S. Open Beer Championship

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Cigar City Brewing, the godfather of the Bay Area’s well-documented and booming craft beer scene, is garnering evermore international acclaim. This past weekend, the Tampa microbrewery was recognized as 2015’s fifth best overall brewery at the U.S. Open Beer Championship. Over 4,000 beers and ciders, comprising 90 different styles of drink, were sent in to judges from Canada, England and the U.S. for a blind taste-test. The competition, which is open to professional breweries as well as award-winning home-brewers, saw…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Dana Young and Chris Sprowls to go on ‘Growler Freedom Tour’ on Wednesday

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Beginning on Wednesday, craft beer enthusiasts will finally be able to purchase 64-ounce growlers at the establishment of their choice in Florida. It’s a big moment for the burgeoning craft beer industry in Florida and its allies in Tallahassee, who had seen their efforts to repeal the unique ban in recent years thwarted by the “Big Beer” establishment in Tallahassee. To celebrate the occasion, two Tampa Bay area state House Republicans who worked on overturning the ban, Tampa state Rep.…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Compromises led to passage this year of growler bill

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Although craft beer enthusiasts are happy to be able to finally live in a state that can now offer them 64-ounce growlers, the legislation was always about more than the selling of a half-gallon sized jug. One could say the half-gallon growler had become the political pawn in what had led to a fierce battle over the very complex laws regarding the manufacturing, distribution and selling of beer that have existed since Prohibition. Although there were a number of compromises…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Lawmakers pass bill to aid craft brewers, end growler war

in Top Headlines by

Florida’s “growler war” over craft beer may be ending under legislation passed by the state House Friday and ready to go to Gov. Rick Scott. Senate Bill 186, already passed in the Senate, lifts the problematic requirement that craft breweries operate as tourist attractions, a holdover from the days when the law was intended to benefit Tampa’s Busch Gardens. It also allows the breweries to sell beer in the popular 64-ounce, refillable “growler.” Current law allows 32- and 128-ounce growlers,…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Go to Top