Photo by Chris Fasick



UPDATED: 02/28/20 5:07 p.m.

Get your aspirin and bedside glass of water ready, because Tampa Bay Beer Week—aka TBBW, officially set for March 7-15—is on its way back to give you a taste of some of the most prized beer money can buy.

From brewing competitions, to endless samples, to Cigar City’s highly-anticipated yearly release of its Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, here are all of the beer-centric events—official TBBW events and non-sanctioned ones, too—that Tampa Bay craft brew lovers should attend.

Get links to all of these events below, and get the most up-to-date information via tampabaybeerweek.com.

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February

The Beer Garden Sessions Bell’s Brewing is now the main sponsor for Beer Gardens Sessions at Ybor City’s Crowbar. You can enjoy the showcase of Tampa Bay music, enjoy eats slung by local restaurants and chefs, or just come for the booze. Each Beer Garden Session is slightly different, but it always has great beer to sample. The upcoming installment features musical guests Same Day Orchestra & Louis Junior, Jeff Brawer and Dan Padilla. The next session, set for March 8, features a trio of songwriters: Matt Woods, Lauris Vidal and Kristopher James. Wed. Feb. 19. No cover. 7 p.m. Crowbar, 1812 N. 17th St., Ybor City. crowbarybor.com

Brews, Cheese and Charcuterie Pairing Michael Landis, a World Cheese Judge, pairs five American artisan cheeses along with five 81Bay beers. Time to up your cheese game. Wed. Feb. 19. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. $25. 81Bay Brewing Company, 4465 W. Gandy Blvd. Ste. 600, Tampa. eventbrite.com

Beer is Life Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe is celebrating its third anniversary during Tampa Bay Beer Week. Bottle sharing is on the agenda, along with pours from seven breweries including Civil Society, Great Notion and J. Wakefield Brewing. Sat. Feb. 22. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free admission, bring dough for beer. Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, 2927 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. INFO

Brews and Tunes Channel your inner Bob Ross at this event chock full of art, music and of course—beer. Sip on locally-made brews from 81Bay Brewing Company while you watch certified Bob Ross instructors demonstrate his acclaimed "Wet-on-Wet" painting technique. If painting isn’t your thing, wind down to the tunes of The Hummingbirds’ rustic Americana while you enjoy the nostalgia of Bob Ross’ “Joy of Painting” videos. And after a few brews you’ll definitely feel more inclined to drop money on the Bob Ross merchandise raffle basket. Fri. Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m. Free. 81Bay Brewing Company, 4465 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa. 81baybrewco.com

Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival We love festivals with self-explanatory names. The annual celebration of smoked meats and booze makes its way to downtown St. Petersburg again, this time starting at Park & Rec. Your ticket price includes four BBQ samples, drink specials at every spot, and exclusive party stops at each destination—work off a few calories by traveling from bar to bar on foot. In addition to Park & Rec, participating bars in this year’s Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival include The Avenue Eat & Drink, Crafty Squirrel, The Landing at Jannus and Thirsty First, among many, many more. Sat., Feb. 29. 12 p.m. $20. barcrawl-usa.com

March

Beer Week Brunch Brew Bus in Seminole Heights hosts a self-serve, six-course brunch, with booze, of course. Basic entry begets the entire brunch menu with one house beer or mimosa, but spring for the $40 unlimited beer and mimosas brunch package if you know you’ll be a little thirstier. Sun. March 1. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $25-$40. Brew Bus Brewing, 4101 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. brewbususa.com

The Ultimate Brewer Finally live your dreams as a Food Network judge during Tampa Bay Beer Week’s The Ultimate Brewer competition this March. Local brewers compete in a craft beer battle, in which they have to incorporate two unusual ingredients into their brews (come on, it’s just like “Chopped.”) The winner will be chosen based on a balance of two votes: “Consumer Choice” as chosen by the audience, and the “Pro Panel” chosen by the participating brewers. Tickets include a commemorative sampling glass plus samples of each of the contestants, and a 16-oz. Hidden Springs Ale Works beer. Fri. March 6. 7 p.m. $35, Hidden Springs Ale Works, 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa. eventbrite.com

10th Annual Craft Beer Festival If you’re a Pinellas County resident and don’t feel like crossing the bridge to attend Hidden Springs Ale Works’ The Ultimate Brewer competition, don’t fret—Dunedin is hosting the 10th Annual Craft Beer Festival on the same day when over 50 Sunshine State breweries gather at Edgewater Park for the yearly celebration of locally-made beer, food, music and vendors. The Dunedin House of Beer and HOB Brewing Co. rep their hometown at this Florida-driven craft beer festival. Fri.-Sat. Mar. 6-7. Noon- 11 p.m. Free. Edgewater Park Dunedin, 51 Main St., Dunedin. eventbrite.com

Food, Beer, & Art "Friend"raiser St. Pete’s Flying Boat Brewing Co. teams up with animal conservation nonprofit Florida Wildlife Corridor for the Food, Beer, & Art "Friend"raiser. The theme is “Old Florida,” as the FWC’s mission is to restore Florida’s original habitats while promoting thoughtful growth. Guests can enjoy award-winning craft beer, Cuban food, live art and a continuous screening of “The Last Green Thread,” a short film featuring the recent expedition through wild Florida. The price of admission also includes a raffle ticket for one-of-a-kind wildlife art and photography by local artists. Fri. Mar. 6. 7 p.m. $12. Flying Boat Brewing Co., 1776 11th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. floridawildlifecorridor.org

Florida Brewers Guild Craft Beer Festival The official kickoff to this year’s Tampa Bay Beer Week, and it aims to help raise money for the Florida Brewers Guild, a nonprofit trade association committed to preserving the rights of craft brewers throughout the state. Over 40 Florida breweries will sling their renowned craft beers, as well as samples of new brews. Tickets include a complimentary tasting glass and unlimited samples. Tampa’s Perry Harvey Sr. Park provides great shady areas to pass out under if you’ve had one too many samples. Sat. Mar. 7. 2 p.m. $45. Perry Harvey Sr. Park, 1000 E. Harrison St., Tampa. floridabrewersguild.org

The Brewer’s Ball Attendees get a taste of the Best Florida Beer Championship’s category-winning commercial beers while listening to live music, watching the award ceremony, and getting in on prime raffles. Come thirsty to work your way through the 150 brews on tap. Sun. March 8. Noon-5 p.m. $75-$125. Water Works Park, 1710 N. Highland Ave., Tampa. eventbrite.com

Breakfast Beer Hangover Brunch Pop-Up 81Bay Brewing is hosting a brunch to kick off the first Sunday of TBBW. Get ready for a breakfast beer takeovers and breakfast beer releases from four different breweries with eats provided by Bull Market Tampa. Sun. March 8. Noon-7 p.m. Free admission, bring coin for food and drinks. 81Bay Brewing, 4465 W. Gandy Blvd. Ste. 600, Tampa. INFO

Arkane Aleworks The brewery is holding seven events throughout Tampa Bay Beer Week including the Come to the Darkside(3/9), Super Tart Tuesday(3/10), Arkane in the Membrane (3/1) and Worth the Squeeze(3/12). Stay tuned to Arkane’s social media for more details. Begins Mon. March 9. 2480 E. Bay Dr. #23, Largo. INFO

Malt Culture Podcast Grab a seat and listen to a live show of Malt Culture Podcast where hosts Alex Kidd Stephen Loh and Michael Gabriel explore the “absurd underbelly of the craft beer world.” General admission tickets include entry to the show and first access to Citronious Biggest Triple NEIPA draft and a four-pack. Just a heads up, VIP tickets are already sold out. Mon. March 9. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. $35. Calusa Brewing, 5701 Derek Ave., Sarasota. INFO

Queens of the Brewing Age Bingo Night This inaugural event kicks off with a networking happy hour that’s open to the public from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. and geared toward celebrating and promoting women in the craft beer community. Girls Pint Out Charity Bingo is on the agenda directly after, so keep the good vibes, and brews flowing. Mon. March 9. 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Free. 81Bay Brewing Co., 4465 W. Gandy Blvd. Ste. 600, Tampa. INFO

Gulfport Brewery + Eatery Soft Opening One of the more exciting events on the agenda is the soft opening for Gulfport Brewery + Eatery where the spot pours two brews: a hoppy golden wheat ale and an Irish red ale. Admission includes your first beer and a Gulfport Brewery + Eatery T-shirt. Tues. March 10. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. $20. 3007 Beach Blvd., Gulfport. tampabaybeerweek.com

Beat the Brewers Have you been hoarding seemingly useless beer knowledge for years? If so, this year’s Beat the Brewers event is your time to shine. You and your friends can form teams to see if you can beat some of Tampa’s best craft brewers in a night of both Tampa Bay-based and national beer trivia. And if your team sucks, at least there’s still beer. If you miss this special beer-themed trivia night, you can attend Bus Brew Brewing’s weekly trivia on Tuesdays, which might be a little less cutthroat. Tues. Mar. 10. 7:30 p.m. Free. Brew Brew Brewing, 4101 N. Florida Ave.,Tampa. tampabaybeerweek.com

Brews, Cheese and Charcuterie Pairing Michael Landis, whose job title is “World Cheese Judge,” pairs five American artisan cheeses with five 81Bay beers. Learn a little about how they complement one another, or just listen to the sounds of yourself smacking gourmet cheese and craft beer, the choice is yours. Wed. March 11. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. $25. 81Bay Brewing Company, 4465 W. Gandy Blvd. Ste. 600, Tampa. INFO

Resilience Release Carrollwood Brewery pours Resilience pale ale to support those impacted by Australian bushfires. All Resilience sales will be donated to Wires Wildlife Rescue (stylized “WIRES,”) which is the largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation nonprofit in Australia. The first 50 customers to purchase a Resilience pale ale receive a free Carrollwood draft card for their next visit (only one per customer.) Slide by for a good cause and get in on raffles and $4 jalapeño hushpuppies. Wed. March 11. 3 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Free. Carrollwood Brewing Co., 10047 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa. tampabaybeerweek.com

Craft Beer Junction Most TBBW events are hyper-focused on craft brews that are made right here in Tampa Bay, but Tarpon Springs’ Unrefined Brewery is doing things a little differently this year by teaming up with the London-based distributor Craft Beer Junction to bring a little international flair during this Tarpon Springs tap takeover. Come for tastes of some of the best and hardest to get European beers, and keep up with Unrefined Brewing’s Facebook page to get a first glance of the official tap list. Wed. Mar. 11. Noon. Free. Unrefined Brewing, 312 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. INFO

This is it, what! Oxbow and Half Acre tap takeover w/Camp Lo/Sam E Hues/Louis Junior Coppertail continues embracing music during Tampa Bay Beer Week when old-school, Bronx-based hip-hop duo Camp Lo—featuring Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede, who married rap with funk and jazz on songs like “Luchinie” and “Coolie High”—headlines an Oxbow and Half Acre brewing tap takeover. Thurs. March 12, 8 p.m. $20. Coppertail Brewing Co., 2601 E 2nd Ave., Ybor City. thisisit.bpt.me

Beer & Cheese Pairing Advanced cicerone Ami Parrino is ready to educate beer and cheese lovers on the science of pairing at Brew Bus Brewing. Tickets including a pairing of four beers and cheeses and a guided explanation of how each beer compliments the cheese selection. Thurs. March 12. 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. $30. Brew Bus Brewing, 4101 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. tampabaybeerweek.com

Oh Hoppy Day! A day dedicated to all things IPA. 81Bay debuts four of ‘em along with its Big Gulps Double IPA four-pack cans. Brewery staff also hosts a hop clinic, comparing and contrasting different IPA styles as well as different hop characters. Thurs. March 12. 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Free, bring coin for drinks. 81Bay Brewing Company, 4465 W. Gandy Blvd. Ste. 600, Tampa. INFO

Bottle Drops Two days in a row Hidden Springs will be dropping exclusive bottles. Might want to swing by and snag a few for yourself. Check Hidden Springs’ social media for more details as the date approaches. March 12 and March 13. Hidden Springs Ale Works, 1631 N, Franklin St., Tampa. INFO

Bolero Snort Tap Takeover Tarpon Spring’s Unrefined Brewery hands five of its taps over to Meadowlands, New Jersey’s Bolero Snort Brewing, whose motto is “No BS….just ragin’ good beer.” You can be the judge of that. Thurs. March 12. Noon-9 p.m. Free, bring money for brews. Unrefined Brewing, 312 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. tampabaybeerweek.com

Super Rad Rare Beer Night Craft beer nuts swoon over this event. Ticket cost gets you unlimited pours of rare beers during the event, a commemorative beer glass, a bottle bag and six rare brews. This event is already sold out, which is pretty insane considering the two sessioned six hour event is $325 per person. Thurs. March 12. SOLD OUT. The Orpheum, 1915 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City. INFO

Wake up with Wakefield Pop on your Star Wars pajamas, crowns and your Biggie Smalls attire for the 4th Annual Wake up with Wakefield event. Made Coffee is providing free cold brew from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. to those in line. Vanchetta Food Truck is supplying the eats from 8 a.m.-noon and all attendees can snag pours of brews from designated beer stations all day long. Make sure to bring your own tasting glasses. Just a heads up, 5-ounce pour tickets are limited to 10 per person. Although cash purchases are encouraged, Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe can accept cards. Fri. March 13. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Tickets are $6 each for a 5-ounce pour. Free admission, cash is king for drinks and food. Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, 2927 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. INFO

Hunahpu's Day 2020 Next month, thousands beer lovers from across the country, along with over 100 breweries, gather at Amalie Arena to celebrate the 11th annual Hunahpu's Day—a day marking yearly release of Cigar City Brewing’s prized Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout (there’s a fucking copyright on “Hunahpu’s,” shysters.) Attendees sample some of the world’s rarest and most sought after beers, and tickets are a bit pricey, but at least they get you giant bottles of the coveted imperial stout, which is brewed with chile peppers, cinnamon, vanilla, and cacao nibs (then resold online for ridiculous amounts of money.) This is one of those niche Tampa events that you have to check out at least once if you’ve got the dough. Fri. March 13. 6 p.m. $200. Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa. cigarcitybrewing.com

Barrel Aged Day And another Tampa Bay Beer Week event bites the dust before the festival even kicks off. If you got your $100 ticket before it sold out, enjoy your pours and post on Instagram to give your fellow craft beer loving followers serious FOMO. Fri. March 13. SOLD OUT. St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, 559 Mirror Lake Dr. N., St. Petersburg. INFO

8th Annual Hangover Day Both Tampa and Dunedin locations host 7venth Sun Brewery’s 8th Annual Hangover Day and offer a little hair of the dog via craft brews. Although this year’s theme has not yet been announced, 7venth Sun typically creates small batches of beer that coincide with a broad, food-related theme. Last year’s concept was Donuts and Desserts, and some of the beers produced in response were the Infinity & Jelly Donuts Berliner, Carrot Cake Belgian seasonal and a Raspberry Pistachio imperial sweet stout. Keep an eye out for 2020’s Hangover Day theme announcement on 7venth Sun Brewery’s social media pages. Sat. Mar 14. 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Free, bring money for beer. 1012 Broadway, Dunedin and 6809 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 7venthsun.com

Confection Affection Day Angry Chair Brewing and Cycle Brewing are joining forces at Nebraska Mini-Mart to release three brews on draft and in 22-ounce bottles. Thanks to the loyal craft beer drinking crowd in Tampa Bay, this event is already sold out. Tickets were $155 for a single bottle and $250 for a double bottle allotment. Sat. March 14. SOLD OUT. Nebraska Mini-Mart, 4815 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. INFO

Foeder for Thought Come thirsty to try the over 30 breweries pouring up cold beers throughout the evening. The 7th Annual Foeder for Thought event also features wine, panel discussions and unlimited pours in a commemorative taster glass. Sat. March 14. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. $100. Green Bench Brewing Co., 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg. INFO

O-Town Neighborly Love Orlando’s Playalinda Brewing takes over taps at Tampa’s 81Bay. Slide by to sip some creations from Playalinda and Brix Project. The Hot Rod Hornets provide musical entertainment to make the night out complete. Sat. March 14. Noon-11 p.m. 81Bay Brewing Company, 4465 W. Gandy Blvd. Ste. 600, Tampa. INFO

Brewers Barrel Brunch Coppertail Brewing Co. is hosting a plated brunch serving up exclusive barrel samples and hosting an interactive brewery tour. $35. Sunday, March 15.12:30–4 p.m. Coppertail Brewing Co., 2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa. brewerbarrelbrunch.bpt.me

Bangers and Berliners, Eggs and Kegs Loko Cuisine (stylized “LOKO”) serves a British banger brunch over at Late Start Brewing as the official send off to Tampa Bay Beer Week. The brunch includes four self-serve courses and one beer, wine, coffee, or tea. Late Start Brewing is pouring low ABV Berliners and session beers while Ginger Beard Coffee offers up hot and cold drinks from its full menu. Lots of choices, come hungry. Sun. March 15. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $34. Late Start Brewing, 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. no. 112, Tampa. lokocuisine.com

All Beer’d Out! Cider Takeover 81Bay hosts a tap takeover by B Nektar and Original Sin plus its regular Sunday brunch menu. Westchase BBQ is doing a pig roast on-site, so bring a bib. A Traveling Gentleman plays tines tunes all evening long so you can wind down after a successful Tampa Bay Beer Week. Sun. March 15. Noon-7 p.m. Free, bring coin for food and drinks. 81Bay Brewing, 4465 W. Gandy Blvd. Ste. 600, Tampa. INFO

Bullfrog Creek Brewing Co. Two Year Anniversary Party Join in on the brewery's second birthday celebration featuring new beer releases, with Vanchetta Food Truck and Smokin Bowls serving up lunch eats followed by Jimmy's Famous Seafood and Engine 53 Pizza for dinner to keep you buzzing throughout the evening. Brews, food and live music for twelve hours straight? Sounds like a party. Sat. March 21. Noon-midnight. 3632 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico. INFO

April

Beer & Burger Throw Down No need to leave the kids at home; the Beer & Burger Throw Down was created with parents in mind. While you take advantage of free samples from local craft brewers, your minis can burn off some energy in the “All You Can Play” Kids Zone for $7. Thinking about booking a babysitter, or don’t have to sweat the snot-nosed brats? You’ll have uninterrupted access to local restaurants and food trucks serving stacked burgers you’ll be voting on so that the throw down can decide who takes the crown in two categories: Best Signature Burger and Most Creative. Admission also includes live musical entertainment and a large outdoor game area. Sat. April 18. Noon-6 p.m. $5 ticket, bring extra cash for food and drinks. Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, 110 Veterans Memorial Ln., Safety Harbor. simplyeventsfl.com

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