Daily Loaf

This Friday, July 10th, celebrate 13 years of beer with Dunedin Brewery. In honor of its anniversary, the brewery will release a limited edition beer brewed especially for the occasion. This 5.2% ABV Bohemian Pilsner — nicknamed “Lucky” — has been lagering for about 45 days, in line with the traditional Bavarian technique of storing bottom-fermenting brews at colder temperatures following an initial fermentation, allowing the beer to smooth out and become clear.

German malt imparts a golden straw hue, with bold floral aromas from the German and American hops varieties. Taste is crisp and drinkable, somewhere between pilsners typical of eastern Germany and western Czech Republic with a little Dunedin thrown in at the right places — namely the hops assortment.

Festivities are not limited to consuming rare brew delights. The brewery opens at noon, serving lunch and great local beer. Yappy Hour runs from 5-8 pm, drawing throngs of local dogs and their owners – or vice versa. Taking over at 9pm, special musical guests The Heavy Pets.

If you love beer — or even moderatly enjoy it — and haven’t been to the Oldsmar Tap House, you’re doing yourself a massive disservice. The beer-intensive, yet laid back, environment and a constantly rotating tap list make OTH one of the local centers of the beer geek universe. Coming up on the event calendar – April 23rd is Chimay Night. Explore the palatable product line from one of the world’s seven beer producing trappist monasteries, where brewing is conducted or overseen by Cistercian monks. Get a free gold-rimmed Chimay goblet with your first Chimay Premiere, Cinq Cents, or Grande Reserve (while supplies last). You can also explore another 30+ taps along with a wide selection of craft and import bottles. Live music by OTH All Stars. 300 State Street East #107. Oldsmar (813) 855-9181

Tomorrow (Saturday the 11th) at Datz Deli — All Hail the Ale — a celebration of the world’s best beers matched with fine cheeses. $25 per person includes 5 ounce pours and commemorative glassware. 4 pm- 7pm. 2616 MacDill Ave. Call (813) 831-7000 or email dixon@datzdeli to reserve your spot. Here’s the pairing lineup :

Westmalle Trappist Tripel : Belgium : 9.5%
This Belgian offering hails from one of the world’s seven Trappist monasteries, where brewing is conducted or overseen by monks. The cloudy, golden brew sports fruity, floral aromas. A strong malt component results in toasty flavors; the slight honey citrus sweetness is balanced by a mild alcohol warmth and a dry finish. The sharp, smoky flavors of Grafton Village Smoked Cheddar compliment the maltiness of Westmalle Tripel.

Many more beers after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

This week’s free beer sampling is set for Thursday the 9th from 11am until 2pm. Stop by Datz Deli for lunch and enjoy free samples of Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider, Southampton India Pale Ale, and a variety of brews from Green’s Gluten Free Beer.

And don’t forget, this Saturday, Datz presents All Hail the Ale, a sampling featuring 8 of the world’s finest beers paried with cheese and charcuterie. $25 per person includes commemorative glassware. Starts at 7 pm. Reservations required. Call 813-831-7000 or contact dixon@datzdeli.com to reserve your spot.

The excellent folks at Datz Deli in Tampa have invited me to conduct weekday beer tastings and special beer and food pairing events. So here’s the agenda:

March 30th : 11am-2pm. Free samples of Lindeman’s Framboise and Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, with plenty of beer available to go. This is the first time Datz will be open on Monday.

April 1st : 6pm-7:30pm. Free beer and food samples hosted by Tampa Bay Metro.
Featuring Southampton Brewing’s Double White, Altbier, and IPA.

April 9th : 11am-2pm. Free beer samples. Specific brands coming soon.

April 11th : 4pm-7pm. Datz presents All Hail the Ale. Featuring 8 of the world’s best beers paired with gourmet food: Ayinger Dunkel Weiss, Westmalle Trappist Dubbel, Orval Trappist, Brooklyn Local 1, Brooklyn Local 2, Dogfish Head Fort, Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard, Lindemans Gueuze Cuvee Rene. $35 per person includes beer, food, and commemorative glassware. Reservations required. (813) 831- 7000

Cigar City Brewing Launch Party
Oldsmar Tap House
Saturday, March 28. Starts at 2pm
I am really excited about this event, not only because I will be serving as a guest bartender for the day, but I will also be surrounded by a mountain of Cigar City’s brewed delights. I’ve sampled these joyous concoctions several times at trade shows and beer nerd events, but not a collection this extensive and drool-worthy.

As far as the beer lineup, 16 ounce pints of Maduro Oatmeal Brown Ale and Jai Alai IPA will be available all day. Limited edition beers will be tapped on a schedule until the keg or cask runs dry.

Schedule and more info after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »