Craft Beer Tour

Thursday, 10 November 2011 23:35

As if you couldn’t tell by the vibrant beer scene brewing in town, booze is one of the few industries seeing growth during the recession.

Do you part to boost the economy by visiting one of our picks for the best spots to grab a quality craft brew, and you’ll be guaranteed a good time, a great atmosphere and a beer education like no other.

By Caitlyn Finnegan

Gainesville House of Beer
19 W University Ave.
This recent downtown addition offers 40 beers on its rotating draft selection and 40 bottles. Gainesville House of Beer boasts one of the largest “tap rails” in town, and they tell us they hope to expand even more as they stock up on winter favorites like Imperial stouts and barley beer. “We try to put beer on tap that people haven’t heard of, to introduce them to new flavors and styles,” says bar manager Amie Mizell.

If it’s a true taste of the beer spectrum you’re after, sign up for the bar’s “Do the Rail” challenge. Participants must drink from all 40 taps, an offering that rotates each season. From Cigar City’s Oktoberfest to local favorite Swamp Head’s Midnight Oil, there’s plenty to sample and a friendly atmosphere, perfect for posting up at the bar for hours. “We want to be your ‘Cheers’ bar,” Amie says. “We want to know your name, favorite beer and how you’re doing on your Rail Card.”

Stubbies & Steins
9 W University Ave.
Open since 2003, Stubbies is the patriarch of the downtown microbrew scene. Originally a six-table bar, the owners expanded their menu—and space—in 2008 to include German food along with the drafts. Now the bar is a colorful collision of boomerangs and cuckoo clocks, a fusion of Australian fun and German history with a common beer garden-style center table that invites a conversational, meet-new-friends experience.

The bar boasts the largest beer selection in town with 24 beers on the rotating draft and more than 450 different bottles available at any time. The expansive menu calls for a highly beer-educated staff, and bar manager Jay Cori says each bartender is trained to help customers find the best brews for their palate. If you’re up for expanding your knowledge, Stubbies’ Offender Challenge requires participants to finish 100 different beers within a year.

Swamp Head Brewery
3140 SW 42nd Way
Inspired by the laidback Floridian lifestyle, this Gainesville brewery is making its mark in the craft beer scene as its brews show up on taps from Jacksonville to Naples and beyond. Owner Luke Kemper says the demand for their beer has far exceeded initial expectations as everyone from local bars to chain restaurants pick up popular flavors like Stump Knocker and Midnight Oil.

The growing brewery hopes to add more tanks so they can experiment with new styles and double production by the end of the year. As the cold weather continues to creep down south, keep a lookout for Swamp Head’s seasonal Russian Imperial stout—the Catherine series. Their tasting room, The Wetlands, offers fans a chance to check in on what the company is brewing up next, so stop by to fill up a growler of your favorite brew.

The Alcove 110 S Main St.
This fun hangout fits its name—narrow and cozy. Customers never feel far from the pulse of the bar, spiked with quirky accents like decorative road bikes, a flat-screen TV playing episodes of Hong Kong Phooey and a rotating showcase of local art. Besides their eclectic drafts, Alcove has a great selection of ciders, gluten-free beer and some of the best sake in town.

“The fact is, no one wants to stand in a crowded place holding a $7 beer,” bartender Morgan Conn told us. “This is a place where you can feel just as comfortable bringing a date as you do on a girl’s night out.” Newcomers will be grateful for the informed staff’s guidance. Simply throw out a style you like, and they’ll recommend a brew that will easily become your new favorite.

Tall Paul’s Brewhouse
10 SE 2nd Ave.
With owner Paul Evans at the helm, this cavernous downtown beer hall is bringing a new twist to drinking downtown. Customers sitting at the bar can catch a glimpse of the beer-making process through giant glass windows, thanks to the in-house brewing company, Alligator Brewing Co. The bar keeps at least two of its own brews on draft at all times, theming the names around special events.

For the weekend that the Florida Gators played University of Alabama, Tall Paul’s brewed up a batch of ESB—Extra Special Beat Down. Twenty-nine other beers round out their tap selection, not to mention the bottle selection. The concrete bar serves as the anchor for the giant destination, and the stainless-steel tables and box-bench chairs can easily be rearranged to create longer tables for big groups. For a fun new tradition, join the Das Boot mug club by buying a glass boot to drink your favorite brews in perpetuity. “They’re fun to carry and a good deal if you’re planning to drink a lot of beer,” Paul promises.

The Salty Dog Saloon 1712 W University Ave.
This converted sandwich shop serves classic bar food alongside its 100 bottled brews and 34 drafts. Long and narrow, the shotgun style design of Salty’s works well with the large midtown crowds thanks to two separate bars. The atmosphere is a mix of gritty flair and hyped-up college spirit with a jukebox blasting everything from Tom Petty’s “American Girl” to the latest Top 20. Salty isn’t just any college bar, however. You can order a beer from more than 25 different countries or sip on a glass of unique microbrews like Flying Dog’s Tire Biter.

The “Around the World” challenge is a testament to their diverse selection, and champions win an exclusive challenge-themed T-shirt. “We don’t sell the T-shirts to just anyone. You have to earn it,” assistant manager Michael Connors assured us. “It’s a matter of pride.”

Loosey’s Longshot
120 SW 1st Ave.
A friendly neighborhood bar with plenty to do, Loosey’s central location, English pub atmosphere and outdoor patio have been attracting beer-lovers for years. With a motto of being your “home away from home,” there’s never a dull night with their schedule of karaoke, trivia and live entertainment. Focusing strictly on American craft beers, the bar carries 50 different bottles—everything from Cream Ales to Porters—and has 20 of them on tap at all times. They even offer fruit beer (Magic Hat’s #9) and Belgian styles (Victory’s V-Twelve). You’ll find all five of Swamp Head’s year-round offerings like the aromatic Big Nose IPA. Don’t forget to complement your brew with some food—beer-battered Ass Kickin’ Shrimp included.

Tipple’s Brews of Gainesville
2440 SW 76th St., Ste. 110
Open seven days a week, Tipple’s is your one-stop spot for picking up a bottle—or six— of your new favorite brew to take home. The store’s selection is diverse and eclectic, with many bottles available to be mixed and matched. You can expect to find local favorites—like Swamp Head’s award-winning Chipotle-infused Smoke Signal—and seasonal releases with the changing of temperatures. They even have a selection of rotating taps so you can purchase a draft beer while you shop. Keep a lookout for one of the shop’s monthly themed beer tastings; participants try unique beers from all over the world and discuss the differences in style.

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