Tampa Times: Beer Week "The Best of the Belgians!"

I had no idea I would have so much fun at the

Independent Bar's Cheers to Belgian Beers! event Tuesday night, where distributors and brewery representatives handed out samples of Belgian beers for $1.50 a pop.

Brewers may have the sexiest job, but distributors and brewery reps need some love, too. After Tuesday night's event, I have a real appreciation for them.

As the sun set behind the Independent's converted garage on Florida Avenue, the reps lined up their Belgian beers, which included many Trappist offerings. That means monks are making them, as they have for centuries. And it usually means they're good.

A few beers being served up Tuesday are brand new to the United States, including a particular offering from Brewery Wolf, which I was told made its U.S. debut at the Independent.

Read the original story here!

"The Independent is your Craft Beer Headquarters" -Patch Tampa

If your idea of a good beer is Busch Light, you'll have an opportunity to expand your horizons this week. If you're already a connoisseur of hoppy ales and smooth porters, it's time to order a cold one and enjoy. Monday begins American Craft Beer Week, and Tampa taprooms and breweries will be in full swing.

American Craft Beer Week is a nation-wide event promoting small breweries. For these human-scale operations, brewing beer is less of a business and more of an art.

“America's craft brewers are artisans,” according to Tim Myers, of Strange Brewing. Rather than working in other media, “they're working in beer.” American Craft Beer Week has been held each spring for six years, and this year there will be celebrations in all fifty states.

The Independent is your local craft beer headquarters.

“We are having an event every night of the week,” said Veronica Vellines, owner of the popular Seminole Heights pub.

In celebration of American Craft Beer Week, The Independent will host nightly events starting Sunday. Details are available on the pub's website, but be sure to stop in on Tuesday. The pub will feature local brews from around the Tampa Bay Area, including Cigar City Brewing, Dunedin Brewery, St. Somewhere Brewery and Swamp Head Brewery. There will be a raffle drawing at 10 p.m.

http://seminoleheights.patch.com/articles/central-tampa-beer-lovers-unite