January Means Beerfest Season in Florida!

Hello, Florida Beerfest Season!
A view of this author's partial collection of beerfest glasses:
no cenosillicaphobia here (or is there?) 

January 4, 2018: 
The party hats, noisemakers, holiday decorations, and Santa, reindeer and elves have come and gone, and here we are with another New Year and another January. It might not mean flip flops and bare toes these days with the cold wave that's descended on the Sunshine State, but January does mean the start of a new Beerfest Season in Florida! Snap up those tickets, and hold on to your souvenir glasses, because there's a beerfest (or two) almost every weekend from now through April. If you're looking for a beertrip, tie in a beerfest and brewery visit, up your Untappd checkins, and try some new beers. And, yeah, get a room!




If high-gravity is your thing, get the year started on January 6 at Tampa Bay Brewing Company's (Westchase) Fire & Beer Fest, featuring over 30 high-gravity (over 8%) beers, as you warm up with a bonfire. 

And, yes, there are a couple of beerfests that celebrate the releases of highly-acclaimed and medal-winning beers. 

MBCP "Day" 2016 :
A funky visit (photo by Linda Johnson)

Funky Buddha's Maple Bacon Coffee Porter Fest has morphed from a "Day" to a "Fest." Not only does this fest feature the annual release of a beer that tastes like its name, but the festivities include a number of local, regional and national breweries for one big party. Ticket options include general admission (no bottles), and admission with four bottles or a case. There's also a Hangover Brunch on Sunday to help you relive the day or recover from it, depending. "Get Funky" on January 13 in the Lauderdale area.

2017 Trench Day (photo by Linda Johnson)

Continuing in South Florida (and, hey, why not, it might be the warmest spot around!), you'll find the annual release of the medal-winning Mariana Trench Imperial Stout and a fest to go with it, at Due South Brewing. Trench Day returns on January 20 at the brewery, with an intimate gathering of around 300 beer enthusiasts. Along with tapping of variants of the stout, beer geeks will enjoy a number of guest taps. New this year is the sale of Mariana Trench -- original and a Java version -- in cans. Take a look at the recap from the 2017 Trench Day, and come on over to the dark side!

Heading a bit further south, Marlins Park Plaza in Miami hosts the 5th Annual Miami Beer Festival on January 20. This evening fest offers over 200 beers from over 80 breweries. Any time there's a party in Miami, well, it's a party!

Over on the other side of the state, there's a fest that will appeal to bacon and beer lovers. Yes, bacon. The St. Pete Beer and Bacon Fest happens on January 20 at Vinoy Park in St. Pete. With over 80 craft beers from local breweries and more and a number of bacon dishes prepared by local chefs, this one promises to be gastronomical event. 

Unfortunately, the annual Key Largo Brew on the Bay fest, originally scheduled for January 20, has been cancelled, due to ongoing cleanup efforts from Hurricane Irma. Hopefully, the event returns in 2019, as it has been one of the initial January fests for a number of years. 

On the grounds at 2017
Jupiter Craft Brewers Fest!

Rounding out the first month of 2018 is another stop in South Florida, with the 12th Annual Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival, held at the Roger Dean Stadium grounds, on January 27. The fest also features the "Field of Beers" food and beer pairing event inside the stadium on Friday night, January 26, which has already sold out of tickets. Tickets to the main fest will sell out (they always do). This fest is always one rockin' time -- I've been on the vendor and the attendee sides -- see the 2017 review. 

And, just like that, January will be history, and February will roll in with an entire new month of beerfests around Florida!

By now, just like that infamous video with the little kid pleading "But, Linda ....," if you're wondering why there aren't links to each of the events mentioned above (and the ones in February, March, etc., etc.), just take a look at the BeerSPHERE Events Page right here! 

Happy Beerfest season, Florida! May your toes warm up and your beer stay cold! See you around a beerfest ... and a beer (or few) around Florida Somewhere .... 

Cheers!
Til next time,

Linda



Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®

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