Hunahpu's Day 2018 Scores with Change of Venue and Layout

March 14, 2018: 
With Raymond James Stadium looming in the background, Cigar City Brewing hosted its 9th annual Hunahpu's Day® beerfest celebrating the release of its Hunahpu's® Imperial Stout in Tampa on Saturday, March 10, 2018. 

The change in venue this year at Parking Lots 5 and 7 on the stadium grounds also set itself up for an entirely new layout, providing six oversized beer tents, a food truck area with around 15 food trucks, large tented shaded areas with picnic tables, water bottle stations, a brewers' area, and a Jameson whiskey-tasting tent. The day might have been a bit cooler and cloudier than expected, but it didn't seem to make a difference to the few thousand beer geeks there to sample beers from around 175 breweries.  

Once again this year, admission to the sold-out fest was by pre-purchased wristband, which included allotments of Hunahpu's Imperial Stout in quantities of either 4, 8 or 12 bottles, available for pickup at Cigar City Brewing's brewery and tap room a short distance away on Spruce Street. 

Even before the fest started on Saturday, locals and visitors alike were in town for Tampa Bay Beer Week (see recaps on this site from FBG Fest and Best Florida Beer held the weekend before). A stop at Cigar City Brewing on Friday night revealed the new logo on the signage: 

making HEADlines: Florida Nominations in USA Today "10 Best" Awards Polls

making HEADlines:

FLORIDA GETS NOMINATIONS IN USA TODAY'S "10 BEST" READERS' CHOICE POLLS

February 26, 2018: Last week, USA Today announced that it was turning its attention to craft beer in its latest rounds of Readers' Choice "10 Best" polls. The poll includes 20 nominees from across the nation in each of seven categories: Best New Brewery, Best Brewpub, Best Beer Scene, Best Brewery Tour, Best Beer Festival, Best Beer Bar, and Best Beer Label. Florida received nominations in four of the seven categories.  Voting ends March 19 and the winners will be announced on March 23. Shout-out to the following Florida nominees. Links include a list of nominees and voting information:

Making HEADlines: Cigar City Brewing New Can Designs

making HEADlines:

CIGAR CITY BREWING INTRODUCES NEW CAN DESIGNS FOR 2018

The old (top) and new (bottom) designs
(photo provided by Cigar City Brewing)

January 18, 2018, Tampa FL:  

On the heels of a new logo announced this past November, Cigar City Brewing has introduced a "refreshed look" for all of its packaging, including a new Jai Alai IPA 12-pack. In a statement released today, CCB Creative Manager Tiffany Cox explained that "[b]y refreshing, we were not looking to reinvent the wheel, but instead optimize it and make it work more efficiently. We had a lot of successful elements in the previous designs but lacked overall harmony. Our creative goal was to make these new designs feel like a natural evolution of their predecessor, for a look that definitively screams Cigar City Brewing."

making HEADlines: Cigar City Brewing Updates

making HEADlines:

CIGAR CITY BREWING INTRODUCES NEW LOGO AND 2018 DISTRIBUTION CALENDAR

November 17, 2017, Tampa FL: 

Tampa brewery Cigar City Brewing announced its new logo today, along with its 2018 Distribution Calendar.

In a statement released today,  the brewery reported that its refreshed logo is the effort of "months of collaboration" with North Carolina agency The Brandit. The new identity program rolls out today, and is now displayed on CCB's website and social media platforms. 

The new logo will make its way through the marketplace in the coming weeks, and is identified on the brewery's latest bottle release, Café con Leche Sweet Stout. The new identity and branding is "one of the multiple exciting developments slated for Cigar City Brewing in the coming months," according to the statement. 

making HEADlines:

CIGAR CITY BREWING RELEASES MARSHAL ZHUKOV'S IMPERIAL STOUT AUGUST 1; ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR "ORDER OF THE RED BANNER BEER DINNERS"

Making HEADlines:

March 22, 2017: CIGAR CITY BREWING ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION TO NORTH CAROLINA

Hunahpu's Day® 2017: Was It Good For You, Too?

Yes! The answer is yes. 

On Saturday, March 11, thousands of beer fanatics descended upon Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park in downtown Tampa for the 8th Annual Hunahpu's Day® presented by Cigar City Brewing. Estimated attendance was around 4000. Add 140 of the most respected and sought-after breweries from across the U.S. and around the world. Combine that with a bright blue sky along the Tampa Riverwalk. It all added up to an amazing afternoon in celebration of beer. 

If you're asking who or what Hunahpu is and what Hunahpu's Day is all about, first take a look at the preview story on this site from last week for the background info and a "before" look at how this "Huna Day Virgin" prepared for what is likely the most well-known beerfest in all of Florida (with a reputation beyond state lines as well).  

Hunahpu's Day® Is Saturday, March 11; Note the Spelling and Have a Checklist!

Legend has it, in Mayan mythology, that Hun Hunahpu and his brother Vucub were tricked and slain by the evil Dark Lords of the underworld. Hun Hunahpu's body miraculously returned to life in the form of a cacao tree, with his head transforming into a cacao pod. When Hun (for some reason) spit on the hand of a maiden named Xiquic, she became pregnant with twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque Hun Hunahpu. Good triumphs over evil, when the twins avenge the death of Hun and Vucub by defeating the Dark Lords and then rise into celestial afterlife where they become the sun and moon.

So, why not make a beer about that?

making HEADlines:

January 30, 2017: FLORIDA BREWERIES  CIVIL SOCIETY BREWING, CIGAR CITY BREWING, CYCLE BREWING EARN "BEST" AWARDS  AT RATEBEER BEST 2016

Making HEADlines:

January 12, 2017: CIGAR CITY BREWING ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION TO TENNESSEE

Making HEADlines:


January 11, 2017: CIGAR CITY BREWING AND PERRIN BREWING ANNOUNCE ONE-TIME JAI ALAI IPA RELEASE IN MICHIGAN

Making HEADlines:

CIGAR CITY BREWING RELEASES 2017 DISTRIBUTION CALENDAR:

The End is Near: Engine 15 Brewing to Unleash the Dark Side of "Stoutageddon"

[Ed. Note: 12/26/2016: Engine 15 published the final tap list for this event on 12/26/2016. Get it here.] 

The end is near. 

Coinciding with the end of the year comes a tap takeover that may be a first. 

If names like "Imperial Chupacabra," "Hunahpu's," "Marshal Zhukov," and "Ten Fidy" send your sensory perceptions into a state of euphoria, then this event is certainly one for you. 

Engine 15 Brewing Company will host "Stoutageddon" at its Jacksonville Beach brewpub on December 29, starting at 6pm. As the name implies, the event highlights the "stout" beer style, and all things "stout," from "regular" (is there such a thing?) Stout to Russian Imperial Stout (higher ABV), to barrel-aged Stout (aged in bourbon/ whiskey barrels).  What makes the event unique is that mostly stouts -- and only beers from three breweries -- will flow from the 50 taps in the brewpub bar, giving new meaning to "takeover." 

It Was Cookin' at Brewz n Dawgz' First Beer Dinner with Cigar City Brewing

When I first found out a couple of months ago about the first Beer Dinner being planned at Brewz n Dawgz in St. Augustine (December 22), I was intrigued.  After all, how does a menu featuring brats/hot dogs offer the culinary variety and flair usually associated with these pairings?  As I saw the food menu come together, my interest was further piqued (not to mention that it really sounded good). And, then I got the lowdown from owner Roger Lim on the beer menu (exclusive, I might add).  Nothing like a new place hosting its first beer dinner with some creative brews from the most recognizable craft brewery in the state of Florida, Cigar City Brewing.  

This.....is Brew Hub

Between Orlando and Tampa, along a frontage road just off of I-4 in Lakeland, Florida sits a large warehouse building. Maybe you've seen it as you've driven by: it's actually a very large, 55,000-square-foot building that houses a brewery, tasting room and bottling/canning/kegging and distribution operation.  

"WaZoo" of a Time in Tampa (Part 1)

Hey, Sweethearts! If you've been following me on Twitter, you know that this past weekend was my first trip to Tampa!  "Like a Virgin" as the song goes. Hard to believe, I know, and I was excited to head to the west coast of Florida mainly for the WaZoo Beer Fest at the Lowry Park Zoo.  After all, a beertrip is always a good reason to travel somewhere!  I stayed at the Residence Inn Westshore by the airport (which I recommend), and it was a good location for getting around. Tried to stay fairly close. But, thank goodness for Google Maps!  On the next visit that way, I intend to hit some other places closer to the coast, as this entire area is booming with craft beer! (so, yeah, don't hate me if I didn't make it to see you) This trip was an awesome introduction to the area!