Matter of Taste: Beer

Noah, according to legend, took beer on the ark to help weather the storm. Archaeologists have unearthed Babylonian tablets containing beer recipes. Egyptian doctors used beer to treat maladies.

Beer matters in our world, and whether you love the frothy brew or hate it, you can’t deny its place in history and in our mealtimes. Whether its the honey bubbles of a lager or the bittery bite of an ale, what we drink matters to us. Beer is part of our history and our culture.

It makes sense, then, that the fall ritual of the Oktoberfest has such a valued place in our society. Over the next month, many German restaurants (and quite a few non-German ones) will host the fall celebration that invariably includes beer, music and, if you’re lucky (or not, depending on how you feel about them), lederhosen.

Whether you like to enjoy a hearty stout in a sports bar or a quiet glass of lager while watching the sunset, you can find it along the beach. Below, we help you figure out where and how to drink your beer, not just during Oktoberfest but throughout the year.

If you want....

….a wide selection of beer, go to PJ’s Oyster Bar on St. Pete Beach. The female half of the PJ’s magic, Kelli, has an affinity for high end beers and keeps the cooler well-stocked with brews ranging from the deep yellow Belgian Palm to the coffee-flavored Kona beer. Bonus? Most beers, even the Palm, cost less than $5. As the holidays approach, Kelli changes the selection.

...a little hair of the dog, pop in at JD’s Restaurant on Indian Rocks Beach. The restaurant opens for breakfast at 7:45 and happy hour starts 15 minutes later. Hey, we don’t judge. Also, there’s nothing in the world like eggs (plain or benedict, and a slew of choice in between) and beer while you look out on the bay.

...cheap beer, and plenty of it, head over to the Brown Boxer on Clearwater Beach. From 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, drink domestic beer for $1.50 a pint. On the weekends you can get $7 pitchers and $12 buckets (both include certain domestic beers only), and the Boxer has other specials – both drinks and food – throughout the week.

...a view of the sunset, check out Caddy’s on Sunset Beach in Treasure Island. Sure, it gets crowded. Yes, it gets loud. But you can’t beat the front-row seat of Mother Nature showing off her finest work every night, round about sunset. Caddy’s has Blue Moon on draught and Guinness in a can.

...to go to a real Oktoberfest, check out the awesome Oktoberfest on the beach in Indian Rocks. On October 15, the city opens its beaches for the annual beer on the sand tradition that includes free admission, family activities, bands, and – for the only time on the beach all year – draught beer (priced by the drink).