We Discovered the Best Little Alehouse in St. Petersburg

If you’re a beer buff living anywhere near downtown St. Petersburg, do yourself a favor and take a trip to the newest tap house in the area, The Ale and the Witch.  Take it from a fellow buff, you won’t be disappointed.

With a rotating cast of 32 different American crafted brews on tap, it’s immediately evident that The Ale and the Witch loves what it sells.  From cloudy, golden hefeweizens to dark brown stouts and deep amber IPAs, the Witch prides itself on variety and wholehearted support for small craft breweries throughout the country. 

You’d be hard pressed trying to find a lot of these brews on the supermarket shelf, which is kind of cool in the sense that you’ll always have a new, unique beer to try whenever you visit. 

And, at the Witch, when one keg’s tapped, it gets replaced with another, entirely different beer, from a different region.  Menu consistency is for the birds here, especially when it comes to showing off the plethora of great American brew companies that may not be able to afford a Super Bowl ads or the mass brand recognition that comes with it.

If you’re completely overwhelmed by the selection (don’t worry, I was too) or just incredibly indecisive, the guys behind the bar are more than willing to share their knowledge and let you sample a few.  

You can even opt for the Witch Flight ($6), four 4-ounce samples of any combination you’d like. If anything, your palate’s going to have a field day at this place.

I opted for a Weyerbacher Belgian Triple from Pennsylvania (incredibly flavorful, mildly sweet, hints of banana); a Cigar City Jose Marti brewed right across the bay in Tampa (rich, malty, hints of tobacco); an Ommegang Abbey Ale from New York (hoppy, fruity, almost candy-like finish); and a Gordon Biersch Hefeweizen from California (very aromatic, spicy/sweet, cinnamon taste). 

According to operating manager Brett Andress, The Ale and the Witch is also vying to be one of the best local music hubs downtown, with shows and open mic nights featuring local artists. Andress plans to start recording each live act to send people home with a CD of their set after the show.

All in all, The Ale and the Witch has a fantastic opportunity to become a fixture and great community hub in downtown St. Petersburg.  In a sense, it’s a small representation of what St. Pete culture’s all about in the first place - personality, taste, and entertainment – and that’s hard not to love.

The Ale and the Witch is located at 111 2^nd Ave. NE in the Tower Plaza between Beach Drive and BayWalk.

For more information on The Ale and the Witch including current beers on tap, a live music schedule, and more visit www.thealeandthewitch.com.