The Oldsmar Tap House is a new beer bar in the area that is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. It has by far the best beer selection I have seen thus far in the Tampa area. Tony, the owner, buys things he likes - and hell he knows and likes good beers. My first night there we went on a drinking tour of Belgian triples and true English IPAs. We topped of the night with a Belgian Kriek. It was heaven, and it is always hard to drive home from heaven, sober or not.
I write about this because as you know I had first started this path to beerdom with the dream of opening my very own beer bar and using the proceeds to eventually open Mellody Brewing. When that didn't seem possible, I decided to start this web site and start the ever up hill battle to opening my own brewery. My last two visits to the Tap House have proved to me that this area is definitely ready for its own craft brewery. I also spent last night refining my taste for Belgian beer again. Over the last few months I've been on an American IPA trip that was never ending. I knew I was in trouble when I had a Belgian style ale from St. Somewhere, something I would usually love and was not impacted the way I usually am. My friends all loved it, me...not so much. I think my pallate changed. Anyway, I am not looking to brew Belgian style ales, or the mainstream American craft beers, I'm thinking more just outside the box. I felt the need to get back to my roots though and the Tap House has made that possible.
