Tag Archives: florida brewery

King State Logo

King State to close Tampa cafe

The reality of craft beer in 2024 continues to take shape, and it has not been kind to many established brewers in the Bay Area. Many beloved brewers continue to close their doors or rework their business plans, and now King State has announced changes to operations, including closing the doors of their cafe on Floribraska Avenue in October.

From King State:

Homies,
FIVE YEARS. A blink of an eye and also a lifetime. Both feel true. When we opened King State at 520 E Floribraska, we wanted it to be a place people could call home in Tampa. A place where natives could be proud of. We feel that we have done that. Through a global pandemic, normal small business challenges, economic changes and internal hurdles, we have navigated it all the best we could. We’ve made so many memories. So many mistakes. So many relationships we’ll have for the rest of our lives. Nothing can take that away.

King State LogoThe all-day, 3 services 16 hours a day, seven days a week is A LOT. A lot on our staff, our building and our entire team. It was the OG concept that we wanted to bring to Tampa, and we did that. But not without it’s toll. It’s been harder and harder to keep it moving forward the right way, and if we can’t do it right it ain’t worth doing. It’s time for King State to rethink our path forward and continuing the all day concept at 520 sadly isn’t it.

Towards the end of October, We will be transferring out of 520 for good and solely focusing on continuing to roast coffee and brew beer for the masses! We are working on getting a new operator in here that will treat this space well and will allow King State to still be a part of Tampa.

We don’t fully know what’s next, but we know that we have shared in so many moments here in this old gas station. Everything from weddings to funerals to engagements to heavy phone calls, loss, joy and moments that we’ll never ever forget. The connection of humans from all different walks of life under one roof is a beautiful thing. The thing we will miss the most. As well as telling people we don’t have public WiFi. That was so much fun. Hah
BUT, we are going to end on a high note! As King State in its current location is transitioning out of operations late October, we’re about to PARTY!!! So many events, so many wild ideas we’ve always wanted to do, etc. PUMPKING SPICE TOMORROW!

Also, King State will continue to roast coffee, brew beer and distribute to all the current places we already do. If not even more very very soon!
We love you Tampa. We love our neighbors and everyone that has supported us from day one. We would factually be nothing without everyone that’s poured into us and this place. The whole team and everyone that’s been here since day one, joined later or just passed by, we love y’all. So much.
Stay posted as we announce events and keep you updated the best we can. Come roll through, drink same dranks, tip our ripping staff, eat some food and celebrate the last half a decade with us.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
Although cryins fine too. Already been lettin it ride haha
Onto a new chapter of King State that we’re stoked to put all our focus on.

1 LUV HOMIES. LET’S RIP.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers welcome Cigar City Brewing as craft beer partners

Tampa Bay Buccaneers announce partnership with Cigar City Brewing

Press Release: Today the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced a new partnership with Cigar City Brewing, an internationally renowned brewery founded in Tampa more than 15 years ago.

“We are excited to launch this partnership with Cigar City Brewing, a local Tampa Bay company,” said Buccaneers Chief Commercial Officer Atul Khosla. “We want our food and beverage offerings at Raymond James Stadium to highlight the unique culture of our Tampa Bay community. Cigar City takes pride in their local roots and this new partnership will provide our fans another Bay favorite.”

This Sunday, the Jai Alai Bar, named in honor of Cigar City’s flagship beer, will debut at Raymond James Stadium near the top of ramp C between sections 128 and 131. The addition will feature a 2,000 square foot full-service bar that will be accessible on the concourse for all fans to enjoy on gamedays. At select Buccaneers home games, the Jai Alai Bar will host a surprise promotion, ‘Jai Alai living with the Bucs,’ which includes a chance for two winners to receive seat upgrades, all-inclusive food and beverage, and a $100 merchandise gift card.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers welcome Cigar City Brewing as craft beer partners“With Raymond James Stadium in walking distance of the brewery, the Cigar City Brewing team has celebrated unofficially with Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ fans throughout the past 15 years,” said VP of Marketing Monster Brewing Company, Justin Clark. “But now as we head into the 2024 season as an official partner, we recognize this is an exciting time for Jai Alai IPA to party with our existing fans and make a bunch of new ones. You won’t be able to miss us in the stadium or at our retail partners throughout Florida. We look forward to finding ways to connect with beer drinkers and set the tailgating standard for seasons to come.”

Following the first year of the partnership, Cigar City Brewing and the Buccaneers will look to increase in-person experiences for members of the Krewe. During the offseason, The Cigar City Taproom & Brewery will host two ‘Brews with the Krewe’ events, for season pass members to attend. The events will include an exclusive happy hour with Buccaneers giveaways and autographed specials, a Buccaneer alumni appearance, a brewery tour, and one free beer for each guest. Also launching will be a multi-week sweepstakes, ‘Brew with a Buc’. The winner of this campaign will have a chance to brew their own beer at Cigar City with a legend, and a VIP Gameday Experience that will include club tickets, a pre-game tailgate, $100 in merchandise, and free parking.

To kick off the partnership, fans can sample Jai Alai for free at Raymond James Stadium’s Bucs Beach at a few upcoming home games this season.

About Cigar City Brewing

Steeped in the unique culture and history of Tampa, Florida, Cigar City Brewing began handcrafting award-winning beer in 2009. Cigar City Brewing’s ales and lagers bring to mind the sun and citrus for which Florida is known while taking cues from the cigar industry upon which Tampa was built. Behind all of Cigar City Brewing’s liquid is the philosophy that quality is achieved by giving first-rate ingredients to first-rate people in a space where they are free to pursue their passion.

Transparency statement: Cigar City Brewing is the oldest sponsor of Florida Beer News.

Late Start Brewing Logo

Late Start Brewing to open Saturday, September 7th

Tampa craft beer enthusiasts have been waiting for news of Late Start Brewing’s opening for years. The announcement that the brewery had found a new home came in March 2022, and the brewery’s social media presence has been nonexistent for about that same span of time. In the meantime, Late Start Brewing has been brewing beer for distribution, and they are regularly available at independent bottle shops and tap rooms around Tampa Bay. But short of asking the founders, there was no way to get an update on how the space was progressing.

Fast forward to Tuesday, September 3rd, when the brewery updated its photo on social media to this picture:

Late Start Brewing Exterior

And the comment from co-owner Nick Streeter read, “Saturday 8 AM. First fully open day.”

The post then became rife with positive comments and messages of support and excitement.  It seems that Late Start Brewing would be opening their building at 1018 E Cass Street in Downtown Tampa for business this weekend.

 

 

Late Start Brewing LogoAbout Late Start Brewing
Late Start Brewing was born in 2012 within the confines of a two-car garage in Tampa. Within a few batches of homebrewing, a hobby turned into an obsession. Brewing as much as they could, too often starting late after sunset, finishing up in the wee hours of the morning (This is where our name comes from 😉 . They started serving their beer around Tampa in early 2013, exclusively at beer fests and special events. Around this time Tyler Sankey and Jordan Copher met brewer Nick Streeter when they both landed jobs at Cigar City Brewing.

Streeter helped them find their feet as they transitioned from homebrewing to pro-brewing. They learned and grew as brewers together at CCB, they recognized Nick’s qualities and had found their third team member, and together hit the local beer fest scene. They moved to separate breweries to expand their experience all the while peddling their creations around town.

Unbranded Brewing Company Logo

Doral’s Unbranded Brewing announces impending closure

Miami’s craft breweries seem to be experiencing a tumultuous time at present. In addition to the presence of breweries sponsored by major national and international beer companies, J. Wakefield Brewing caused a stir when the team announced that they were moving out of their Wynwood facility. In July 2024, Doral’s Unbranded Brewing Company had previously announced that it would be closing at the end of August and that time is now drawing near.