Beyond breweries: Taste Tampa Bay’s unusual beverages at local meaderies and kombucha bars
Trying something new cannot hurt, right? Pass on that beer, put the cork back in that wine bottle and take a sip of some of the burgeoning brews of the Tampa Bay area — a hearty mead or a healthful kombucha. Tap into that adventurous side and take a sip of a unique concoction poured from one of Greater Tampa Bay’s several meaderies and kombucha bars.
Stepping straight out of antiquity is mead, a drink that goes all the way back in time to the Middle Ages. Tracing its origins to Ancient Greece and even beyond, mead is an alcoholic drink characterized by the fermentation of honey. Its sweet, aromatic nature fuels similarities to wine and beer, but make no mistake — mead is certainly distinct. Garagiste Meadery, located in Tampa Heights, makes this clear.
The word garagiste means “a small-scale entrepreneurial winemaker who does not adhere to the traditions of winemaking,” and this meadery’s moniker speaks for itself. Opening its doors in 2016, Garagiste Meadery offers award-winning meads including Susy’s cherry pie, peanut-hinted reboog vitis and blackberry-laced black widow.
Garagiste has an open taproom that is dog-friendly, as well. Expertly crafted and with a passion for what they serve, Garagiste Meadery is a must-visit in Tampa Bay.
Cigar City Cider and Mead is located in — no surprise here — historic Ybor City. The meadery has been serving crisp ciders and sweet meads since opening in 2014. Offering an impressive menu of dozens of varieties, Cigar City mead flavors range from dry, like the dry hop papaya cider and the strange mead, to sweet, like the blackberry mead and homemade apple pie cider, to unique, like the blackberry ghost pepper cider and the word search, a blend of mango and habanero pepper flavors. With a taproom featuring a façade of old-town, classic Ybor style, Cigar City Cider and Mead will satisfy that adventurous craving.
Kombucha is a type of fermented tea that has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. It can possess fruity, nutty or spicy flavors depending on the brew, and it is enjoyed as a nonalcoholic alternative to standard happy hour fare.
Flower Crown Kombucha, located in Tampa Heights, opened in January 2021. Its opening brings the distinction of being Tampa’s first and only dedicated kombucha bar and taproom. Flower Crown’s initial offering consists of four varieties — pineappley ever after, Mexican hippie, key lime mojito and pink passion fruit. The taproom is open six days a week, and Flower Crown offers a venue space for events as well. With a deep passion for creating new flavors, it will not be a surprise when Flower Crown Kombucha becomes a staple of Tampa Bay.
St. Petersburg is home to none other than Mother Kombucha. If this brand sounds familiar, it might be from the shelves of a local Publix store. Brewed by hand from only the best ingredients, Mother Kombucha aims to enhance the natural health benefits in each of their bottles. Selling their first brew in 2014, owners Joshua Rumschlag and Tonya Donati are passionate about offering a healthy alternative to sugary drinks and have become one of the most well-known kombucha brands on the market.
By Ryan Walsh
