So, I took the streetcar from downtown Tampa, noting the concentration of breweries in Ybor City. A Lager fan, I took the 3 block walk from the streetcar station, and was not disappointed.
Andrew was excellent. Great server. Low key place with outside beer garden. I stayed inside on the wood tables, as I remember from my sole visit to Prague.
The beers....
Vienna - light, clear, pale straw color, clean white head. Very mild toasty aroma. Light malty flavor, bready, a good graininess with no astringency. Crisp and refreshing.
Marzen - clear, light orange color with a hint of malty sweetness in both nose and flavor. Light noble hop aroma.
Maibock - near straw light color, lacy white head that persists on the glass. Malty sweetness is balanced against the hops perfectly. Clean, crisp finish with the appropriate sweetness.
Dunkel - delicious. White, persistent head. Clear, deep copper/brown/garnet. Smooth dark malt, but a bit more malt flavor would be nice - this is my favorite style, and I can be tough on it.....
Pre-prohibition - as light of a clear beer made. Very clean. Delightful suprise, it was their last keg. A true session beer.
German pils - straw colored, clear with a beautiful quick dissapating head. Flavorful wine-like delicate maltiness. Clean.
Dortmunder (Tampa)- Nice hopped up pilsener. Unusually delicate for an export level beer. Firm hop flavor but low malt flavor characteristic of the style.
Czech dark lager - sweet dark malt. A bit of fruitiness, dark cherry or dates, but certainly not overwhelming. The sweetness is balanced by the the noble hop flavor.
Barrel aged smoked bock - 11.6% - Wow, glad I saved that for last. Beautiful, smooth wine like flavor. Sherry aged barrel finishing certainly improves the lucious mouthfeel. Oak vanilla and mild sherry tannins exude an almost distilled spirits alcohol warmth.
A bottle of this is travelling back home.....
5 star place
