Picture in your mind what the inside of a brewery looks like. There are usually high ceilings, dimly lit perhaps, wooden barrels of beer as dark as the stout within them. They sometimes have wooden floors and black walls. They're always fun and can just make you feel good, but they're often dark and lit only by lights and signs and maybe the glow shining off the patrons. Well 3 Daughters delivers on the fun and making you feel good, but in the most light and Florida bright way.
It is an open seating brewery, exposed to the Gulf where the wind blows through whatever amount of hair you have. HBT went there on a warm and sunny day and I hope everyone can experience it like that when you visit. This Clearwater Beach, Florida brewery was planted here by the main brewery in St. Petersburg. That original brewery has a fascinating story that I hope you read, revealing how the brewery got its name. But this is the Clearwater Beach offspring and as per HBT requirements, it brews its own version of the beers on-site. I showed up just after lunch for a flight.
One of the themes that Clyde and I seem to run into a lot is that breweries are often a challenge to find. That usually happens if it's small and tucked away in some warehouse district or on an industrial street. But I had no excuse with 3 Daughters because they have a huge sign on the top of the building. But there I was, looking around one side of the building and the other to find the entrance. So I can offer some help for those that might need it. The huge sign is of course how you can narrow down the correct building. You'll see it right above the Hooter's sign so that helps. But the stairway going up to it doesn't have good brewery signage. At least it was not completely obvious to me. I later found a secret elevator that was hidden. But for now, I marched up the stairs, full of faith and thirst. I got to the first landing and I saw an elevator. That seemed terribly helpful but I knew it was only one more floor. I turned and saw the Hooter's entrance and this is where you guys will want to keep walking up the stairs to the brewery.
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Okay it's not really secret but it's not completely obvious either. I saw the blue Brewery sign to the left of the stairs but it seemed like the stairs would be the way to go and yet there were no signs on them. The brewery sign over to the left seemed like it was just marketing. Anyways, the stairs are only two flights, and you go past Hooter's and up to the Gulf so it's the recommended way to go. But if you look at the picture on the right taken from the sidewalk and close-up to inside the door you can just make out the image of an elevator.
*Click on an image to enlarge
I stopped for the Clyde-patented front selfie and ambled in. The doors were of course open.
This is when the open, rooftop view to the Gulf hit me. I went right to the balcony to view the water. The sun was coming in everywhere with a light breeze and it was wonderful! It's a beer picnic on the roof looking at the Gulf!
I saw a couple sitting at a table who would be in my photo if I were to want the whole effect so I went to talk with them. As Clyde points out, we don't want to get into any witness protection issues so I wanted to find out if they were okay with being in my camera shot. Turns out they were happy to participate in our tour stop. Ian and Sandra were in from Toronto, sitting in the sun and enjoying a beer when this big tourist came walking over to them to ask them if they wanted to be in this big and important tour and be in some of our "marketing materials". I may have built it up a tad larger than it is, but I had business cards so that helped. I told them they will be coast to coast! They were enjoying some nice beer and were of course very friendly. Thanks for chatting, folks!
Behind the bar helping me were Lindsay and Cal (Callahan). Lindsay helped get me a flight. I had the Old School IPA, the Key Lime Sour, the Island Ranger IPA and the Dark Star. I keep trying to acquire a taste for sours, but it hasn't happened yet. It did taste like Key Lime though. The others were all great. Rich Ales, full of flavor.
After that flight, Cal was more than happy to help me navigate another. I decided to concentrate on some of their fruit beers. I had the Orange and Blue, a Blueberry and Orange Blossom Wheat Ale, the Island Juice, a Rye style Ale with Pineapple, the Berry in Love, a Strawberry Shortcake Red Cream Ale, and to round it out, I had to try the Stout! I can be rather partial at times to fruit Ales and these were all great. The beers were refreshing and all had great flavor!
The Stout was kind of a new animal for me and the Florida style Stout concept was soon explained. Behind the bar was also the COO of the joint, Brian. I was giving an impromptu review of what I was tasting and I mentioned that the stout tasted great but was a little more thin than what I'm used to. I usually get a more full, creamy bodied feel to the beer and this was less like that. Brian told me that Florida has its own style of stout, and that's what this is. It really tasted good, and its texture and feel were that way by design. I had not heard of this before but that's the Florida way I guess, according to Brian. "Down here in the heat, people don't like the thicker, heavier styles." I told him I detected an Anise or liquorice flavor. He said that was "...from the backend of the Spanish coffee beans used". I wonder if that's on their marketing material.
A few other things about the brewery I noted: This is the third year for this location. They have their own brewer, separate from the main brewery. (He was unfortunately out doing research during my visit. That's dedication to the art!) Their most popular beer is the Beach Blonde. They have release parties for new beers. There was one coming up and Lindsay showed me a flyer on it. For food, they share the kitchen with Hooter's, but their menu is their own. And of course, they have fabulous sunsets!
This was a fun and unique stop on the tour. I hope you all get a chance to visit 3 Daughters Brewing!
Until the next stop - happy times to you!
Picture in your mind what the inside of a brewery looks like. There are usually high ceilings, dimly lit perhaps, wooden barrels of beer as dark as the stout within them. They sometimes have wooden floors and black walls. They're always fun and can just make you feel good, but they're often dark and lit only by lights and signs and maybe the glow shining off the patrons. Well 3 Daughters delivers on the fun and making you feel good, but in the most light and Florida bright way.
It is an open seating brewery, exposed to the Gulf where the wind blows through whatever amount of hair you have. HBT went there on a warm and sunny day and I hope everyone can experience it like that when you visit. This Clearwater Beach, Florida brewery was planted here by the main brewery in St. Petersburg. That original brewery has a fascinating story that I hope you read, revealing how the brewery got its name. But this is the Clearwater Beach offspring and as per HBT requirements, it brews its own version of the beers on-site. I showed up just after lunch for a flight.
One of the themes that Clyde and I seem to run into a lot is that breweries are often a challenge to find. That usually happens if it's small and tucked away in some warehouse district or on an industrial street. But I had no excuse with 3 Daughters because they have a huge sign on the top of the building. But there I was, looking around one side of the building and the other to find the entrance. So I can offer some help for those that might need it. The huge sign is of course how you can narrow down the correct building. You'll see it right above the Hooter's sign so that helps. But the stairway going up to it doesn't have good brewery signage. At least it was not completely obvious to me. I later found a secret elevator that was hidden. But for now, I marched up the stairs, full of faith and thirst. I got to the first landing and I saw an elevator. That seemed terribly helpful but I knew it was only one more floor. I turned and saw the Hooter's entrance and this is where you guys will want to keep walking up the stairs to the brewery.
This was a fun and unique stop on the tour. I hope you all get a chance to visit 3 Daughters Brewing!
Until the next stop - happy times to you!
