Finally my Grandma can change out that crappy butterscotch to something I will eat. Available in two hop varieties from Cascade and Fuggles there is something for every beer fan. Check them out from Williams Brewing; http://www.williamsbrewing.com/CASCADE-HOP-CANDY-P2794C255.aspx

About two months ago I was pulling out of Total Wine in Tampa with a two mix-six packs of delicious beer that I have or will review for this badass site you’re reading (thanks for reading, Mom!). As I pulled out I witnessed something attention grabbing… a sign that read “Brick House Coming Soon.” I was intrigued. My interest was peaked. So I made sure to google it when I got home. Sure enough a new bar was opening up and it was going to have a grand selection of beer (over 70 total). Holy shit. Sold.

Well about two weeks ago the Brick House opened and today my lady friend and I got to try it out.

Upon walking in, the decor is pretty cool. The place is open air around the bar, which is nice, and has tables, chairs, couches, and recliners as seating options. The recliners have tables and are by TVs which is great if you’re looking to watch a game.

The beer menu is pretty good. It has most of the normal beers (see: Bud, Coors, Miller, Corona) and they mix in some others like Magic Hat, Dogfish and Hop Devil by Victory Brewing. What sets this place apart from others is the apparatus from which you can drink. You have the option of “sissy” (16 oz) “MAN” (20 oz) 1/2 beer bong, beer bong or table side keg. I shit you not.You can get an actual table side keg, albeit you only have three choices and need six people to order it, but how awesome is that?!?! The full bong requires four people so we opted for the 1/2 bong of Magic Hat #9. Good price @ $13 a pop.

Our waitress thought it was a good idea to sit down and read the entire drink and food menu to us, and gave us her “playing card” which apparently all waitresses have. It speaks to things they like, their bday, etc. Odd, but OK, I can vibe with it. The menu reading I didn’t need and it was more annoying than informative. On to the important stuff….

We ordered blue and white chips, which had queso and blue cheese and were pretty damn good. We also got the bacon mac n cheese which was also tasty with a great smokey bacon flavor. We decided to split the “Fondue Mushroom Burger” and I’ll be honest, it sucked. It was so bland my palate was screaming for me to suck  down the salt and pepper shakers. I mean, how does a burger have NO flavor? Burger King is fast food and those fucking things are pre made, yet somehow they have a taste that puts Brick House to shame. Needless to say we were disappointed.

All of that said (if you read all of this, you’re a damn saint) the Brick House is a pretty cool place. They have good appetizers and sides, attractive waitresses, competitive prices and novelty ways to drink beer. However if you’re looking for a good burger, there’s a BK right down the street.

In The Beginning…

My trip began on July 5th. A friend who I hadn’t seen in many years was visiting relatives in Pensacola. Since I live in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, several hundred miles away, we agreed to meet  halfway.

The midway point we decided to meet was where I-75 North and 10-E meet. A “quaint” little town called Live Oak, which happens to be a part of Suwannee County.

Not having brushed up on my Floridian Law (or at least my Suwannee County Law) we hadn’t realized that Suwannee County is one of only 5 Dry Counties in Florida.

We started by grabbing a bite to eat at “Big Daddy’s” BBQ. I ate some of the best sliced pork I had ever had, the ribs were a little dry, and you guessed it, no beer! So we set off looking for some hole in the wall bar to grab a cold one and reminisce about old times.

On our way out the door we noticed a little 70-75 year old woman getting out of her pick-up whose front license plate read, “Lee Surrendered, I Didn’t!” Yea, my thoughts exactly, an awesome start to what would soon become a very memorable day.

After pulling into a local auto parts store, we asked a man behind the counter who can only be described as Larry the Cable Guy (sans-humor) if there was a bar in this town? ”Down Yonder ’bout 2 miles on the left past the pet store.” So off we went, hesitantly. Apparently “dry” is a relative term, and those relatives are inbred.

As we’re pulling away I couldn’t help but notice, every vehicle in the lot was a Chevy truck, not that this is a big deal… I mean, I’m a Ford guy, but Chevy’s are great trucks. The issue I had was over half of them, 4 to be exact, had some sort of rebel flag, either painted on the truck, or sticker somewhere announcing some form of southern pride. OK, OK.. yes this is America. God bless it!  We have the freedom to do things that outwardly promote our beliefs without fear, but I have a very hard time believing this was some sort of political statement.

Oh, and for the record, “Yonder”, I come to find out, is a general direction, not necessarily the direction someone is pointing. And “’bout 2 miles”, means 3-4 miles, for those keeping track.

The Bar: Hammerheads

There it is.. just around the corner… Finally. A place for us to sit and talk over a beer, smoking a Marlboro and catching up on who’s been doin’ what for the past 10 years. (cue the sound of a needle scratching vinyl)…

A gravel parking lot graced the entrance to, what could only be described as a double-wide trailer with a covered porch. I don’t recall seeing any neon beer signs or drink specials. Though I may have been too terrorized (swearing I could hear Dueling Banjos off in the distance) to pay attention. But dammit we were gonna get a beer even if I had to take one for the team!

We walked in to a room so dark I couldn’t tell if I was walking on a dirt floor of if it was just my mind playing tricks on me. For the sake of the story, they were dirt.

Lit only by old multi-colored Christmas lights, the smell of cigarettes filled the room. Off in the corner there were a few, what looked like teenagers, playing darts, but using blow-guns instead of throwing them. That’s right, blow guns.

We bellied up to the bar and my friend asked for a Jack and Coke, and I asked what was on tap. “We don’t sell liquor and only have bottles of beer. Bud, Bud Light, and Miller Lite” she answered. They did however have the most impressive selection of Segram’s wine coolers I had ever seen. But I digress.

So my friend had a Mike’s Hard Lemonade and I had a Bud Light. I hadn’t had a Bud Light in years. All I can say is, “Water”… After drinking so many different home brew, craft beers and micro brews over the past couple years, Bud Light tastes like water.. Ok… Beer-flavored water. But that’s all you’re getting out of me.

Needless to say we only stayed for one drink, but we not only got to catch up, we had a pretty intelligent conversation with the bar tender and a few other people at the bar as well.

Summary

Looks can be deceiving. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Beauty is only skin deep. Whatever cliche you want to use…we had stereotyped this small town based on only a few simple observations. We poked fun at them, rolled our eyes, and at times even got nervous about what we were getting into. But once we took the time to get to know a few of them, even if it was only a couple hours, we had it all wrong. They are people just like you and me. People doing what people do with what they got. So no matter where you are, the combination of good food, good people, and good bee.. well 2 out of three ain’t bad?

The next time you’re driving through Florida on I-10, make sure you swing by Live Oak, and stop by Hammerheads. It’s just “down Yonder ’bout 2 miles on the left past the pet store”.  Tell Stephanie, I said “Hi” and ask her about her Harleys.

Are you looking for a great atmosphere to kick back and chill with some good friends after a long days work? Or maybe to get a little wild on the weekend while downing cocktails poolside?

If so, The Hula Bay Club and Duke’s Retired Surfer’s Island Bar have it all. Located on the Tampa side of the Gandy bridge right off Westshore  you will find this amazing slice of paradise.

You have your choice of the more layed back restaurant atmosphere of Hula Bay or the party atmosphere of Duke’s Retired Surfer’s Island Bar.

Hula Bay has some amazing appetizers and even better entrees ranging from chicken wings to sushi. On the Duke’s side, you will have more of the party feel with it’s outside bar and awesome water views over looking Tampa Bay.  On top f it all the service was spectacular. I rarely waited on a drink.  My server had a second one in my hand before the other was gone.

If your unsure of where to go on your next outing, I highly suggest you try the Hula Bay Club. You won’t regret it and I can promise it won’t be your last time there.

Make sure to tell them ThirstEase sent ya.

Hula Bay Club and Duke’s Retired Surfer’s Island Bar
5210 W. Tyson Avenue Tampa, FL 33611

Phone:
813.837.4852

Hours:
Closed Mondays
Sun, Tues – Thurs 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat 11am – Midnight

http://www.hulabayclub.com/

The Angry Pepper is a nice hidden treasure of Maderia Beach, with a beer selection that is a very pleasant surprise.

Located next to a strip mall shopping center off the corner of a busy intersection, the Angry Pepper smokes away 12-16 hours a day making some of the best BBQ you could find anywhere. Boasting a full menu of smokey treats like pulled pork and chipotle chicken, St. Louis Style Ribs and the Big Ass Smoked Sausage, they have everyone covered when it comes to eats. A relaxed atmosphere where A/C is not a luxury, but to be honest, you don’t seem to mind when you kick off your flip flops and peruse the extensive beer menu consisting of 125 bottles and 26 beers on tap. I myself ordered a nice big portion of the their Smoked Fish Spread and paired it up with a 60 min IPA from Dogfish Head Brewery. Not only did the smokey, rich fish melt in my mouth, but the IPA and smoke melded together to make the perfect combination for a Florida Summer.

To sum it up: the prices are good, the portions are generous and the beer is cold. What more can you truly ask for in a BBQ place? How about a nice view of the water of the open air deck that surrounds the side of the restaurant. Yeah. We will go back to the Pepper and we hope if you are over in Maderia Beach you will stop in. Tell them ThirstEase sent ya.

The Angry Pepper Waterside Smokeshack and Grill
4330 Duhme Road
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
PH: 727-391-0800
Fax: 727-391-0802
Open 7 days a week from 11am till midnight.