9 Best Nightlife in The Tampa Bay Area, Florida

On tap at this local craft brewery, set in a converted industrial space, is a spate of excellent in-house creations (the Bimini Twist IPA is a favorite). There's live music some nights, as well as a few game options. The brewery is also close enough to Central Avenue to walk (or take a short trolley ride) to or from Tropicana Field and Grand Central District restaurants.

Northern Pinellas County is a hotbed for craft brewing. This small tasting room features this brewery's offerings, largely Belgian-style, spirit barrel-aged sour beer as well as IPAs, and a handful of others. It's near downtown Dunedin's shopping, dining, and nightlife and isn't too far from the Pinellas Trail.

Fans of IPAs, saisons, stouts, you name it (even kombucha) will find their brew of choice on the lengthy list of draft beverages at this cornerstone of St. Petersburg's exploding exploding craft beer scene. Live music is also regularly on tap, and although there's some seating inside, the action tends to happen out in the courtyard, where there are plenty of tables and space for listeners to gather when there's a band playing. Although the place is a late-night draw, kids and dogs are welcome, and you can grab food from one of several nearby restaurants to accompany your brew.

Tampa Bay is seen by many as a flourishing craft beer hub, but, if it weren't for Dunedin Brewery, that might not be the case. It was the first of its kind in the area and continues to offer delicious brews to throngs of patrons. It doesn't hurt that it offers live music many nights of the week, either.

This taproom and event venue offers everything from lagers and lighter styles to hoppy IPAs and darker beers (including some tasty stouts) and sours. Although it has spacious indoor and outdoor seating areas, you can also grab a seat at the brewery's neighboring LALA expansion, which features French-inspired American cuisine, craft cocktails, and private karaoke rooms.

The name of this bar is a nod to the green benches that once lined Central Avenue and were often occupied by retirees. But the Sunshine City has shaken its rap as a sleepy retirement town and has become a craft beer town, as evidenced by breweries like this one. Barkeeps here serve brews made on-site as well as those from a few guest kegs. The interior has a lodgelike feel (as much as a bar can in Florida), but the real atmosphere is outside, where Adirondack chairs and badminton sets are scattered across the lawn. It's also just a couple of blocks from Tropicana Field, so the place can get packed before and after the Rays play.

Until very recently, Tampa Bay's beach towns were something of a craft beer dead zone, even as the rest of the region teemed with such establishments. This spot, located in John's Pass, is a shining example of how things are changing. Most of the draft beers are brewed on-site, though there are a few guest taps. There's plenty of space at the bar, and the barroom is not only massive, but it's also styled after a German beer hall—large tables and all. There's foosball and indoor beanbag tossing if you're feeling competitive, live music many nights, and a bar-food menu.

Just off Downtown's main drag, this welcoming tasting room offers tons of craft beer options, including longtime local favorite, St. Pete Orange Wheat. There's plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, the clientele tends to be friendly, and this is one of the best places to grab a beer if you have a dog in tow.

If you happen to be riding on the Pinellas Trail between Clearwater and Tarpon Springs, this friendly place makes a great stop. (It's also right on Alternate U.S. 19, though it can be hard to spot from the road since it's in a small strip mall.) Beers such as the Pinellas Trail Cream Ale or the Soul Candy Milk Stout are brewed on site, though there are also some guest taps. Note the small room off to the side: it's packed with vintage video games.