Hidden Springs Ale Works — Restaurant in Tampa

When I was in Tampa, Florida on a beer tour of the city in support of my beer blog, I made it a point to visit some of the best breweries the city has to offer. I also wanted to visit and experience a large number of places and the Brew Bus service helped make this possible. One of the places I visited as part of the brew bus was Hidden Springs Ale Works.

Hidden Springs Ale Works is, like its name indicates, a little bit hidden away and I could see how some guests may have a challenge finding it. I didn’t have this issue because the bus dropped us off right at the entrance and the moment I walked inside, I could see that Hidden Springs is an extremely low- key type of brewery and I felt right at home immediately.

The taproom at Hidden Springs Ale Works consists of long, communal style tables with artwork on the walls plus a refrigerator containing cans of beer to go. With the artwork, much of it is available as a print for a small price. Just go to the bar and let them know which work of art you like, have them add it to your tab, and the print is yours.

What matters most at any brewery is, of course, the beer and Hidden Springs Ale Works has about 20 taps of beer behind the bar with an assortment that includes IPA, pale ale, sours, stouts, and others. Some beers are more popular than others and they may run out of a few of them, so don’t be too disappointed if all 20 taps aren’t flowing when you arrive. Look behind the bar, above the taps, and you will see small, individual boards indicating which beers are available. They remove the small boards once a beer runs out so a quick glance and count of these boards will let you know how many kegs are tapped and flowing.

With so many choices, you may not be sure which beer you like but this is not a problem- just ask for a taster. The bartenders are more than happy to provide a quick taste for guests, before they commit to a full serving. I tried a few tasters myself and then went with a flight of four beers. I liked every beer I tried and I also liked the flight serving board, with the individual gears to hold each of the glasses. The design is more creative and eye- catching than the typical flight serving board.

Tampa, Florida is a beer city on the rise and Hidden Springs Ale Works is a place you want to visit. You can make the stop here as part of the Brew Bus service or pay a visit on your own. The quality brew, the artwork, the extremely laid back atmosphere, and the service are enough to make Hidden Springs Ale Works an experience you’re...

As bland as it seems from the outside it is a surprise when you enter the very welcoming and slightly quirky inside. Good, inclusive vibes paired with energy and an obvious love for the trade. We sat down at the bar and talked between us about what beers we should order when the bartender handed us two samples: an IPA and a wheat. He must have overheard us and we were happy to sample the beers. A flight and 2 beers later, a brew master gave us a spontaneous tour of the brewery and I was very surprised to find a 20 barrel brew house, and several 40 and even 60 barrel fermenters, a caning line, and a depelletizer. I had not seen Hidden Springs on beer shelves but was informed that Trader Joe and ABC carry their cans. The beers are ... experimental. Do not expect a middle down the road beer and whatever style we tried, there was always a twist to the beer. Purists might be a bit confused but the open minded connoisseur of malt beverages will experience a firework...

They have only been opened a couple weeks when I visited and I do believe they will get much better with time, so please consider it's early in their opening process and I get the feeling they will work out the kinks.

The beer was good, decent but I would not place it as spectacular. The interior space is nice, smells fresh and looks super clean. It's a bit dim inside and has a gloomy atmosphere/feel. The walls lack any type of decorations with the exception of one wall that has two paintings. The bar top area has plenty of seating. In the main area there is also plenty of table top seating in the social area. It's a nice space I just think they need to make it feel more cozy and inviting and it will be great.

There is parking directly across the street but it says you can be towed. I asked the bartender about that he he said it is alright to park there. I would just verify because...