Sarasota vs. Beer! 2k12!

This is what it's all about.  For me, the best thing to consumer with beer is the OYSTER.  Chasing an oyster with a good bitter ale or lager is like jubilation party time in my mouth.  Hooray for Siesta Key Oyster Bar!

During this year's Sarasota Jeff+Angela 4EVR Excursion, I had plenty of oysters and beer.  Mixing oysters with Cigar City Jai Alai is a wondrous thing.  Jai Alai is a great IPA that I really looking forward to having in Sarasota, and here's the good news: craft beer has exploded in Sarasota... Jai Alai was probably at half the places we visited.  Lido Beach even went from one to five taps at their tiny snack bar.  Wowzers!  *Honorable mention oyster beer: Bells Oberon.  This is a really good american wheat beer with just enough hopness oging on to make it an ideal summer beer for me... Too bad we can get it up here in PY!

BUT WHAT WAS YOUR DAILY BEACH BEER YOU ASK?! Every morning, I’d fill my little insulated lunch box with ice and CLICHES!  It was two cans of Corona for Angela and me at the beach each day, and we have no regrets.  Light Mexican lager goes really well on that hot, sunny Siesta Beach.  Throw in a couple of pretzels and a swim or two along the way and you have what I believe is known to many as "IDEAL LIFE SITUATION."

Along the way I did pick up some delicious and notable beers.  Here they are with in no particular order with a subjective rating (out of 10) and brief description:

Ruckus Brewing Hoptimus Prime Double IPA (9): Very drinkable and not too sweet/malty for me. Very piney and floral.  One of the better DIPAs I've had. 

Bells Two Hearted (AKA Smells Poo Farted) (9)- A Really drinkable IPA, not complex as Flower Power or as in your face as Green Flash, though.  Like it a lot!

Coronado Sculpin IPA (8)- Another great IPA, more West-Coasty than Bells.  Might not be at its freshest, kind of a stale aftertaste.

Unibroue Grande Reserve 17 (10)- Had it over three nights.  A REALLY good Belgian Strong Dark because it's super complex and not too sweet on the finish.  More bitter than many I had in the style.  This one was aged for one year.

I did enjoy some other beers whilst travelling, however I feel there's no need to regurgitate each little detail concerning my rooftop tapas/cerveza española or my luxurious shared meals on St. Armands Circle featuring Sam Adams, a large octopus tentacle, and an oyster shooter (A mini martini glass with a raw oyster, horseradish, cocktail sauce, and vodka), so I won't?! HA!

SARASOTA RULEZ!