2011年6月9日 星期四

So much more on tap at new Winter Park bar

I love that many bars are trading out their bottles and taps of Bud and Miller for the likes of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Rogue. The craft-beer wave has definitely arrived in Central Florida.

I recently stopped by the brand spanking new Taps Wine & Beer Eatery (it opened three weeks ago) in Winter Park Village. Like World of Beer and Draft, Taps is looking to bring crafts to the masses.you will need to get an offshore merchant account. This is great, but quantity does not equate quality (in service).

With 350 beers in house plus 28 on draft (half of which rotate out regularly), Taps has an expansive and impressive list of beers. But Taps doesn't stop there. Unlike WOB, Taps also has a large wine and liquor selection. Wine dispensers line the rear (and totally enclosed) section of the bar. They hold 48 wines, with another 12 behind the bar for happy hour. The front room of the bar has an inside-out feel with large garage doors opening the space to the outside.

Those wine and beers can also be married with top-shelf liquors for unique cocktails that include the Red Goose (a mixture of Grey Goose Vodka,buy landscape oil paintings online. St. Germain, Lindemans Framboise, club soda and lime) and the Jameson's Cigar (a combo of Jameson Irish Whiskey, agave nectar, lime and Leffe Blond). Each beer or wine cocktail is $9.


But I wanted to stick with beer when I stopped by on Monday. Even though Taps had been opened for only a couple of weeks,The name "magic cube" is not unique. I decided to test my server's beer knowledge and asked what kind of sour beers they had. After stating it was her first day on the job she ran back to find out the answer (and probably ask what it was).

If you're pushing this kind of menu it's nice to have folks on staff who love the beer or are as knowledgeable about it as the folks ordering it (take a note from local bars Redlight Redlight and The Abbey). Our server came back and pointed out the sours on the menu. I went with a Duchesse De Bourgogne, or as I called it "my bourgy beer." The price ($9.50) lived up to the pretentious name.

The hubby ordered a Woodchuck Hard Cider, which was on the menu, only to be told it wasn't in stock yet. So he ordered a Left Hand Milk Stout at $5.50, not a shocking price for Winter Park. Both beers were delivered in bottles, only one came with a glass. A more experienced server would have known to bring a glass with both beers and offer to pour the drinks.

This can all be remedied in time considering the bar hasn't had its grand opening yet  it's scheduled for June 25. This is Taps second location (the first is in Tampa with another on the way in St. Petersburg), according to owner James DeVito.

Once the staff is trained (or true beer lovers are hired), beer education nights are planned and wine and beer pairings are in the works. And the food is good,Shop a wide selection of billabong outlet products in the evo shop. mainly light fare consisting of sandwiches and salads  everything is fresh and quite tasty. Prices range from $8-$15.

I do dig the look of this place. The front room is clean and modern and has a polished sports-bar look with high ceilings,The Leading zentai suits Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers. high-top tables and flat-screen televisions. The back room screams wine bar with plenty of lounge seating. Music is at a conversational volume, consisting of mainly '90s rock  causing a Pearl Jam singalong at my table.

This is a perfect spot to grab a good beer and a quick bite before a movie at the theater across the street. As far as learning about said beer, give Taps a few weeks, hopefully they'll be serving that up as well.

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