By Nanette Wiser
OKTOBERFEST
Many bars and breweries (Green Bench, Bayboro Brewing) roll out the barrel in September-October with community festivals (Indian Rocks Beach, Curtis Hixon Park, The Pier) in October. The German American Society of Pinellas 9/29-10/7 is among the most authentic with a large variety of imported German and domestic beers; delicious traditional German foods, desserts, and coffee; bier stein holding contest; awesome traditional and modern music; keg tapping ceremony; parade of flags; kids’ corner; and Ursel’s Boutique, and other vendors, with some unbelievable merchandise. Admission $10; children 12 and under free. Free admission for military members with active military IDs. Located at 8098 66th St. N, Pinellas Park; limited parking so Uber or rideshare. germantampa.com/oktoberfest
SPORTS BARS It’s football season! Time for seasonal fall brews and sports bars. It only comes but once a year, and Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale is in a glass with Pumpkinhead’s Cinnamon & Sugar Rimmer is my fave and pairs well with Sea Dog Brew Pub’s happy hour and appetizers as well as their football specials. With games upstairs and downstairs, three bars and enough TVs for your college or pro football games, this is an Ohio State alumni hangout. Dine in or pick up beer and food to go. At BJ’s in Pinellas Park and Clearwater, we enjoyed this summer’s White Peach Boba-Rita and Spicy Mango Margarita. It’s the ultimate sports bar, with dozens of appetizers, pizza, flatbread and seasonal dishes and extraordinary IPA and Pilsners. While summer lasts, order the Hickory Brisket Nachos, Big Twist Pretzel with BJ’s Brewhouse Blonde® beer cheese and honey Dijon mustard for dipping, and sharable dessert Pizookie! If you want gourmet pizza and brews, Slyce is the hot spot, and the Madeira Beach location’s view of the Gulf is spectacular. Clear Sky on Park is ready for fans, with happy hour Mon.-Fri. 2-6pm and dozens of beers on tap, top shelf liquor and perhaps the best smoked old-fashioned in town plus burgers, sushi, flatbreads, pizza, and Asian/Latin starters. Locals flock to Five Bucks Drinkery, Eddie’s Bar & Grill (the newest one is in Bay Pines), Dog & Parrot, Friendly Tavern, Ft. Knox, Guilty Sea Sports Pub, Daiquiri Shak, Localz, Angry Pepper, Caddy’s, Toasted Monkey, Ricky T’s, The R Bar, RumFish Grill, Burger-ish, Crabby’s IRB, The Wharf, Mad Beach Craft Brewing and The Brass Monkey.