I'm not sure if there was a past Best Up-And-Coming Beer Guy but for this year I'm Tampa's Best Up-And-Coming Beer Guy. It's cool, but I realize this is really a Cigar City Brewing award and for that I have to say thanks to Wayne Wambles, CCB's head brewer and to the kick-ass Tampa Bay beer community that inspired me to pursue this brewing thing.

Staff Pick
BEST UP-AND-COMING BEER GUY: Joey Redner, Cigar City Brewing
3924 W. Spruce St
813-348-6363

Yes, he’s that guy’s son. His nearly functional brewery smack dab in the heart of Tampa is going to up the area’s sudsy quotient when it starts churning out beer this month. Another aficionado turned entrepreneur like Sylvester (Best Beer Local), Redner has managed to increase the number of local, independent breweries by half, elevating the Bay area’s brew cred and further inspiring local budding beer crafters. With the help of experienced brewer Wayne Wambles, Cigar City plans on hitting the highlights with offerings like Jai Alai PA, a guava-infused Belgian ale, and pilsners, stouts and porters, along with special, limited-edition beers that “are unapologetically over the top.” 3924 W. Spruce St., Tampa, 813-348-6363, cigarcitybeer.com

Direct Link Here

                            

Now, If Creative Loafing can make up a category called BEST UP-AND-COMING BEER GUY I hold out hope that they can also include the following categories in 2009's Best of the Bay Awards:

Best Local Brewery: There are some to chose from! Saint Somewhere, TBBC, Dunedin, Yuengling, Sarasota...Hops.
Best Local Beer: Again there is no lack of beers to choose from.
Best Beer Shop: If it should be done for wine shops it should be done for beer shops.
Best Local Home Brewer: Why not?
Best Local Home Brew Club: Again why not?
Best Local Beer Scene Supporter: Between JB, Tony, all the home brew crews and members and the many other good beer supporters out there finding nominees would be easy.

And congratulations to Bob Sylvester of Saint Somewhere Brewing for winning Best Local Beer Hero. If you haven't hear about Bob he makes great beer that you really should try! His beers are now being distributed in many states and he is a source of pride among the folks that make up the Bay Area and Florida beer scene.

Staff Pick
BEST LOCAL BEER HERO: Bob Sylvester, Saint Somewhere Brewing Company
813-503-6181

We’ve tracked Sylvester’s ascent from a $50 Mr. Beer homebrew kit to his very own, admittedly tiny, brewery tucked into an industrial space in Tarpon Springs. Among homebrewers who dream of turning hobby into calling, he’s a rock star. Among beer aficionados, his bottle-conditioned Belgian saison and flagship Lectio Divina strong ale are prized. He’s also stuck to his roots, literally, by producing an uber-Florida beer infused with fragrant palmetto berries and hibiscus. Bob’s an average working Joe who made the transition from the daily grind of menswear sales to churning out delicious ales. Saint Somewhere Brewing Company, Tarpon Springs, 813-503-6181, saintsomewherebrewing.com

Cheers,
Joey