What are the best craft beer bars in Sarasota-Bradenton? Here are 12 of our favorites for drinking and eating - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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The top local craft beer bars and what to drink, and eat, when you visit.

Sarasota-Manatee has long been home to plenty of places to enjoy a cold beer in a great setting. And in recent years we've been lucky enough to welcome several standout craft beers and breweries, with even further expansion plans for Sarasota's Big Top and Calusa Brewing and Bradenton's Good Liquid Brewing Company all recently announced.

But as the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. Sometimes along with your favorite Florida craft brews, you might want to try a sour from North Carolina or a Belgian-style beer actually from Belgium – or all three – without having to buy them at the liquor store and drink them at home, perhaps alone. 

Luckily, the popularity of craft beer in recent years means there are now multiple Sarasota-Manatee bars specializing in the trendy adult beverage. Along with numerous beers on tap plus bottles and cans from across the country or globe, many also offer top-shelf pub grub to pair with the brews in a fun, inviting atmosphere.

Here are 12 of our favorite local craft beer bars, excluding national chains such as University Town Center's recently opened Ford's Garage, which originated in Fort Myers. In addition to noting the beer selections at each place, we highlight some of our favorite foods served at the bars that also operate as restaurants. 

What are the best restaurants and bars in Sarasota-Manatee? Here are lists of our favorites

Local brews:10 great Sarasota-Bradenton craft beers

3.14 Pi Craft Beer & Spirits

5263 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key; 941-346-1188; siestapi.com

While Siesta Key Village has plenty of fun bars offering serviceable fried foods and such, discerning drinkers and diners make a beeline south on bustling Ocean Boulevard to 3.14 Pi Craft Beer & Spirits. Conveniently located right across the street from Siesta Key Beach Resort and Suites, the bar offers 16 rotating taps of craft brews ranging from local faves to enticing finds from across the country such as the Peanut Butter Cup Stout from the brewery Untitled Art in Wisconsin, which was among the selections offered earlier this month. The bar serves cocktails, too, and some of Siesta Key's best comfort foods – including, yes, pizza pies, and some yummy baked chicken wings. Plus, there's plenty of outdoor seating spilling out into the parking lot shared with sister restaurant Blasé Café, which has been a local favorite since 1997.

Dining and drinking guide: 15 best Siesta Key Village restaurants and bars

99 Bottles

1445 Second St., Sarasota; 941-487-7874; 99bottles.net

Opened in 2019 by Mark Tuchman, who formerly owned the sadly since-closed Gulf Gate craft beer bar Mr. Beery's, this taproom and bottle shop brings a robust selection of craft brews and wine to the heart of downtown Sarasota. Along with around 30 beers on tap from Florida, other states and Germany, and several wines by the glass, 99 Bottles' retail space offers additional package beer/wine options and accessories such as crowlers/growlers. It also serves a menu of bar bites, such as a soft pretzel with satisfying spicy mustard that pairs well with a beer, and hosts regular "kitchen takeovers" from local food purveyors, as well as a bagel brunch Friday-Sunday.

Bar Tab: 99 Bottles brings enjoyable craft beer, wine spot to downtown Sarasota

Bar News: Mr. Beery's in Sarasota closing permanently

Cock & Bull

975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-363-1262; cnbpub.com

UPDATE: Cock & Bull announced Wednesday that Sarasota brewery Big Top Brewing Company will move into its 975 Cattlemen Road location and operate as a taproom, in what it called "the biggest tap takeover ever." Big Top said it plans to assume the space by Sept. 1. 

According to its Facebook page, Cock & Bull temporarily closed recently for "much needed renovations," but it's impossible to discuss Sarasota-Manatee craft beer bars without mentioning it. Opened in 1997 on downtown Sarasota's Main Street before moving to its current Cattlemen Road location in 2002, the pub touts 40 taps and hundreds of bottled options, with BeerAdvocate naming it the sixth best bar to have a beer in the country in 2006. Cock & Bull is also much-loved for its handcrafted pizzas and pretzels (recently adding bagels to its food offerings as well). Plus, there's a beer garden with fire pit and events including live music, with Bradenton-raised, national alt-R&B artist R.LUM.R saying performing there was "a really, really big deal for me."

More: R.LUM.R talks growing up in Bradenton, 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

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Craft Growlers to Go & Tasting Room

8141 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch; 941-822-8131; craftgrowlerstogo.com

Opened in 2016 on Lakewood Ranch's Main Street, Craft Growlers to Go & Tasting Room serves a wide range of craft beer that – as its name implies – are available either to bring home with you via growlers or drink in the taproom. There are 45 taps featuring a rotating selection of local, national and international craft beers and ciders/meads, as well as wine, kombucha and soda. In addition to offering retail merchandise (including growlers, if you don't have your own) and live music on the weekends, Craft Growlers serves food with favorites such as the Cuban sandwich, soft pretzel and pizza/flatbreads.  

Bar Tab: Craft Growlers to Go offers wide craft selection in Lakewood Ranch

Loaded Barrel Tavern

450 Old Main St., Bradenton; 941-745-8433; facebook.com/theloadedbarreltavern

The best-known bartender/owner in Bradenton, Paul Kotlarczyk built a loyal following on Old Main Street while slinging beers at Lost Kangaroo before opening The Distillery by the old DeSoto Square Mall about 15 years ago. Kotlarczyk returned to Old Main Street to open The Distillery Tavern, now The Loaded Barrel Tavern, nearly a decade ago. The bar, which recently became nonsmoking, serves local and national craft beers as well as international selections on 11 taps, with lots of bottle and can options constantly changing. Loaded Barrel also serves cocktails as well as downtown Bradenton's only late-night pizza option. By the slice or pie, these include ridiculously delicious weekly specials such as the Cuban sandwich pizza, the blackened chicken Caesar salad option, and the Memphis Yard Bird Pizza with ranch dressing base, mozzarella, barbecue chicken, bacon, mild banana pepper, and mild jalapenos. 

Best restaurants in downtown Bradenton: And what to eat and drink when you get there!

Lost Kangaroo Pub

406 Old Main St., Bradenton; 941-747-8114; lostkangaroopub.com

For more than three decades, Lost Kangaroo Pub has been a top downtown Bradenton destination for serious beer drinkers. Jim Booth opened the place in 1989 at 427 Old Main St., where O'Bricks' bar is now located, and the pub specialized in an impressive selection of import beers. Sold to the Woodring family in 1994, the Lost Kangaroo eventually relocated across the street to its larger and equally charming current home while transitioning to more craft beers, which now occupy most of the 30 rotating taps along with international options. The pub, which is now nonsmoking, also offers lots of interesting bottle and can selections while serving craft cocktails. too. There's no food, but during the afternoon and early evening it's not uncommon to spot a bar patron noshing on some of the famed pizza, stromboli or subs from neighboring Fav's Italian Cucina. Oh, and The 'Roo, as us locals call it, also has a bunch of pinball machines for those seeking some old-school fun while sipping on that pint. 

Bar Tab: Lost Kangaroo Pub is a Bradenton classic

The Mable Bar & Grill

2831 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-487-7373; themablebar.com

Located across the street from Ringling College of Art and Design, this craft beer bar earned a following with students, North Trail residents and others over the years under the name Growler's Pub before rebranding as The Mable, named after John Ringling's wife and The Ringling co-founder Mable Ringling. It still focuses on craft beer, with around 30 taps (though it also now serves liquor), as well as fun events like trivia and open mic nights. The Mable also added a kitchen during its rebrand, with popular menu items including the burger, tater tots, chicken wings and a top-notch falafel pita.

More: Growler's Pub in Sarasota to finish The Mable rebranding by adding kitchen

Mandeville Beer Garden

428 N. Lemon Ave., Sarasota; 941-954-8688; mbgsrq.com

Touting the phrase "beer here," this restaurant/bar that opened in Sarasota's Rosemary District neighborhood in 2015 sports 33 taps featuring local, national and European brews in a variety of styles, along with bottled/canned offerings and the option to order a beer flight. Those can be paired with top-shelf pub grub including the Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich, bratwurst, hot dogs and one of Sarasota's best burgers. You can enjoy your brews and bites inside or at the beer garden, featuring games and space for children to play, with Mandeville billing itself as kid and dog-friendly. Music buff? Check out the Monday night trivia game, which draws an enthusiastic crowd of competitive regulars.

Bar Tab: Mandeville Beer Garden makes great first impression

Oak & Stone

1201 First Ave. W., Bradenton; 941-357-4306; 5405 University Parkway, University Park; 941-225-4590; 4067 Clark Road, Sarasota; 941-893-4881; oakandstone.com

Launched by locals including members of the Seidensticker family with the University Parkway location in 2017, Oak & Stone now has units across Sarasota, Manatee, Pinellas and Collier counties – each armed with a wall of 40-60 taps of local and national craft brews. The beer wall, featuring helpful information on each brew, is a you-pour-it system wherein you pay by the tenth of an ounce, allowing for lots and lots of sampling if so desired, at a reasonable price. Oak & Stone also serves craft cocktails with a menu of comfort food classics with creative twists. These includes super-thin, stone-fired pizzas, slow-roasted wings and one of Sarasota-Manatee's best burgers. Looking for the top craft beer drinking experience in the region? Check out The Deck. It's the downtown Bradenton Oak & Stone's eighth-floor rooftop bar equipped with its own beer wall, bar and dining area overlooking the Manatee River and Tampa Bay. 

Oak & Stone opening rooftop bar, restaurant in downtown Bradenton

Origin Craft Beer & Pizza Cafe

1837 Hillview St., Sarasota, 941-316-9222; 5070 Palmer Plaza Blvd., Sarasota; 941-217-6533; 8193 Tourist Center Drive, Bradenton; 941-358-5850; originpizzacafe.com

Opened in Sarasota's Southside Village neighborhood in 2016, Origin Craft Beer & Pizza Cafe's titular pairing has proved popular enough that it's since opened two other locations, in Palmer Ranch and University Town Center. Origin's Southside Village and UTC locations each have 16 taps (Palmer Ranch has eight) featuring a rotating selection of Florida and national craft beers, with additional canned/bottled options and brewery tap takeovers, also hosting a SRQ Craft Beer Festival in past years. The beloved thin-crust pizzas range from classic styles to Mediterranean-inspired pies with gyro or falafel and hummus, with the restaurant also serving expert wings, baked rather than fried, with us highly recommending the mango habanero sauce.

Bar Tab: Origin Craft Beer & Pizza Cafe offers solid selection of both in cozy neighborhood

Shakespeare's Craft Beer and Gastro Pub

3550 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; 941-364-5938; shakespearesenglishpub.com

Opened as Shakespeare's English Pub over 15 years ago, Shakespeare's began specializing in import, mostly western European beers. Now, though, its 24 rotating taps are dedicated to judiciously chosen local and regional craft brews with a few national selections. Harkening back to its roots, Shakespeare's also has a few taps for international faves including the eternally cool Irish classics Guinness and Smithwick's. In addition to offering one of Sarasota's best beer menus, Shakespeare's excels at pub grub, most famously the burgers, with the Caramelized Onion & Brie Burger among the best, and most celebrated around. 

Bar Tab: Burgers and craft beers with the Bard

Shamrock Pub

2257 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; 941-952-1730; shamrocksarasota.com

Located on the eastern edge of downtown Sarasota, the Shamrock is a classic neighborhood pub with a whole lot of history. It dates back to 1955 as a bakery, with its pub heritage beginning in the 1970s as Churchill's, then the Ringling Pub and finally Shamrock Pub since the 1980s. Derek Anderson has owned and operated the Shamrock, with its penny-tiled bartop, since 2007, adding decor touches that include a vintage-style telephone booth (it houses the ATM) and making it the top spot in the city to watch soccer while sipping on a quality brew. The 18 taps include local, regional and national craft beers, with Guinness also always available. Shamrock has an impressive bottle and can selection, as well, with IPAs, sours, ciders and choice international selections. Note: Bring cash, or be prepared to visit the phone booth when it's time to settle your tab.

What are the best Irish pubs in Sarasota: Here are 10 of our favorites

Still thirsting for craft beer?

Here's where you can try Sarasota-Manatee breweries' beers straight from the source.

3 Car Garage Brewing Company: 8405 Heritage Green Way, Bradenton; 941-741-8877; 3cargaragebrewing.com

3 Keys Brewing and Eatery: 2505 E. Manatee Ave., Bradenton; 941-218-0396; 3keysbrewing.com

Big Top Brewing Company: 6111 Porter Way, Sarasota; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com

Brew Life Brewing: 5767 S. Beneva Road, Sarasota; 941-952-3831; brewlifebrewing.com

Calusa Brewing: 5701 Derek Ave., Sarasota; 941-922-8150; calusabrewing.com

Corporate Ladder Brewing Company: 4935 96th St. E., Palmetto; 941-479-4799; corporateladderbrewing.com

Darwin Brewing Company: 803 17th Ave. W., Bradenton; 941-747-1970; darwinbrewingco.com

Good Liquid Brewing Co.: 4824 14th St. W., Bradenton; 941-896-6381; thegoodliquidbrewing.com

Motorworks Brewing: 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton; 941-567-6218; motorworksbrewing.com

Naughty Monk Brewery: 2507 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton; 941-708-2966; naughtymonkbrewery.com

Off the Wagon Brewery & Kitchen: 2107 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice; 941-497-2048; otwbar.com

Sarasota Brewing Company: 6607 Gateway Ave., Sarasota; 941-925-2337; sarasotabrewing.com

Wade Tatangelo, the Herald-Tribune's entertainment editor, may be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

What are the best craft beer bars in Sarasota-Bradenton? Here are 12 of our favorites for drinking and eating - Sarasota Herald-Tribune