Two weeks ago I showcased an amazing soured IPA from Green Bench Brewing Company, a relatively new brewery in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. This week I'm continuing the St. Pete journey by traveling a handful of blocks east towards Tampa Bay and the downtown location of Cycle Brewing.
Originally located only at the impressive Peg's Cantina in Gulfport, a few miles to the southwest, Cycle Brewing has made a name for itself in the formulation of the Florida weisse beer style and the other exploits of its head brewer Doug Dozark.
See also: Florida Beer: Black Current Strong Ale From Saltwater Brewery
Even though they are known for their sours and experimental beers (and those ecstasy producing RareDOS selections), I thought it would be interesting to examine something a little more hoppy.
Pedal Brakes is touted as a double dry hopped pale ale, and I was told that means the liberal use of Simcoe and Nelson Sauvin. Fans of the aromatic New Zealand hop varietal will revel in this pale ale.
It pours a lager-like pale yellow, while aromas of chardonnay, fruit, and some earthiness pop out from this pint. Malts really take a back seat on the palate, which is generously dry, crisp and hopped clean. Bitterness abounds.
Cycle Brewing doesn't distribute very widely, so you can find Pedal Brakes the next time you're heading out to the Tampa Bay area.
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Doug Fairall is a craft beer blogger who focuses on Florida beers, and has been a homebrewer since 2010. For beer things in your Twitter feed, follow him @DougFairall and find the latest beer pics on Instagram.
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