Hidden Springs Ale Works
When my wife asked me about my choice of destination on Father's Day, only one place came to mind. Hidden Springs Ale Works, is nestled in the Tampa Heights neighborhood. This brewery has captured my attention of late and now was drawing me back for the third time in less than a month. Its strategic location near the bustling Tampa Riverwalk, teeming with lively activities like walking, rollerblading, biking, and running, as well as the nearby Armature Works with its vibrant live music and gourmet food court as well as Ulele, known for its delectable cocktails, craft beer, and gourmet food, makes it prime real estate for any food and beverage enthusiast. Ever since my initial experience in this downtown area, I have observed the neighborhood undergo remarkable changes, including the emergence of apartments, fresh dining options, and the establishment of Magnanimous Brewing, which now proudly resides a mere block away from Hidden Springs Ale Works, opening in 2020.
So, what has fueled my recent fervor for Hidden Springs and prompted me to choose it as the subject of my latest review? I think there are several factors that contribute to its allure, with location reigning supreme. It serves as an ideal starting or ending point after indulging in the festivities along the Tampa boardwalk and downtown area, a place that my family likes to frequent fairly often. Moreover, the amiable bartenders at Hidden Springs have left a lasting impression on me as some of the kindest and most thoughtful I have encountered recently. Their willingness to engage in conversations about the beer, share their recommendations, and inquire about personal preferences, demonstrates their extensive knowledge of the taproom's offerings and their dedication to ensuring a fulfilling experience for every visitor. Recently, the taproom underwent a few renovations, offering different seating options, from large high-back chairs with checkerboards and other board games to traditional square high-top tables and ample bar seating.
Another captivating aspect of Hidden Springs is their embrace of flight selections, that actually encourage patrons to sample a diverse range of their beers. To sweeten the deal, with every flight, they offer a 10% discount on packaged beer for takeaway. What's more for their to-go beer, they provide the option of mix-and-match four-packs, enabling customers to curate their own assortment of four different brews. Hidden Springs truly caters to all tastes, but in my opinion, they boast one of, if not the best, sour beer menus in the entire Tampa Bay area. Whether intentional or not, Hidden Springs has discovered their niche, fearlessly pushing the boundaries of established styles and experimenting with new flavors, all while maintaining a commitment to crafting high-quality, classic brews that any beer lover would appreciate. Now, let's delve into the enchanting world of their beers and unravel the secrets that make them truly exceptional.
The Sour Beer
While there are various factors that have enticed me to return to this brewery repeatedly over the past months, the sour beer offerings are undeniably a major draw. Though sour is not my most favorite style, what they are crafting at Hidden Springs is truly special. As the Tampa Bay area witnesses an influx of breweries delving into smoothie or pastry sours, Hidden Springs has managed to strike a delightful balance in the sweetness profiles of their sour creations, attracting a broader range of consumers with their well-blended fruit combinations. Their sour beers can be described as having a solid sour base complemented by natural flavors that provide a subtle hint of sweetness, ensuring the flavor profiles remain intact without overwhelming lactose-induced sweetness.
Let's begin by exploring one of their core sour beers, Riot Juice. This delicious concoction combines blackberry, lime, and vanilla, resulting in a tart yet subtly sweet experience. While the berry and lime notes take the spotlight, it's worth noting that vanilla consistently plays a role in many of Hidden Springs' sour beers. Unlike other brews that I have tried, Hidden Springs skillfully incorporates a lot of vanilla into their sours, allowing its presence to shine through. The mouthfeel of Riot Juice, like most of their other lactose-infused beers, is refreshingly light and drinkable without feeling excessively heavy.
Staying within the realm of lactose-infused sours, I thoroughly enjoyed Glow Up, Bears on a Rampage, Return of the (Mac)aroon, and Never Nude. Glow Up, the biggest standout to me, draws inspiration from Hummingbird Cake and features banana, pineapple, walnuts, vanilla, and lactose. This beer exhibits prominent banana notes, accompanied by hints of vanilla and pineapple. On the sourness scale, it hovers around five out of ten, with sweetness dialed down to around two out of ten—a common thread among most beers on this list. Never Nude, an homage to Neapolitan ice cream, strikes a touch sweeter than others, as does Return of the (Mac)aroon—a sour ale boasting pistachio, marshmallow, honey, and vanilla. Both remain within the enjoyable range and compelled me to take a few cans home. Bears on a Rampage, my second favorite in this category, bursts with upfront strawberry notes, while subtle hints of blueberry emerge on the mid to late palate. Among the sours, it boasts the most harmonious balance between sourness and sweetness.
Now, let's not overlook some of their lactose-free sour beers. Sultry Sailor, a margarita-inspired Gose, stands out as a personal favorite. To be candid, this beer nearly resembles a delicate margarita, with the flavors of lemon and lime bursting through, culminating in a subtle saltiness that confirms its inspiration. Big Guava Energy, while claiming lactose infusion, drinks more akin to a standard fruited Berliner, with guava as the focal point. I anticipated a bolder guava presence, though it might be worth exploring this beer a second time. All in all, regardless of your sour beer preferences, this brewery consistently delivers remarkable creations, with an average of half their taps dedicated to this style.
Hoppy Beer!
First and foremost, it is worth highlighting that Hidden Springs also excels in hoppy styles, with two of their core beers falling into this category. Furthermore, whenever you visit, you can expect to find a couple of rotating IPA taps on their menu from what I have personally witnessed. One of their noteworthy offerings is Bear Lasers, a West Coast style IPA that left a lasting impression on me. This beer boasts assertive, in-your-face bitterness, accompanied by piney and citrusy aromas and flavors. It strikes a decent balance with its malt profile, embodying the essence of this particular style. Bear Lasers stands out as one of the exceptional west coast IPAs in the Tampa Bay area. Another core hoppy beer, ZFG (Zero F*%&# Given), pushes the boundaries of the style by being a 0 IBU offering. Despite the absence of measured bitterness, this hazy IPA still manages to deliver a touch of perceived bitterness on the palate. It showcases mild tropical and intense citrus flavors, making it an incredibly approachable pale ale for even non-hoppy beer drinkers.
Among their IPA offerings outside of the core series, Burrito Day captured my taste buds and imagination the most. This hazy IPA exudes robust, dank, and piney notes that linger on the palate with each sip. The resinous character gracefully rests on your taste buds, providing a truly satisfying experience. Although it may feel slightly weightier than some of the others, it does not drink like its labeled 8% ABV. Personally, this IPA gets the top marks from me among all of their IPAs. I also had the opportunity to explore two single-hop infusion hazy IPAs from their "shenanigans" series. The El Dorado stood out with its vibrant and robust flavors, surpassing the Citra Shenanigans in my assessment. However, both offerings were impressive, underscoring Hidden Springs' ability to craft delicious beers across various styles.
Dark Beer
During some of my recent visits, I had the opportunity to delve into the realm of their dark beers, and one particular highlight was Hidden Springs' Peanut Butter Deja Moo, which I wrote about in detail in this Flight Friday edition: Deja Moo. The bartender confirmed that this beer has become a staple on their tap list and is almost always available on draft and cans. Beyond this staple, Hidden Springs demonstrates a clear commitment to their barrel-aged program, crafting many indulgent dessert-inspired offerings. I've had the pleasure of trying two of these creations, and I'm currently saving another bottle for a future visit with a friend. It's worth noting that Hidden Springs initially highlighted their barrel program, particularly their Black Aggie series, on their website.
One observation I made about the stouts I sampled is that, for my personal taste, they tended to lean slightly toward the sweeter side. While I appreciate the evolution of this style in recent years, I found that the sweetness was dialed up just a notch more than I prefer. However, among the stouts I tried, The Devil stood out as the most flavorful and balanced. Inspired by pumpkin cheesecake, it showcased impressive craftsmanship. Pumpkin flavors in beer can be hit or miss for me, but this particular offering was exceptionally well executed. Darkness In The Light, another barrel-aged creation inspired by cookies and cream, featured a lot of prominent chocolate notes. Although, for me, it didn't quite capture the exact flavor of the cream side of things, it still provided a delightful experience. This stout leaned towards the sweeter end of the spectrum, making it a satisfying choice for those who enjoy big, sweet, barrel-aged stouts as seems to be the case for many of their offerings in this area.
Lager Beer?
Before we bid adieu to Hidden Springs, we mustn't overlook their Lager program, which is venturing into exciting new territory. At least, it's new for me. Let's begin by highlighting their Festbier, a traditional Märzen-style lager that was a solid 9.9 out of 10 for me. This beer ticked all the boxes and then some, standing out as one of the best examples of its style I've had in a long time. Its malty flavors permeated the palate, delivering a full flavor experience with a light and crisp mouthfeel.
Now, let's delve into another area where Hidden Springs is once again pushing boundaries: pastry lagers. Yes, you heard that right—pastry lagers. When I saw this style on the menu, I was initially taken aback. I had never come across a beer like this in any brewery or pub I'd visited before. Hidden Springs' "I Fix The Cake" is a self-described lemon bundt cake-inspired pastry lager. Interestingly, this beer was first brewed as a collaboration among all the women employed at Hidden Springs for International Women's Day in 2021 which seems like a really awesome thing to do! It also seems to have become an annual tradition, as they recently released a blueberry version of the same beer, which I also had the chance to try.
So, how can I describe this beer? It's a sour lager. In a similar vein to the emerging trend of other styles that are now being brewed as a lager, this offering presented a unique flavor profile for me. It featured a lot of sour-forward notes at the front of the palate, followed by traditional pilsner malt characteristic flavors on the back end and very low, almost undetectable hop bittering. It was a fascinating and peculiar combination—a unique and one-of-a-kind experience that I don't think I've ever had before.
The Wrap
Hidden Springs Ale Works has been my go-to brewery for the past month, ranking high on my list of recommendations for visitors to Tampa Bay. With its proximity to other attractions and its outstanding lineup of beers, it's a must-visit destination during your vacation or beercation. Hidden Springs stands as a torchbearer of sour beer in the Tampa Bay area, pushing the boundaries of brewing. Whether you're a local or passing through, make sure to pay them a visit—it's an experience you won't regret!
I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my brewery visits with more people and encourage them to explore the world of craft beer. Thank you to everyone who supports and joins in these adventures. Until our next rendezvous, may your glasses be filled with happiness, love, and great brews! Cheers, and happy drinking!