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- Address:
- 13150 N Dale Mabry, Tampa, Fl, 33618
- Phone:
- 813-961-BEER
- Overall User Rating:
-
(0 ratings)
- Hours:
- Monday - Saturday 11 - 3 a.m. Sunday 12 p.m. - 1 a.m.
- Official Web Site:
- http://tankstaproom.com/
Tucked away in the back of a Carrollwood shopping plaza is a Steelers bar that seems to be an unlikely match for its surroundings. The sleepy-during-the-day, raucous-at-night pub, Tank's Tap Room, has become the go-to destination for Pittsburgh games of any sort, and frosty brews with a bite.
The scene: Tank's Tap Room has the vibe of your typical sports bar, with a few exceptions. They have pool tables and TVs everywhere, showing whichever game is on at the moment (with precedence given to Pittsburgh games, of course), a lively crowd, and an impressive beer selection with around 50 brews on tap (your typical Bud mixed with your more obscure IPAs, ales, and lagers). This bar really gets crowded in the evenings, making it take a few minutes longer to get a drink, but it's still not too bad. People swarm the place and are crammed between the pool tables, inside bar and outdoor patio. So, get there early if you want to claim a table. During the day, however, you can expect to have the staffs' complete attention.
The drinks: As we previously mentioned, this place boasts a wide variety of beers, making them pretty much their specialties (they do have sangria and other drinks as well, but beer is the star at this pub). Out of their lofty selection, my guest tried the Stone Ruination IPA, which packed a bold and bitter punch with its distinctive malt flavor and 7.7% alcohol content. He also tried the Erdinger Hefe-Weizen, which was a far lighter wheat beer that was easier to drink and had a less substantial alcohol content at around 5% by volume. I decided to try an IPA as well, but went for the lighter Dogfish Head 60 min IPA which was bitter with citrus undertones. I also had the Rogue Dead Guy Ale which was a very tasty German-style Maibock that was hearty in flavor with a caramel hue.
The crowd: A wide variety of people patronize this Carrollwood hang-out. You can find everyone from college kids to middle-aged business men and women. They all have a few things in common: a deep love for the Steelers, a good brew, and a good time.
The dress code: The good thing about Tank's is that you don't really have to "dress to impress" so to speak. Bar patrons can be seen in anything from jeans and a t-shirt to nice work clothes. Dress code can be summed up as casual.
The damage: My guest and I had four specialty brews, expecting them to cost around $5 or $6 each. To our pleasant surprise, each beer cost a little less than $4 with the exception of the Stone Ruination IPA, which set us back a pricey $6.25 for a pint. All-in-all, the specialty beers were not as expensive as we expected them to be (most bars charge around $5 or $6 for an Amstel or Newcastle). Also, they have nightly specials which can help lower your tab even more.
The bottom line: Tank's Tap Room was an unlikely surprise. Upon entering, the place doesn't look different than any other sports bar. However, once you sit down and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Steelers bar with a deliciously cold beer in hand, there isn't much to dislike about this hidden Tampa gem.
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Tank's Tap Room
13150 N. Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa, FL 33618
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