Hitting beeradvocate.com's #6 place in the U.S. to have a beer - the C0Ck 'N' Bull Pub in Sarasota, FL this weekend. Will report back on selection.
http://beeradvocate.com/acbw/2006/places
Report back. I will be interested since by brother lives in Sarasota.
Sensational.I loved this place like I love air. Very dark, old-world ambience with several hang-out rooms where you can just chill on a sofa and enjoy some of the world's best brews. Staff is unbelievably friendly and knowledgeable - they have over 300 beers and most are not visible from the bar, so it's hard to even know what they've got (no beer menu.) The bartenders are so eager to help you out, it makes it simple to find new things. For example, I found myself hankering for a chocolate stout at one point. I asked Travis the bartender - "What have you got in the way of a chocolate stout?" He rattled off 6 or 7 different ones, then asked if I prefered a more restrained, dry chocolate flavor or a more potent, sweet one. Typically, I'd prefer the former, but I really was in the mood for something bold and different, so I answered the latter. He emerged from the back with a 25 oz Rogue Chocolate Stout that I really enjoyed. My brother wanted a red ale and was steered immediately to the Eye of The Hawk Red on tap, which was outstanding. I asked if they had anything from Fantome and they had 4 different varietals (pardon the winespeak) - I almost passed out with joy. Tried the Saison Printemps, which was one of the best beers I have ever tasted in my life. Unfortunately, my idiot brother, on his way back from the bar, knocked the f'n thing over and spilled more than half of it all over the floor.
Eventually made friends with Dawn, the owner. When she found out I was from Orlando, she correctly guessed that I buy my beer from Knightly Spirits on Hiawassee, and told me she's good friends with the owner and mentioned some items he may have in his private stash that he could be willing to part with for the right price. Also recommended a very good beer bar here in Orlando that I'd never heard of and will be hitting this weekend. She, the bartender, and I spent a while lamenting the fact that Stone doesn't import into Florida. She mentioned they have regulars who bring bottles back for them occasionally, so they sometimes have a private stash for their own consumption, but never have any to sell. For a true beer lover (and there are many on this board) I cannot think of a place I'd recommend more highly. I swear to you, if you're ever in Florida, take a side trip here if you possibly can, it's a beer lovers' paradise. They're very proud of the fact that they were #29 on beeradvocate.com's top-50 places in America to have a pint list last year, and are #6 this year. They're aggressively chasing #1.
All in all, I had :
Grimbergen Dubbel (16 oz. draft) - very nice, smooth dubbel.
Fantome Saison Printemps 25 oz (fascinating beer - the nose is very herbal, has a raisiny smoothness on initial taste, followed by a lingering, almost peppery finish. HIGHLY recommended)
Rogue Chocolate Stout - 25 oz (very strong chocolate flavor, sweet - I can see this being a love-it-or-hate-it beer for many)
Rogue Chipotle Ale - 25 oz- interesting, very mellow pepper flavor, hint of spice and smokiness.
I2PA Double fermented IPA (16 oz draft) - terrific, not as hoppy and sharp as many IPAs.
Trappist Rochefort 6 -11.2 oz bottle - had this one before, love it.
Hog Heaven Barleywine Ale 25 oz. - fruity, hard to remember exactly how good this was as it was the last beer I had and was a little crocked at this point after drinking Coronas (pallet cleansers) and whiskey all day, getting here at 11:00 PM and going through the above (minus half the Fantome) by 2:00.
Phenomenal experience - I recommend anyone with the means to check it out at least once.