81Bay Brewing Company

Brewpub in Tampa, Florida, United States 🇺🇸

Established in 2016

Contact
4465 W Gandy Blvd., Tampa, FL, FL 33611, United States
Description
Founded in 2016 in Tampa, Fla., 81Bay Brewing Company was established by three native Floridians and longtime friends with the idea of crafting an environment to celebrate beer, relaxation and recreation.

note: Many 81 Bay bottles and cans say "Brewed by Channelside Brewing Tampa FL" in the fine print on the label.

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5.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 5 Overall 5
On draft at Epcot. Sunset orange with some white head.   Hibiscus and dandelion, honey, straw.  Flavors same.  Off dry.   6 5 5 5 5
Tried from Draft on 20 Feb 2026 at 16:59

6/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 6 Flavor 5.5 Texture 6 Overall 6
12 oz. can
6.0% ABV
Date: 10/23/25 - Note: There is nothing to indicate what the date refers to (packaged, born-on, best-by, etc.)
$13.99 6-pk @ Winter Springs Liquors

AROMA: Mildly sweet, with mild scents of milk chocolate and malt. As the beer warms, I start to get notes of ground coffee and cocoa.

APPEARANCE: Pours an opaque black with a 2-finger, tight-frothed, tan head that dissipates down to a pencil thin collar, moderately fast. The collar, on the other hand, lingers for quite a while. Lacing is minimal when I finish the pour and just let the beer sit and the head dissipate on its own. However, there is moderate lacing after taking a sip and letting the beer settle back into the glass. Overall, a nice looking beer.

TASTE: Mildly sweet, with moderate coffee flavor and mild notes of cocoa nibs. The coffee flavor reminds me of the bulk, commercial coffees like Maxwell House and Folders. While it's not bitter, it doesn't have any real depth of flavor like more expensive coffees do. During the finish I get more of a coffee grounds flavor, rather than coffee itself.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied with a somewhat loose texture that gives the sense of wateriness but with more heft/body than water. Carbonation is about average.

OVERALL: In general, I love coffee porters. I do not love this one. However, I don't hate it either. For me, it just has some oddities in the flavor and texture, that would keep me from buying in again.
Tried from Can at Winter Springs Liquors on 30 Jan 2026 at 18:57

5.9/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5
Clear, bright yellow color with a small white head; aroma of grain; light, negligible flavor with no finish
Tried from Draft at World of Beer - Tampa International on 16 Dec 2025 at 04:29

6.1/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
On tap at Epcot.
Pours slightly cloudy light golden with a reddish tint with a small white head, some lacing. Strawberry, vanilla, citrus zest.
Ok
Tried from Draft on 25 Mar 2025 at 23:11

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
On tap at Epcot. Pours near black with a small beige head, light lacing. Dark malts, peanut butter, banana's, dark fruit. Good
Tried from Draft on 10 Dec 2024 at 01:45

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Tap at Epcot. Pours clear dark brown with a small beige head, light lacing. Toasted malts, nutty, toffee. Good
Tried from Draft on 13 Nov 2024 at 21:59

6/10
Tried on 29 Oct 2024 at 00:53

6.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 8
Pint at the Norway pavilion in Epcot. Pours a darker, orange color, with a small head. The aroma is juniper berries, orange peel, cardamom, and caramel. Sweet and grainy, with a big, syrupy bitterness. Light, sharp, and musty. Quality, aromatic, and hoppy.
Tried on 23 Oct 2024 at 02:54


7.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 8.5
Draft at Pizza Bruno, Curry Ford location. This was a reasonably decent IPA, clear bright yellow, but has the flavor profile of a NE/Hazy, with fresh resin and tropical fruit flavors and aromas, low bitterness, light to medium bodied, very light bready malt presence. Drinkable enough and goes well with the garlic knots and pizza.
Tried from Draft on 25 Aug 2024 at 14:32