CLEARWATER, FL – Clearwater’s local Sea Dog / Shipyard brewer Bobby Baker releases his Snicker Doodle Porter, a medium to full body porter with a strong malty background while the brown sugar, cinnamon, and sweet coffee malt create a warm, bready finish. 7.7% ABV, and 35 IBU’s.
Like a fresh pot of coffee in the morning, the smell of fresh worth mixing in the kettle with hops is what gets Bobby Baker, Head Brewer of Sea Dog, out of bed in the morning. Bobby entered the brewery biz four years ago in Bangor, Maine, at the Sea Dog Brewing Company. Fast forward to 2015 and Baker is making heavy strides in Clearwater, Florida towards a national brew that proudly carries the Sea Dog name.
In a time for craft beer innovations, the concept of incorporating food pairings into the realms of beer drives, and separates, Baker’s techniques at Sea Dog Brewing from the rest. “Food inspires me the most. Beer is a wonderful thing, but beer paired correctly with a dish is heaven.” explains Baker. Using beer as a tool to enhance the flavors in a dish is a unique concept to this local Tampa Bay brewery. By introducing the use of savory flavors sip after sip, the focus on food becomes clear. Basil, rosemary, peppers and many other aromatic spices brew together to create an experience that far exceeds our standards for beer. “I want people to feel like they are ordering wine. Should I have steak or chicken with this “lemon blueberry basil Belgian” ale?”–Welcome to the fine dining world of beer.
Beyond the bar, taste buds find further exploration inside the Tasting Room at Sea Dog Brewing. Staying true to their local and cozy, vibe, the tasting room remains authentic to the Sea Dog brand. As you surround yourself with family and friends, your group will experience six to eight available brews that are exclusive to the tasting room. With food at the core of his inspiration, Baker describes the tasting room as a place that allows guests to savor and relish in handpicked Sea Dog brews. The beers you taste strive to better enhance the flavors of a dish; you will become a beer connoisseur by the end of your tasting. Forget the wine and expensive cocktails, a pack of Sea Dog Brewing is the next party-goer’s drink of choice.
Creating at least two new weekly brews helps beer enthusiasts stay satisfied and surprised at Sea Dog Brewing Company, especially with the help of Bobby’s brewing innovations in flavor. Opportunities for brew collaborations and seasonal flavors bring forth ever-changing brews for everyone to enjoy. With over 150 brews a year, new combinations for brews see no end. Flavors range from a rich Peanut Butter Chocolate Nut Brown Ale and Maple Brown Stout to seasonal flavors such as Watermelon IPA, Pina Colada Blonde and Blackberry Cobbler Saison. For a list of local brews, visit http://www.seadogbrewing.com/beers.php
About The Brewer
A local Florida native to Safety Harbor, Bobby Baker’s education begins in science with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. His brewer training with Sea Dog began in Bangor, Maine in 2012. There he learned the old-world English style brewing of beer. Sea Dog’s brewing system is a Peter-Austin system, which was the first generation of microbreweries, and was developed by Mr. Austin himself in England in 1978. Upon learning the trade of brewing, his inspiration to develop new recipes for Sea Dog was insatiable. Now, Baker has the freedom to develop recipes on a weekly basis- some that stay in the tasting room & and some that venture into Sea Dog’s on-premise accounts. He oversees a 20-barrel brewing system at the Clearwater location, responsible for the distribution of beer all the way from Key West to Pensacola. Most of his inspiration comes from local chefs, and food inspired beer. Offering beers with such diverse flavor profiles, Baker enjoys knowing that his customers can always expect a complex -food driven beverage.
Sea Dog Tap Room Clearwater: Sea Dog Tap Room is home to local brewmaster, Bobby The Brewer. Located at 26200 US Hwy 19 N., Clearwater, FL, 33761. The website is currently under construction.