Saturday, May 8, 2010

Cajun Cafe on the Bayou's 5th Craft Beer Festival

Firkin Around...Pinellas Park, Florida.
Bonjou! Koman sa va?  We are doing just fine, merci, down at the Cajun Cafe Bayou's 5th Beer Festival.

This started with a 'tweet' on Twitter and the word spread across the state, calling all the #FLAbrew tweeps to descend upon this Cajun restaurant and craft beer pub.  There were dozens upon dozens of beers and ales to sample.  Some great, zingy Cajun cooking was available with everything from sausage to jambalaya and cornbread with bits of craw fish baked right in! Mmmm mmmm! That's some good eating. Beer reps from Bluepoint, St. Somewhere, Cigar City, Unibroue, Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues, Bell's, Dogfish Head, Dupont, Shipyard, Brooklyn, Dunedin, Victory, Left Hand, Boulder, Saranac, Lindeman's and on and on were available.  The Dunedin Brewers Guild were also in attendance.  You couldn't swing an alligator by the tail without hitting something good to eat or drink.  All for your entry price of $30.  What a deal.  And they even throw in a cool souvenir beer sampling cup.

Cajun through and through.

There are so many little things for the eye to take in.  You have to admire the old neon sign out front that gives top billing of 'beer' over 'lunch'.  This crazy quilt building of boards, corrugated metal and other assorted lumber was decorated so well you would have mistaken it for the real Louisiana deal.  It is no mistake though, cause it's as real as it gets.  It's cool and breezy throughout the outdoor seating and stage area, all the way to the back deck that overlooks the river. Plenty of places to sit and enjoy the sunshine, food and the beer. 


Bobby Tess and his live jazz band were on hand to really get everyone in the mood.  They were swinging through sets all afternoon.  The stage was in the grand outdoor room where a raffle was being held to benefit a doggie rescue center.  Many great beer related items were handed out to the winners, from glassware to posters and flags, and some mighty fine bottles of craft brew.  Mardi Gras beads were randomly flung into the crowd between the calling of raffle numbers just to see who was paying attention!

That's not a blender, it's a hops infuser! 
   
Priorities!  
 
Beer and Lunch! 




Who iz de jester in dizz fo-to?

 #FLAbrew Crew
Slowly but surely, the #FLAbrew folks began tweeting each other out.  Eventually, we all got together and exchanged names and business cards along with our choices of beer and ale we had spotted throughout the building and tents. 
@roadtrips4beer
@fmajowich 
@DosBeerigos 
@TheCervezaChica
@AmieMize
@alesfrmthecrypt

These are just some of the #FLAbrew crew.  If I missed your name, sorry.  I was drinking fine beer at the time!



  
Firkin Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler! 


Cajun Cafe on the Bayou on Urbanspoon


3 comments:

  1. That is a great write up sir, thank you for coming and enjoying our Cajun Cafe and Craft Beer Festival!

    Paul & Rebecca Unwin

    ReplyDelete
  2. Paul & Rebecca, it was a very fun event!

    ReplyDelete