This is a nice biergarten with open space and plenty of seating overlooking the Ybor Basin. Plenty of astroturf to walk on and seagulls looking to snag a dropped piece of food when they get the chance. They also have Happy Hour weekdays from around 3:45 pm to 7 pm. There's plenty of food stalls here as well so grab a beer or two and some food after! read more

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Spacious outdoor bar with covered seating, steps from the waterfront lawn, offering a variety of beers, wines, ciders, and liquors. Key element in the Sparkman Wharf transformation at Channelside, this patio bar stands out in the crowded shipping container food court. Drinks aren't cheap because of the environment. This could be considered a touristy hot spot thus everything is priced higher than the norm. They supply guests with clean, cold water to refill water bottles with. Service was excellent and the bartenders wore masks. Whether you're relaxing on a quiet day or pregaming before an event at Amelie, the Fermented Reality Biergarten should satisfy your thirst. read more

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I'll start off by saying this place has an awesome selection of beer. I came here on New Years with some family and was impressed by their wide selection of beers/ ciders. They had 34 different options of beers to choose from. The service was great. It was a pretty slow night, so the bartenders were more free to help explain the different types of beers to us. Our bartenders gave us some solid recommendations based on our preferences and they did not disappoint! We were able to sample a few beers until we found a few that we liked. We got the mead homemade apple pie and the Superstition messers PBJ crime. Both beers were great! They're more on the sweeter side. The reason why I'm knocking off 2 stars is because this place is absolutely overpriced. The PBJ beer was amazing, but it was $15 for a small cup. The prices here are outrageous. I understand it's a new(ish), hip place downtown, so it's not going to be cheap, but $15 for a beer is ridiculous. I expect these prices at New York bars, but not Tampa bars. The apple pie beer was a bit cheaper at $8, but it was still a tad expensive. I'm not sure if I'd come back here because the prices are so high. There are other places in Sparkman that serve beer for cheaper prices. I'd recommend visitors checkout those spots before coming here. Edit: I understand mead is more expensive than your typical beer, but there are also IPAs on the menu that cost up to $11. In my opinion, that's pretty pricy for an IPA (and for beer in general...). Even if the taxes were not included on the menu, the drink would still be expensive. I've been to plenty of bars in downtown Tampa, and I have yet to see a similar bar with these prices. Bars that are pricier also come with a classy ambiance this place lacks. If you want to find a place to have a few beers, go somewhere else!! read more

Fermented Reality Biergarten - Apple pie and peanut butter jelly beer - Beer Gardens Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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This could be such a fantastic place for beer. Right now it's just ok. First problem is they frequently run out of my favorite local lager. Please buy more Barriehaus kegs! Second of all the beertenders are not knowledgeable about what they are serving. The poor girl was basically just working the register. Really sad for a place that could be a very cool beer haven. The space needs more shade as well. If you end up at a table lacking an umbrella, you're likely to get scorched. read more

Fermented Reality Biergarten - Beer kind of a day - Beer Gardens Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Affordable, friendly, casual, and knowledgeable! I really enjoyed my experiences here while in Tampa. We stumbled upon Sparkman Wharf while in town for a wedding. The first thing I noticed is the wide range of local craft beers listed, and the second thing was that they were quite affordable. You order by number to make it easier on everyone. The most expensive drink I had was $7.50, and it was an amazing double dry hopped IPA! The lines got a little long on a Friday night when there was a really good band playing, and a couple of the ladies behind the bar were not really attentive or seemed to gravitate toward the people they knew. I had a few more nights in the city after my friends left, so on my last night there, I hopped the TECO trolley and headed to the Wharf. There was a class reunion of some sort happening in the grassy area, but they didn't really crowd the bar at all, so it was easy to talk to the bartenders that evening. The bartender recommended a couple of different beers so i had one of each thru the night. I sat under a heater within view of the TV, but not over powered by it. I enjoyed people watching and felt very safe over there. Knowing I had an early flight, I hopped on the TECO line and headed back to the hotel. Beer lovers - you can't go wrong here! read more

Fermented Reality Biergarten - Quiet, chilly evening spent in a fun and lovely space. - Beer Gardens Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Why 5 stars? Because this is an ideal central focus for Sparkman Wharf. --- --- --- Whoever thought that a beer garden was needed at Sparkman Wharf is a very intelligent person. Not only is a large beer bar an obvious fit at a place like this, but physically, this giant beer bar casts some much-needed shade on an area that's going to consist of a lot of people being heavily kissed by the sun. Even with Sparkman Wharf opening on the last day of November, temperatures were approaching 80 degrees and my five minutes spent at the bar was a nice break from the late autumn sun. The bar has 30 beer taps and I counted 12 of those to be local Bay Area brews. If you're not in the mood for beer, there's also wine, tea and natural soda available. I scored a strawberry mango tea with a pinch of simple syrup, which really hit the spot. But I was definitely tempted to order a Dunedin Brewery Peach Apricot or a Sugar Britches from 7venth Sun. One day... one day. The bar could probably seat 40-50 people as it's a giant square, which makes it convenient to hit from any angle of Sparkman Wharf, with several bartenders ready to serve. Brews, shade and a few non-alcoholic beverages - what more could you need to compliment a place with tons of food and sunlight? read more

Absolutely perfect hangout area. We came down here about 6:30 on a Saturday for drinks before dinner. Football was on the giant projector screen, there was a live band, and of course beer and the cute little patio with string lights. Beer menu was solid- both local and non-local options. Healthy mix of styles (I had a mead and a stout, husband had a sour and an IPA) too which is greatly appreciated. We didn't partake in any of the food stalls as we had a dinner reservation but it all looked and smelled great. Would love to come back! read more

Nice selection of local beers and ciders. I tried the 16 Oz mango cider and blackberry cider. Both were delicious. The extra $2 for a 20 oz is a nice option. Prices were fine. We sat at the bar and then in some beach chairs. I wish there were more misters. It was so hot outside. The line for walking up to order a beer is quite efficient. We just ordered easily at the bar, but it was nice to see a more ordered way to get a drink. Service was good. The layout is nice. I have no idea if there's usually table service. It didn't seem like it on this busy Saturday night. read more

Fermented Reality Biergarten - Mango cider - Beer Gardens Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Point of purchase failed while my food was getting cold. Instead of apologizing and comping my beer, I stood while two people fiddled with the computer . 10 minutes. Then they handed me my tab as I sat at the bar eating. Dumb. Gotta step up the customer relations and staff training. This place is mainly for kids.Cant see too many adults putting up with it for now. Maybe it'll mature. Hope so. Beers over priced too. $8 plus is not market price locally. read more

Fermented Reality Biergarten - Beer Gardens Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Nice, open space that's covered and right in the middle of Sparkman Wharf! It is pet-friendly too. They have a large selection of beers - there are a few ciders on there and some other gluten-free options. While they don't serve any food, there are plenty of food options around in the Wharf that you can order from & eat at the Biergarten. It has nice views of the water and lawn area - I came on an afternoon during the week so it wasn't too crowded. Lots of seating at the bar and around it! I just wish they had some more ciders or gluten free beers on tap! Cool spot to hangout, especially if you want to take your dog out! read more

Fermented Reality Biergarten - Beer Gardens Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Sadly seems like a failed attempt to reimagine Channelside. Overpriced beers that are $2+ more than anywhere else downtown, understaffed/slow/unfriendly service, and the atmosphere just seems too fabricated and forced. More seating is needed for sure. It's exactly what Channelside was: a place to entertain tourists who will pay a premium for an "all in one" experience in Sparkman Wharf and the cruise passengers waiting to leave. Hard pass for me. read more

Fermented Reality Biergarten is a new open bar concept with just a roof, 4 sides of bar tops, no walls, -and tons of hanging lights, located at the center of the new Sparkman Wharf Plaza in the Channelside district of Downtown Tampa. The bar area is surrounded by some wooden tables, chairs with no padding, and a few more comfortable padded couches. Outside the bar area, as part of Sparkman wharfs common area, there is green fake AstroTurf grass, large outdoor chess, corn-hole, shuffle board, and a stage for live musical performances. Fermented Reality Biergarten serves 30 beers on tap, has 3 wines, teas, and sodas. Sadly the lines and wait times to get drinks range from 20-40 minutes. This establishment is severely understaffed and Planned poorly to anticipate crowd levels. Even more sadly, Fermented Reality Biergarten decided to take advantage of the new hype behind the Sparkman Wharf and price gauge to unprecedented levels not before seen in Tampa's riverwalk establishments with beers ranging from $7.75 to $15. No other Tampa riverwalk establishments charge nearly this much for beers and its pretty sad to see happen. We ended up getting the Graffiti Orange which is an orange wheat beer by Tampa's 7venth Sun Brewery for $7.75, the Marshall Zhukov which is a Russian Imperial Stout by Tampa's Cigar City Brewery for a whopping $11, a gas station coffee stout which is an imperial milk stout by Tampa's Angry Chair brewery for $9.75, a Gulden Draak 9000 which is a Quadruple by Belgium's Van Steenberge brewery for $9.75. Imagine our dismay when we were charged a whopping $40 for a measly 4 beers. We frequent many Tampa breweries and Gastropubs and are never charged this much for beer. To add insult to injury, There was no adequate seating available for everyone in our party and they don't even serve you beer in a glass. We got luxury pricing but In cheap plastic cups. For the price these beers should be served in chilled crystal glasses. The chairs that were available were cheaply made, uncomfortable and had no padding. Surely with beer prices like these they can afford some more comfortable seating! Escape the wait and pricing by getting $4 beers from Hooters, $4 beers from Splitsville, or $6 beers from some other restaurants located in shipping containers. Even the most posh riverwalk establishments like Ulele, Armature Works, Jacksons, and American Social do not charge $8 for beers. Management, please stop price gauging, charge a reasonable $4-$6 per beer not $8-$15, offer a happy hour 4-7pm, get padding for chairs, and serve beers in chilled glasses. read more

Sitting and having a beer after work. Not busy and the service is terrible. Workers are just chatting with others or certain regulars. Sounds expensive but I didn't pay yet. Nice view and beer selection but that's about it. read more

Fermented Reality Biergarten - My waitress while my glass is empty. Terrible service - Beer Gardens Near Me - Tampa, Florida

A cool, trendy addition to Channelside inside the new Sparkman Wharf! The Fermented Reality Biergarten itself is pretty straightforward: an outdoor bar serving some great craft beer under some umbrellas. But add in a bunch of small, shipping container restaurants, fun outdoor yard games, and a view of the bay and you've got a winner! It's also super conveniently close to the Florida Aquarium and the cruise terminals, so the area will always be hoppin'! We stopped by after picking my parents up from one such cruise to get some lunch, relax, and chat and Fermented Reality is perfect for that! Although we missed grabbing an umbrella table and ended up with bit of unexpected sunburn, we loved the space and would love to spend another relaxing afternoon here lounging by the water! read more

Great place to party or just sit and taken in the music and sites. Hip crowd with mix in young and old. Great food a court with unique dining experience. Beer garden with over 30 taps. If in Tampa, Sparkman's Wharf is a must. Go go go go go go. read more

Fermented Reality Biergarten - Great place to watch the game - Beer Gardens Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I've been here several times. This visit is disappointing. The bartenders and wait staff are standing around talking and drinking alcohol. It's a busy Saturday afternoon and nobody came to the table to take our order the entire 2hrs we were there. We went to the bar to order and asked if there was table service. She said not right now. So. We asked why are there 4 employees standing around the bar talking. She said she didn't think they were on duty. I don't think it makes a good appearance to have staff standing around in uniform drinking at the bar. read more

Such a wonderful experience! Brandy was very attentive! Great first experience at Sparkman's Wharf!! read more

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Nice little area on the Sparkman Wharf. We went right to the Biergarten to grab a beer. Lots of options, especially local breweries. Lots of tables and space and room to sit along the water area. I got the Apricot Peach Ale and loved it! Perfect for a warm Florida afternoon. read more

They need to reevaluate their prices. They shock the conscious. I need to keep writing, so I'll say it again: they charge WAY too much for their beers. read more

I feel like everything at Sparkman's Wharf is enhanced by the vibe in the area, but based off of JUST what Fermented Reality Biergarten has to offer, I would say that this place is pretty basic! A large array of beers and good lighting, FRB had everything I expected from it. However, paired with the live music, beautiful Tampa river, and the incredible array of seating arrangements, I feel like the ambiance paired with the beer selection warrants four stars of this establishment. Would come again, especially to chat and hang out with friends! read more

This is an awesome place with a solid beer selection. Claire was so nice and super knowledgeable about all the different beer choices. Would definitely recommend. read more

Wide variety of beers from German to local. Pricey. Beers range from 7.75 to 15 but you are really paying for the view. Not a bad place though to check out but if you are looking to have multiple beers, you may want to go somewhere else. read more

Just can't get past paying $8-9 for a beer, a draft beer at that. You sit there and have 4 beers and by the time you tip you've spent $50. How is that justifiable? read more

This is a great place to grab the most expensive plastic cup of beer in the Tampa Bay area, save for maybe the stadiums. 30 taps, lots and lots of plastic cups, and yes, for the reasonable price of $8.75 (or more) you, too, can be sitting outside, sipping on a beer world rarity like Ballast Point's Sculpin IPA - I guess it's all worth it because you get to breathe fresh air and stare across the water at a power plant? Oh, and more shipping containers (there are shipping containers at Sparkman's Wharf where gourmet food is being served out of). I don't think I'll need to come back here. Get yourself a $10 6pack of solid beer of you and your buddies' choosing and go outside with a view somewhere (the beach?) and drink it. read more

Overpriced beer in plastic cups served by unscrupulous bartenders. The food options nearby are a nightmare you wait in line forever. Way better options downtown read more

I really enjoy coming here, especially during the middle of the week when it is dead. The bartender was super friendly and we had great conversations as we enjoyed trying new beers. I brought a friend visiting from out of town and we had a really fun time with a beautiful view and new area. I will say my only complaint is the prices. I understand they can charge as much as they do because of the area and people will pay it, but for beers it is a bit on the pricier side. It is a great time though and a fun spot to hangout. read more

Although this beer garden has some very nice beer on tap and generally the prices are reasonable I had an encounter which soured my experience. I ordered a very nice helles which I enjoyed very much. However I ordered a Pilsner with very obvious flaws. It had a very strong metallic taste which is likely due to poor quality control. Although the bartender listened to my concerns; he definitively told me that I was incorrect and still charged me for the beer. I'm generally very forgiving of my beer, but the arrogance displayed leads me to post a one star review. I hope in the future if they are able to hire staff that's better able to address the customers concerns. read more

Excellent Everything! I've been coming for just a few months now, and always great service, beer selection, and atmosphere! Friendliest staff at the Wharf and all of downtown. read more

I originally wrote regarding an "overcharge" on my first visit, and rated this business at 1 star. The mamager, Dan reached out and went way over and beyond in making things right. My thoughts are that with this type of management in place, the opening day bugs will be worked out and they will have a very fine establishment for our enjoyment. Thanks again, Dan. read more

Awesome little spot! This is the second time I've been here. Love the selection of beers and cider. It actually is open on Tuesdays despite Yelp and Google saying it's not. Very friendly for pets as well and the ambiance is nice at night too! Perfect little spot to hang out with a date! read more

Atmosphere and beer selection is 5/5, but they have easily the highest prices in the area outside of the stadiums/airports. Cheapest beer was $7.75 a pint. read more

I was at this bar for the first time, and I have to say Out bartender, Carly, is absolutely amazing. Not just with the group I was with but with everyone she was taking care of. Also I really take a look at bars that sanitize and clean the bar and she was always making sure everything was clean which I really appreciate. Thanks Carly! read more