Local breweries, wineries and food trucks converged for the second Hernando Untapped event on the evening of Friday, October 21, 2016. This event is unique for Hernando County as it attracts a younger crowd who typically travel to Tampa for entertainment. The Hernando County Chamber of Commerce did an excellent job organizing the event. Numerous volunteers were available to help vendors and attendees. The Bearded Brothers put on an awesome performance and had the crowd dancing well into the night.
There were thirty breweries and wineries in attendance that served up samples of their products. These included 4stacks, Al Kacprzyaski (homebrew), Beer Pressure of the Nature Coast, Big Storm Brewing, Blue Bassett Brewery, Brooksville Brewing Company, Carrabba’s, Copp Brewery & Winery, Copperheads Southern Distillery, Craft Life, Debine, Escape Brewing, Hourglass Brewing, Inverness Brew Union , Island Groves Winery, JDubs Brewing Company, Keel & Curley Winery, Land O Lakes Winery, Mad Beach Brewing, Mad Man Hard Cider, Marker 48, Mastry, Motorworks Brewing, Nature Coast Brewing , Nine State Brewery, Njoy Spirits- Wild Buck Whiskey, PRP Wine International, Tampa Bay Brewing Company, Turn 2, Two Henry’s Brewing, and Wiregrass Brewing Company. If you tried them all you definitely needed a designated driver.
Those who spent the extra money on VIP tickets were amply rewarded. VIP ticket holders received an excellent meal from Gator’s Dockside and had the opportunity to socialize in a special VIP lounge in the hangar. They also got the opportunity to visit the vendors an hour before the general public allowing them to taste without the wait.
The backdrop for the event was the American Aviation Flight Academy campus at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport. The control tower and the lit runways crisscrossing the airfield were a pretty sight.
Safety was a priority at the event as law enforcement officers observed activities throughout the evening. They also offered a special designated driver ticket for $10, that included non-alcoholic beverages.
There were eight food trucks there to choose from Cajun in A Truck, Chef Images, Cravin Donuts, Poppy’s, The Bacon Boss, Just Smokin BBQ, Got Lobstah?, and Twisted Iron. The smell of Donuts was hard to resist.
There were a number of general business vendors in attendance along with several politicians. Fat Yankee Jerky was probably one of the the most popular of the vendors since beer and jerky go pretty well together.
The second Hernando Untapped event has left us looking forward to the third. Events like Hernando Untapped are about having fun, but they also play an important role in growing our local economy.