Tampa Bay brewery boom
2012 saw the debut of several local breweries — including these five favorites.
by Arielle StevensonPage 4 of 5
Photo: Todd Bates
Barley Mow
518 W. Bay Drive, Largo, 727-584-7772, barleymowbrewingco.com.
Brewers: Jay and Colleen Dingman
Fresh hop vines grow on the fence alongside the patio at Barley Mow Brewing Company in Largo, where Jay and Colleen Dingman brew beer in a small space that doubles as a tasting room and bar. Once the brewing is done, the setup is broken down and cleaned, and Barley Mow opens to the public.
The recently married couple follows the same routine every day.
“We are continually tweaking and perfecting the system,” says Colleen.
Both Jay and Colleen were in the service industry before they started homebrewing together. When their house became overrun with equipment, they figured it was time to set up shop.
The Dingmans no longer brew together, they reveal with a laugh.
“I’ve got my style,” says Colleen. “I like seasonal flavors like cranberry spice or passion fruit. We complement each other.”
“We have different approaches,” explains Jay. “She does stuff I’d never think of. But we’ll brew each other’s beers and it diversifies our portfolio.”
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