Hop State Brewing’s first anniversary glass Credit: c/o Hop State Brewing Co.
There’s a bold new player pouring flavor and personality into Tampa’s craft beer scene. Hop State Brewing has officially opened in the space formerly home to Six Ten Brewing, bringing a fresh vision, a chef-inspired approach to brewing, and Florida’s first build-your-own seltzer bar.
The ownership trio — Ed Fitzpatrick (Food & Entertainment Director), Buddy Cernan (Taproom Manager), and Ed Valenti (Head Brewer) — isn’t here to follow the playbook. They’re rewriting it.
“We didn’t just want to revive a space. We wanted to reimagine what a brewery could be,” said Valenti. “At Hop State, we’re exploring flavors like chefs do—building layers, pushing boundaries, and crafting beers that challenge and delight.”
Craft Beer with Culinary Soul
From the start, Hop State is setting a high bar with a debut lineup that speaks to balance, creativity, and intent:
Hop State Brewing current tap list
Plain Seltzer — Hard Seltzer • 4.0% ABV Crisp, refreshing, sugar-free hard seltzer. Perfect on its own or customized with flavor shots.
Prima Vittoria — Italian Pilsner • 5.0% ABV Traditional Italian pilsner brewed with Eraclea pilsner malt from Italy and noble hops.
Ophanim Honey Vanilla — Blonde Ale • 5.5% ABV Smooth blonde ale brewed with orange blossom honey and vanilla beans.
Ophanim Coffee — Blonde Ale • 5.2% ABV American blonde ale rested on Colombian coffee beans from Wiregrass Roasting Company.
Fallen Gods — Hazy Double IPA • 8.6% ABV Hop-saturated hazy DIPA featuring Nelson, Motueka, Riwaka, Sabro HyperBoost and Riwaka Abstrax.
Juice Burton — Anniversary Edition — Gluten-Free Beer • 4.0% ABV 40th Anniversary Edition featuring tangerine purée, vanilla bean, marshmallow and vanilla soft serve.
D’luscious — Imperial Stout • 10.5% ABV Rich imperial stout with cacao nibs from Ghana, Peru and Ecuador, rested on macadamia nuts.
BA Infinite Shadows — Barrel-Aged Dark Lager • 5.6% ABV Dark lager aged eight months in 10-year Heaven Hill barrels with light roast, crisp lager character and subtle barrel notes.
Five Hop State Brewing can offerings Credit: c/o Hop State Brewing Co.
Florida’s First Custom Seltzer Bar
Hop State’s seltzer experience is the first of its kind in the state — a self-serve bar where guests start with a house-made base (still or dry-hopped) and personalize with gourmet Amoretti flavor pumps. Patrons are encouraged to experiment with combinations like Passion Fruit + Iced Tea or Wild Strawberry + White Peach. First pour? Keep it classic. Second? Get weird.
The Taproom Vibe: Chill Meets Creative
Hop State’s revamped taproom blends industrial charm with warm finishes, bright wood accents, and a newly expanded patio. It’s designed to be both welcoming and surprising — perfect for solo flights, group hangs, or bringing the kids on a weekend afternoon.
“We’re building a space for the community to gather, unwind, and experience something new every time,” said Ed Fitzpatrick, the brewery’s Operations/Special Events Coordinator/Food & Entertainment Director.
From weekly trivia nights to weekend live music and seasonal beer launches, Hop State keeps the calendar full and the vibe fresh.
What’s Next
Hop State isn’t slowing down. Seasonal beers and syrups are in the works, including fan-favorite fall release Booliner — a tart Berliner Weisse inspired by a certain blueberry breakfast cereal.
On the seltzer side, new flavors like Watermelon Lemonade, Wild Huckleberry, and Coconut Ube will rotate into the mix, giving guests even more ways to customize their pour.
“Hop State is all about discovery,” Fitzpatrick said. “You might come for a beer, stay for the seltzer, and leave with a new favorite band or food truck. That’s the point — it’s not just about what’s in your glass. It’s about what’s happening around it.”
Visit Hop State Brewing
7052 Benjamin Road, Tampa, FL
Phone: (813) 873-3179
Open Tuesday – Sunday
Live Music | Rotating Food Trucks | Trivia Nights | Custom Seltzer Flights
hopstatebrewing.com
[email protected]
Contributors to this article include: Ed Valenti, Head Brewer; Buddy Cernan, Taproom Manager; Ed Fitzpatrick, Operations, Events Coordinator
This article appears in Sept. 24 – 30, 2026.
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