In the Loop Brewing is ready for beer lovers to belly up to the bar.
The craft brewery, in a renovated two-story house, and an outdoor beer garden, along the shores of Lake Padgett, is the setting for the newest addition to the craft beer scene in Pasco County.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
It is the dream-come-true for three friends who spent weekends in a garage on Cherbourg Loop, brewing beer that got kudos from friends.
Now, Mark Pizzurro, Peter Abreut and Joe Traina are inviting the neighborhood to share in the hoppy pleasures of craft brew at In the Loop, at 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
“It’s been a good, solid opening,” said Traina. “We’re meeting neighbors and making new friends.”
On a recent afternoon, Traina poured brews for first arrivals to In the Loop.
“It’s amazing and exciting to have a local place that harkens back to the old-fashioned bar,” said Steve Flom, who was visiting family in Land O’ Lakes. “Everybody wants a place like Cheers, where everybody knows your name. Joe knows our names.”
The journey from renovations to opening day took nearly two years of entanglements in bureaucratic red tape. Licenses and approvals to brew their own craft beer brands just arrived.
Within a month of so, five In the Loop brews will be on tap, with more to come. First arrivals will be an IPA, a vanilla espresso porter, a Vienna lager and a pale ale.
Pizzurro is the brewmeister. He served an internship at Big Storm Brewing in Odessa.
Abreut is a former firefighter who owns Crossfit En Fuego, located next door to In the Loop. He focuses on the brewery’s marketing.
Traina deals with sales, and they all handle bar duties.
For now, beers on tap include local and Florida-based brews such as Funky Buddha and Sunshine City IPA.
Looking for something different? Try a Swedish cider in a tall, cool glass.
But, the In the Loop brews aren’t the final touch for what the partners see as a slow, deliberate introduction to the neighborhood.
More is to come.
A staircase from the tasting room to the second floor eventually will open into a special events room.
Before that can happen, though, a second exit must be installed to meet county building and safety codes.
In the moment, however, guests can enjoy the bar, and a tasting room with dark concrete floors and a brick chimney. Old-style suitcases, cut in half, jut from a wall and serve as drink rests. Outside, the patio and a wooden deck roll out toward Lake Padgett, with peaceful views of the lapping waters.
Games of Jenga and corn hole are at the ready for friendly competitions.
“We want it to be a good time to kick back and relax,” said Traina.
Published November 23, 2016
