By Christian Haitz
Do you like drinking the nectar of the gods (also known as beer)? Is twisting your body like a pretzel and calling it yoga fun to you? If so, Dunedin Brewing Company’s Brewãsana is an event you can’t miss.
Sunday, Feb. 14, yogis of all levels are invited to join in an hour-long yoga session followed by a few pints at Florida’s oldest craft brewery. The event takes place on the lawn in front of the historic brewery and is hosted by certified instructor Kristen Timpanaro of Heat Yoga & Fitness Studio. For every yogi in attendance, Conscious Coconut will give a child a meal through Feeding Tampa Bay. Plus, the first five attendees to arrive will get a free tube of Conscious Coconut Oil.
While the combination of these two activities may seem nonsensical, Timpanaro is quick to list off a variety of reasons for the odd pairing.
“I noticed the growing trend across America and thought ‘we need this here!’” said Timpanaro.
Timpanaro also spoke to the incredible social aspect of the event and the effectiveness of its ability to pull in new yogis.
“Many students like to chat before and after class, but at the studio, there isn’t much time and space for ‘hanging out’, so this allows yogis to get their yoga & social time in all at once!” she said. “Some people find going to a yoga studio intimidating, so this gives people an opportunity to try yoga in a fun environment.”
Classes start at $12, but those who wish to indulge in the brewery madness can add a pint of their choice for $3 more.
Starting at 10 a.m. and finishing at 11 a.m., Brewãsana leaves participants ample time to revel in the delectable concoctions brewed by Dunedin Brewing. With over 10 house beers on tap, it is sure to keep your Valentine’s Day loose and boozey.
A key highlight for Dunedin Brewing is the Apricot Peach Ale, their most popular beer. With vast aromas of the titular apricot and peach, this beer is sure to get the ball rolling with a 6.0 percent alcohol by volume.
Among their already stellar cast of beers, one stands at the top. The Bière de Café has accumulated numerous critical acclaim on various beer websites, such as Ratebeer and Beer Advocate. This brown ale has serious local flavor because of the regionally-roasted coffee and chocolate mixed during the brewing process. A perfect substitute for those awful drugstore chocolate boxes filled with unwanted flavors.
If you feel like trying something different on Valentine’s Day, Dunedin’s Fruits of Leisure should be at the top of your list. This fruitastic beer mishmashes the tastes of passion fruit, dragon fruit, pink peppercorn and orange peel for a combination even Adam and Eve wouldn’t ignore.
It’s not just great beer Dunedin Brewing is serving up, their incredible array of delicious bar food is sure to not disappoint. From house favorites like beer cheese dip and West Coast fish tacos to more obscure options like Dunedin-Style Poutine, this place has a dish for even the pickiest of eaters. Dunedin even has a collection of healthy plates for those who wish to drink their calories instead.
So spread some Valentine’s Day love at Dunedin Brewing Company, just a 40-minute drive from UT, for the Brewãsana yoga and beer day. Just don’t forget to bring your own mat!
Christain Haitz can be reached at christain.haitz@spartans.ut.edu.