Pinellas County’s largest Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee likes beer better than coffee. So when Vik Patel, who owns 22 of the ubiquitous pastry-and-java shops, decided to expand the restaurant portfolio of his Clearwater-based Purple Square Management Co., he started having frothy thoughts.
After some research, it came down to two franchise opportunities. World of Beer had too much of a frat house vibe for his liking, so he chose the up-and-coming Brass Tap, a more refined concept founded in Wesley Chapel in 2008.
Patel, a native of England, inked a 10-store franchise deal with budding chain, and opened his first location, in Oldsmar, in April. The franchisee was attracted to the restaurant’s upscale pub food, cigar options, classy interior and live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
But at the end of the day it came down to beer - specifically the brand’s emphasis on crafts, and even better, local crafts.
Of the 70 draft beers offered at the Oldsmar Brass Tap, 30 are from area breweries, Patel said, among them Cigar City, Dunedin Brewery, Seventh Sun (also in Dunedin) Big Storm (Odessa) and 3 Daughters (St. Pete).
In fact, this coming weekend is the Cigar City Tap Takeover at Brass Tap Oldsmar. From Friday through Sunday the restaurant will dedicate 10 taps to different CC flavors, including some of the standbys (Jai Alai, Maduro Brown, Invasion Pale Ale) but also limited-edition types, including Good Gourd Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Minaret ESB, and the just-releasedJose Marti porter.
“These special promotions let us support the local brewery and let the guest experience something they can’t get anywhere else,” Patel said.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.