When it comes to a hefty assortment of one-of-a-kind craft beers accompanied by locally-inspired eats, Tampa Bay Brewing Company has been a forerunner in the Tampa Bay area since 1996.

With an in-house microbrewery at its Ybor City location, Tampa Bay Brewing Company is a rare breed of bar and restaurant brewing and selling an eclectic variety of beers they can call their own.  It's a unique concept and one we had to try for ourselves with a mid-day meal this week.

Sitting smack dab in the middle of Centro Ybor, Tampa Bay Brewing Company touts a dark, old-time-y atmosphere complete with huge beer silos, antique decorations, and wooden decor.  With its old-school feel, it's hard to think of many better places to down a cold pint in Tampa.

Moosekiller Ale, one of Tampa Bay Brewing Company's flagship brews, is one hell of a drink - and that's a compliment.  With a deep amber hue and a deliciously pungent flavor to match, Moosekiller is a beer lover's beer made unique by its hefty 12 percent alcohol content and glacier hops from the Pacific Northwest.  Careful, though, this thing packs a punch, a tasty, tasty punch.

In the true Ybor City spirit, Tampa Bay Brewing Company's Cuban Sandwich felt like an apt choice to accompany the beer.  Sadly, it's hard to deem it as much more than that.  Over-pressed with, what felt like, mere slivers of pork, ham, and salami accompanied by melted swiss, dill pickles, mayo, and mustard, the Cuban failed to do much more than fill the stomach and absorb the beer.

Our team did have some pretty rave reviews of their famous "Bomb" Burger, a 1/2 pound burger monstrosity encased in baked pizza dough with bacon, cheddar, and onion strings inside, so take that for what it's worth, all you adventurous Tampa eaters.

If anything was learned on our Taste Tour experience, it's that Tampa Bay Brewing Company is an area staple for a reason.  With a rich assortment of flavorful beers and good-enough food to match, this brewery and restaurant is a beacon of originality and hard-working tradition in Tampa's ever-growing culinary landscape.