There are places in Clearwater you drive past every day.

Clearwater Brewing Company isn't really one of them.

Tucked away north of Drew Street at 1700 N. Fort Harrison Avenue, a few blocks removed from the roads most of us travel regularly, it's the kind of place you almost have to know is there. Also, it is not in Old Downtown.

Apparently, while many Clearwater residents may not even know about it, they've been making some pretty damn good beer.

How good?

National-award-winning good.

At the 2026 U.S. Open Beer Championship, Clearwater Brewing Company's Snail Pale earned a Bronze Medal in the Single Hop Pale Ale category.

BTW…this wasn't a little local tasting competition.

The U.S. Open describes itself as the third-largest beer competition in the United States, with breweries from across the country and internationally competing this year in more than 180 categories and subcategories!

The Single Hop Pale Ale podium looked like this:

🥇 Floyd The Barbarian — Full Fledged Brewing Co., Iowa
🥈 Dolcita IPA — Model A Brewing Company, South Carolina
🥉 Snail Pale — Clearwater Brewing Company, Florida

That's our Clearwater. 🍺

ALSO, the national medal isn't the only recognition they've picked up.

Clearwater Brewing Company also earned a Bronze Medal at the 2026 Best Florida Beer Professional Championship for its Mojo-ito Blackberry Mojito Floridaweisse.

BTW…there's another accolade: 2nd Place in the People's Choice Award at the Florida Craft Beer Fest.

So we're talking about recognition from beer judges nationally, recognition here in Florida, and recognition from the people actually drinking the stuff.

Not a bad trifecta for a brewery tucked away where plenty of Clearwater residents probably don't even realize there's beer being brewed.

Here's the funny part.

I was at Clearwater Brewing Company Tuesday night for an election watch party.

While I was there, I started talking with owner Rob Menard, and he mentioned some of the awards the brewery had received.

My immediate reaction was basically:

Wait...what?

Because I hadn't heard about them.

So I started digging.

Sure enough, Snail Pale really did bring home a medal from a national beer competition.

That's exactly the kind of thing I love finding for My Clearwater Scoop.

Sometimes the interesting Clearwater story isn't sitting on Gulf-to-Bay with a giant sign screaming for your attention.

Sometimes it's hiding a few blocks away.

There's also some history here.

Clearwater Brewing Company originally opened in 2019, operating from a renovated former gas station in the Old Clearwater Bay/North Marina area. The original brewery closed in 2023.

However, Clearwater Brewing Company came back, with Pinellas County records noting a grand opening in 2025.

And now, roughly a year into this newest chapter, there's a national bronze medal attached to the Clearwater Brewing Company name.

That's a pretty impressive comeback.

Despite the name, Clearwater Brewing Company isn't only for beer drinkers.

They also serve cocktails, and during my visit Tuesday night, I asked Rob to make me something with rum. Rather than reaching for a standard cocktail recipe, he created something for me on the spot.

And whatever the hell he made, it was bitchin'. 🍹Oh, it is called The Butterfly Effect

It included Rum (usually tequilla), agave, grapefruit juice and fresh lime juice.

Beyond the drinks, Clearwater Brewing Company regularly hosts live music, karaoke and other events, giving you another locally owned option for a night out without heading to the beach, Dunedin or St. Pete.

And because it's tucked a few blocks away from Clearwater's main traffic corridors, it has that neighborhood-hideaway quality that makes you wonder:

Which brings me back to the question that started this entire article:

Have you heard of it?

Because if the answer is no, apparently you're not alone.

But when a little Clearwater brewery is quietly bringing home medals from Florida competitions and one of the largest beer competitions in the country, that's something Clearwater residents ought to know about.

And frankly...

I think that deserves a beer. 🍺

📍 Clearwater Brewing Company
1700 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater

Map →

By a Neighbor. For the Neighborhood.

If you voted Tuesday, watched the results come in and thought:

“Great. Election's over.”

Not quite.

While Jared Leone won the race for Clearwater City Council Seat 4, Seat 5 still has some unfinished business.

Mark Bunker and Sam Wilson are headed to a runoff election on November 3, meaning Clearwater voters will be asked to make one more decision about who represents them on City Council.

And if you're wondering why we're suddenly having a runoff election in November, you're probably not alone.

This is actually the first election cycle under Clearwater's new runoff system.

In 2024, Clearwater voters approved a charter amendment changing city elections from March to August beginning in 2026 and requiring a runoff whenever no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.

When that happens, the two candidates receiving the most votes move on to November.

That's exactly where we are now with Seat 5.

Mark Bunker vs. Sam Wilson.

And this time, one of them will become Clearwater's next Seat 5 council member.

If you've been reading My Clearwater Scoop lately, you already know how I feel about this part.

Don't vote based on a Facebook graphic.

Don't vote because somebody told you Candidate A is wonderful or Candidate B is terrible.

Don't let a smear campaign, political mailer, PAC, social-media post or catchy accusation do your thinking for you.

Do your own homework.

We've got plenty of time before November 3.

Look at Bunker's record. Look at Wilson's record. Look at what they've actually said and done. Look at their positions on the issues that matter to Clearwater.

That includes the things we've been talking about here: development, public land, the future of the 77-acre Landings property, downtown, our neighborhoods, taxes, infrastructure and the direction Clearwater takes over the next several years.

You don't have to agree with My Clearwater Scoop.

You should make your own decision.

That's the point.

The runoff will happen alongside the November 3, 2026 General Election, so Clearwater voters won't be heading to the polls solely for another municipal election. Clearwater's official election calendar confirms November 3 as runoff Election Day.

Pinellas County currently lists general-election early voting as October 19 through November 1, although those dates and locations are listed as tentative at this stage.

We'll have plenty more information about where and when to vote as November gets closer.

For now, there's really only one thing you need to remember:

Clearwater's 2026 City Council election isn't finished yet.

Seat 5 comes down to:

You've got more than two months.

Use them. Learn about both candidates, then make your own damn decision. 🗳️

By a Neighbor. For the Neighborhood.

Before you load up the car, take a peek at the live beach cam to see exactly how busy it is out there. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to go and when to enjoy our little slice of paradise another day.

Check current water temperatures and conditions Here

Watch the live Clearwater Beach Cam Here

Our pets aren't just animals - they're family. If you've seen any of the pets below please email us at [email protected] and we will connect you directly with their families. One share could bring someone's baby home.

Zena has been missing for over 160+ days from the Seville Condo area near Clearwater Costco. Her heartbroken family will not give up searching

LEARN MORE →

Leah has been missing since April 28th from the King Arthur Court in Dunedin. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

Lobo has been missing since May 11th from Gladden Park in St. Petersburg. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

River is a one-year-old male tabby (brown, white, and gray) who slipped out the front door on May 30th, and last seen near 134th Ave and Trotter Rd in Largo.

LEARN MORE →

Mama Kitty is a 15 year old black cat with with a clipped left ear that went missing on June 4th, and last seen near Druid and Belcher in Clearwater.

LEARN MORE →

🎸 Chas Collins Friday August 21st - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Zach Seufert Friday August 21st - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - Law Smith - Friday & Saturday 8:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - The Dark & Dirty Comedy Show - Friday & Saturday 10:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎸 VCR’s Saturday August 22nd - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Scot Sinclair Saturday August 22nd - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Stormbringer Ultimate 80’s Rock Arena Band - FREE - Saturday August 8th at 6:00 pm OCC Roadhouse Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Buddy Guy Sunday August 23rd - 7:30 pm Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL TICKETS & INFO→

READ MORE →

🚶Indoor Walking at the Countryside Mall: Beat the heat and rain with some indoor walking, grab a bite to eat, browse the shops, or catch a movie…all while letting the mall’s A/C do the heavy lifting. MAP →

If you must be out in nature, please don’t forget to bring water

🌳🥾 Beat the Heat: Peaceful Nature Parks Looking to escape the crowds and cool off in the shade this weekend? Tampa Bay is loaded with hidden natural gems, all free to explore:

🦅 Moccasin Lake Nature Park (Clearwater) — A peaceful 51-acre preserve with shaded oak trails, boardwalks over the lake, and a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary where you can see rescued eagles, hawks, and falcons.

⛵ Clearwater Community Sailing Center A nonprofit sailing center at 1001 Gulf Blvd offering boat rentals, sailing lessons for all ages, and Summer Camp. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9am to 5pm. LEARN MORE →

🏓 Pickleball Court Locations: Here is the easiest way to find Pickleball courts near you with an interactive map. LEARN MORE →

🏖️ Near the Beach

🏙️ Inland

⚠️ Trivia nights and schedules can change. We recommend confirming directly with the venue before heading out. Know of a change or a new spot? Tell Scout →

Thanks for reading My Clearwater Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone that you think would enjoy it.

Until next time,

Stan, Scoop and Scout