Brewed Life Brings the Bacon & BBQ Fest to St. Pete
It's not often a blistering cold comes through the Gulf of Mexico and into St. Petersburg, Florida, but when it does the only way to warm up is with some tasty bacon and some zesty barbecue. Thankfully, The Bacon & Barbecue Festival by Brewed Life in Vinoy Park had an abundance of vendors containing the staple ingredients to keep bellies warm.
Not only did the festival provide mouth-watering burgers, ribs, and plenty of other dishes, but also some of the area's best local music. From Seranation and Kash'd Out to Ichroniq, Drifting Roots, Neverless, and even a reunion of St. Petersburg's home-brewed, Resinated, with Badda Skat providing a heavy rhythm in between acts.
The only good part of the blistering cold wind was the delivery of smells as they wafted into the nostrils. Every turn featured a different mouth-watering smell, beckoning the body to wander over. The Bacon Boss provided one of the tastiest bacon cheeseburger's to ever grace the tastebuds, and featured a delicious combination of savory beef, crispy bacon, and melted cheese on a fresh bun, resulting in a juicy and flavorful burger packed with a tasty smack in every bite, with the combination of the beef, bacon and cheese working together in perfect harmony.
However, for those looking to elevate their burger to the next level had to look to no further than the Heady Brand Company, who offered a CBD infused hot sauce. Despite the medical properties, the hot sauce took an already delicious burger and zapped it with a zest that packed a scrumptious punch, and don't worry because plenty of deserts were on hand at the Heady Brand Company booth.
Those with a sweet tooth could find relief in the honey provided by The Honey Couple, who had a wide selection of honey on offer, but the highlight of which was their ghost pepper-habanero honey. This warmed the belly enough to make you break out in a sweat, and with the winter wind whipping in off the bay it was a welcome treat. Founder of The Honey Couple, Robert Patterson told Nature Studios how his naturally infused ghost-pepper honey is perfect for glazing meats, drizzling over pizza or chicken. But plenty of other options were available for those not looking to set their tongues ablaze, including a succulent orange blossom honey and a sweet vanilla that's perfect for tea.
With the weekend coming to a close, Resinated's reunion shook the stage as the sun set below the bay. Despite the temperature dropping rapidly, the St. Pete heroes kept the bodies moving and warmth radiated through the crowd. Front man Kenny Mullins power popped a string, but that didn't stop the fun. Barbecue-stained mouths sang along, while laugher and joy howled louder than the wind.
Saying goodbye to the stunning views of the water and the city's skyline was hard to do, but eventually the park was empty, and the wind swept through the park like a haunting spirit, but the taste great food, good music, and a beautiful waterfront setting stayed.
Photos by Steve Carlos and Brian “Porkchop” Nicholson
Video by Brian “Porkchop” Nicholson and Zack Kearney
Review by Brendan Mcginley