Tap Handle #565: Tampa Bay Brewing - Reef Donkey American Pale Ale

Tap size:  10.25"
Rarity:  Scarce
Mounting:  internal 3/8" nut

Reef Donkey differs quite a bit in appearance from the previous TBBC taps I have profiled such as Jack the Quaffer or Moose Killer. Although the brewery logo at the top remains standard, and an animal is front and center, the beer name appears close to the top of the tap rather than at the bottom, and it features a bas relief seascape backdrop that goes all the way to the bottom, instead of a brick backdrop and a barrel at the base. The colors are bright and beautiful, and there are loads of little details in the backdrop. This tap was released later than the others I've profiled, which is why it appears so far apart from the previous entries. Another feature that makes it similar to the previous styles is the double-sided appearance, with front and back being identical to each other and the two sides also identical to each other. It is probably the most scarce of the TBBC taps and also the most expensive.

Reef Donkey is slang for the Greater Amberjack gamefish, the largest of the jacks. They usually have dark stripes extending from nose to in front of their dorsal fins and are about 40 pounds or less. They are typically found near rocky reefs, debris, and wrecks in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.

For more about Tampa Bay Brewing, see this post.

Click through to read more about Tampa Bay Brewing's Reef Donkey American Pale Ale and to see more photos of this colorful tap...


Reef Donkey is a dry-hopped American Pale Ale made using a secret selection of hops to give this nice, dry beer a lemon/lime aroma and citrus and slightly tropical fruit flavor. Although this brew fits the classification of an APA, it drinks like a session IPA, perfect for a day on the boat fishing the reef. This ale won a bronze medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival and a silver medal at the Best Florida Beer Championship.


Ratebeer weighted average:  3.62 out of 5
Beer Advocate:  87 out of 100 (very good)











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