St. Somewhere Brewing Company's Lectio Divina Belgian Style Ale

Having lived in Florida for 22 of my 23 years, one would think I would be familiar with all the cool things to do there. Since I am also passionate about beer, it would follow that I would know about the few breweries in Florida, yet it was not until my first visit to the Tampa Total Wine and More that I discovered the St. Somewhere Brewing Company. The St. Somewhere Brewery is located in Tarpon Springs, Florida and specializes in brewing traditional Belgian style ales. Florida is a state more known for its beaches and hurricanes than brewing amazing beer, so I was a bit skeptical at first. 2009 represented my first California Christmas, and my thoughtful mom, knowing that I love beer and was missing Florida, literally sent me a taste of home—two bottles from the St. Somewhere Brewing Company, based just 20 miles away from the place I called home for 22 years. I really wasn’t expecting much at first, since I had never heard of a “true” Floridian brewery, but I was excited to try a beer that was born in Florida, just like me. (Yuengling doesn’t count as a “true” Florida brewery because it was originally based in Pennsylvania.) It was simply an added bonus that this particular local brewery specialized in Belgian style ales—my favorite!

St. Somewhere Brewing Company’s Lectio Divina Belgian Style Ale

Appearance: Reddish, burnt orange in color, unfiltered and cloudy with decent amounts of cream-colored head that disappeared quickly.

Aroma: Inviting and fruity, complex with hints of grapes and raisins

Taste: Highly carbonated (so much so that after I took off the wire cage, the cork flew off by itself!) dry, tart beginning with hints of green apple and pear in the middle and a crisp, dry, quick finish.

Alcohol: 8% (Interesting to note that Belgian strong ales traditionally have extremely high ABVs. 8% is on the lower end of the spectrum)

I was pleasantly surprised by my first introduction to the St. Somewhere Brewery--I knew that Tarpon Springs had excellent Greek food, but now I can honestly say that they offer great beer as well. I think the lower alcohol percentage (again, lower for a traditional Belgian ale) actually works to this beer's advantage because you can drink a few during those humid Floridian summers without knocking yourself out. This beer could easily be enjoyed by itself, but would also pair nicely with lighter fare like a salad or fruit plate.

Fun fact: Lectio Divina is Latin for “divine reading” and refers to a method of religious reading intended to invite spiritual insights. Although I didn't have any spiritual visions while quaffing this Belgian style brew, I was divinely impressed by this little known local brewery. I recommend this beer to anyone who likes Belgian style ales or wants to get in on one of Tarpon Springs' delicious hidden gems.