It’s a rare thing to find anything for free at a theme park, let alone free alcohol - a commodity that usually costs travelers an arm and a leg in a theme park, making your local baseball park’s, or upscale bar’s, liquor prices look like a steal. But at SeaWorld there is one place you can go to get a complimentary taste of beer favorites from Anheuser-Busch, along with some fruity selections. You can even learn the art of “beer pairing” (think wine and cheese pairings, only replace the wine with your favorite brew).

Step inside SeaWorld’s Hospitality House and you’ll find a long counter featuring numerous beer selections on tap (for free). The plastic tasting cups aren’t huge, but they aren’t tiny either, and you can make your selection from classics such as Budweiser, Bud Light and Michelob Light, as well as more hearty choices like Bare Knuckle Stout, and seasonal selections. Right now the Hospitality House has their fall brew, the delicious Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale, on tap. However, throughout the year you can find other seasonal selections. Samples are limited to two per person, per day though.

To the right of this main bar (and tucked a bit back in the corner, making it a little harder to find) is the specialty bar, featuring more exotic beer selections, such as Tarpon Spoon, a Bohemian pilsner that is brewed exclusively for Florida, and craft brands, such as Widmer Hefeweizen and Red Hook. These unique choices are limited to one sample per person, per day.

However, the real treat is SeaWorld’s Brewmaster’s Club, which takes tasters into a lush private room where they can choose from one beer from each of several categories, including: Sweet and Fruity, Lighter Side, Medium Body, and Rich and Fuller. Here you can sample new additions to the Anheuser-Busch portfolio. Current highlights include: Landshark Lager, Bacardi Silver Mojito and organic beers, Stone Mill Pale Ale and Wild Hop Lager. All of these selections are paired with the appropriate accompaniment of cheeses, fruit and chocolate to bring out the flavors in your beverage. You can even take home a “recipe” card from each beverage you sample that explains which meals and other food items go best with that brew. It’s best to make reservations for the Brewmaster’s Club since it is offered at specific times throughout the day. You can schedule your beer tasting by visiting the reservation podium at the Hospitality House.

There might be no such thing as a free lunch anymore, but at SeaWorld there is such a thing as a free beer.

Popularity: 2% [?]