Beer & Chocolate: A unique European experience in Clearwater

Examples of what you’ll find (clockwise from top left): 611 Club served with side of Bavarian Pretzel Bites; Belgian Farmhouse Burger with side of mac & beer cheese; display of Leonidas chocolates, delivered from Belgium every two weeks; Philly chicken cheesesteak with beer cheese and side of sweet potato fries.

This month’s Restaurant of the Month takes us to Belgium by way of Outpost 611 Local Eatery and Taphouse in Clearwater. Owners Wendy and Ian McCarthy and son Riley have brought a love of beer and chocolate to our community. With more than 22 years of experience as beer distributors, they’ve learned a thing or two about beer, and since their September opening, the community seems to have embraced their affinity for European fare.

“We really love the way Belgium has brewed their beers since the 1400s,” said Wendy, noting that Ian was recently knighted in Belgium for selling the most Belgian beer in Florida. On tap you’ll find specially selected European beers with a few local brews. “We do have some local beers, but we didn’t overdo it. … We want to be known more for the beers you can’t get. People enjoy a good Belgian beer.” 

The Belgian theme extends to the Leonidas chocolates they serve. “I feel honored that they are allowing me to sell their chocolates here. We’re the only one in Florida who sells them,” said Wendy, who had to do a lot of research just to get in contact with Leonidas. “They sent a rep over from Belgium for two days, and he trained us on the chocolates. It’s a very specific way to present them, put them in a box, how long we can leave them out, the temperature of the chocolates.”

Ah, the temperature. Sitting in the restaurant you may not be aware that you are actually in a 68-degree “chocolate humidor.” “Yeah, the temperature of the room has to be at a certain temp for the chocolates,” Wendy said. “They don’t do well in the fridge or freezer or in the heat, so we have to keep them at a comfortable temperature to keep them perfect.”

Outpost 611 owner Wendy McCarthy at the Leonidas chocolate bar. They are sold by the piece or by the pound.

Growing up in New York, Wendy discovered Leonidas chocolates at David’s Baskets, a shop in Chelsea Market. She would get them all the time. “When we talked about opening the restaurant, and we were featuring so many Belgian beers, it just made a lot of sense to actually do the chocolates because they pair well with a lot of the different beers we offer, and also it’s such a good ending to your lunch or dinner.”

I can personally attest to this, having ended my delicious meal with a Manon Café chocolate.

“It’s about quality and precision with the beer and with the chocolates,” Wendy said. “So it just made sense to have the things that we love in this restaurant.”

You can order a beer flight (four beers in 5-ounce taster glasses), and the bartender and staff will know which chocolates to pair with your chosen beers.

“We also make a Belgian dessert with a Belgian waffle that has sugar crystals in it that we have shipped in,” Wendy said. “Then we put ice cream and a Belgian chocolate in it. You need two people usually to eat it!”

Working in collaboration with Chef Dan, who also hails from New York, Wendy and Ian have put together a scratch-kitchen menu inspired by their love of beer, of course, and New York delis and diners.

“Because we are such beer people, we chose food that we love and that goes really well with beer,” Wendy said.  

At 611 Outpost, you’ll find Phillys, Cubans and handcrafted, pressed deli sandwiches, as well as traditional Bavarian fare such as bratwurst, knockwurst and sauerkraut. They have a large variety of specialty burgers, such as their Belgian Farmhouse Burger, complete with Belgian waffles. They serve the classics, too, like wings, soups, salads, rice bowls and vegetarian options. “We want to try to accommodate everyone, including children and (people with) food allergies,” Wendy said.

One unique option to add to your meal is their beer cheese. Each time they make beer cheese they use a different beer. During Octoberfest last year they served pumpkin beer cheese, which is Bill’s favorite. “I had it in the mac and cheese, and I loved it,” Bill said.

Be sure to stop by for St. Patrick’s Day-inspired menu items like the Cottage Pie Burger, Chef Dan’s version of Shepherd’s Pie.

This family-run taphouse loves to educate their customers. Enter son, Riley. From a young age he has been immersed in the world of beer. When he became “of age,” he and his friends went to the bar with their notebooks to learn from his father, Ian. Since then, his love of educating people about beer has manifested into @beeradweisse, his Instagram page offering advice on all things beer-related.

 “Soon Riley will be starting a beer school with tastings,” said Wendy, noting that this pairs nicely with their overall mission. “(We are) wanting to educate people on good food and good beer and good chocolate, and to have a good experience when you come into the Outpost.”

Bill and Kyle with outstanding server, Emily, at Outpost 611.

Outpost 611  |  2454 McMullen Booth Rd Ste 103  |  Clearwater, FL 33759  |  727.223.3224

Sun - Thu 11a - 10p & Fri - Sat 11a - 11p