BayCare Ballpark
Team: Philadelphia Phillies (Spring Training)/Clearwater Threshers (Single A)
Affiliate: N/A, Philadelphia Phillies
Ballpark Basics: A quintessential Spring Training ballpark with a touch of Philly.
Key Stats:
Parking: Chaos. Check the website for lots and pre-pay if you want easy. Day of lots were full and people were creating their own.
Seats in the Shade: Seats along the first-base side or upper levels typically offer more coverage as the sun moves.
BayCare Ballpark is a great example of a Spring Training ballpark. Starting with the parking lots, where many Spring Training parks seemed like (somewhat) controlled chaos. The Phillies are a huge draw to BayCare Ballpark and if you arrive close to first pitch it can be quite a game of finding (or creating) a parking spot. Walking up to the main entrance, you will find a fountain with the sculpture of The Ace in the center, a popular spot for groups to meet up. The Spanish Mediterranean architectural style of the ballpark and the palm trees that dot the grounds reminds you that you are in Florida.
After climbing the steps to the main concourse you enter the ballpark on the third base side. BayCare Ballpark was the first Grapefruit League ballpark to have a wrap-around concourse. The Phillies have a dedicated fanbase and they show up at Spring Training. There are multiple instances where the concourse gets crowded, especially behind home plate where the tight concourse gets even more congested with food and drink vendors.
The wraparound concourse offers a number of different views of the field with multiple options for groups. The seating bowl wraps around and goes down each baseline. There is a tiered section with picnic tables located in the left field corner. Next to this you will find Frenchy’s Tiki Hut, one of the most popular sections in the ballpark, located behind the left field wall. Berm seating fills in behind the rest of the outfield and gives fans a chance to spread out a blanket and enjoy the game.
We love it when a Spring Training ballpark reflects the home town and BatCare Ballpark does a great job of this. From Philadelphia food staples including Delco’s Cheesesteaks, Philadelphia Water Ice, J and J Super Pretzels, and Manco & Manco Pizza. In the drink department, Yuengling might be the closest thing you will be able to find as far as a Philly beer option.
Best Spot For Beer:
Tampa-based brewery, Coppertail Brewing Co., is the main craft option at BayCare Ballpark and can be found at many of the concession stands. They even have their own dedicated cart on the concourse behind home plate that may have additional options. McGillicuddy’s is a bar that focuses on beer (and seltzers) on the third base side and had the best variety on our visit.
BayCare Ballpark has been the home for the Phillies since 2004 and has gone through a number of renovations to keep it up to date. New for 2026 is a new videoboard, the largest in any Spring Training ballpark. It offers a solid Spring Training experience with a passionate fanbase.
Crooked Thumb Brewery
Rating: Home Run
Brew Basics: A neighborhood vibe of a place with less pretense and lots of outdoor space.
Key Stats:
Dogs: Lots of outdoor options for your four legged drinking buddies.
Good for Groups: Yes
Food: Rotating food trucks
With a relaxed and more casual vibe, Crooked Thumb is a bit of a departure from the trend of modern, chic brewing and we love that for them. Multiple spaces are all welcoming and inviting and are built to embrace outdoor living as well. Named for the shape of their county on a map and not for a long tradition of hitchhiking, Crooked Thumb is technically in Safety Harbor, Florida not Clearwater but it’s like 8 minutes from the park so we aren’t steering you astray.
The main doors are one room wide but huge garage bay doors open provide more space to the right and a dog friendly beer garden to the left. This tree lined beer garden has lots of picnic tables, with brightly colored umbrellas providing plenty of shade, and also houses a pergola covered stage for the live music which is on tap at least every weekend. Inside is wide and open, and embraces the raw wood look with large unpainted columns, long table tops and coffee table height tree trunk tables. Concrete floors, exposed silver ducts, and Edison bulbs that dangle from the ceiling by their cords lend to the rustic, industrial vibe.
Beer Breakdown:
With roughly 20 beers on tap at any given time, including several collabs with other local brewers, there should be something for everyone on the menu. If you dragged along your non-beer drinking friends, they’ve also got alternatives like hard seltzers, wine and some N/A options too. Plus they’re open every day of the week, which leaves no excuses for not stopping by.
Dark 30 Schwarzbier (4.5% ABV/20 IBU) Nutty, chocolate brown color with a smell that is roasty, malty and slightly dry like an irish rye. Little bready at the end and the flavors muddle as the beer warms.
S’Mores Milk Stout (5.2% ABV/23 IBU) This is part of their Girl Scout cookie series and according to our bartender, the least sweet of the group. That said, this black coffee colored beer is still very sweet. It has a creamy, chocolatey mouthfeel with marshmallow throughout and a bit of graham at the end.
Harbor Haze (6.5% ABV/25 IBU) This hazy IPA pours a sunny, pastel yellow with moderate lacing. A sharp front and somewhat dry finish belie the low IBU rating. Overall it’s not uncomfortably bitter but definitely has a bite, with a pineapple and tropical fruit center.
Pink Beer (4.0%) A mixed berry sour that lives up to its name with distinct papaya coloring. It smells like a sweet tart, starts berry forward and juicy and finishes tart like a Sour Patch Kid ™ .
555 10th Avenue South
Safety Harbor, FL 34695