I recall when craft breweries used to be hip — when the local scene was nascent and a handful of tasting rooms became go-to hangs for zythophiles. Remember when a crowd of 6,000 beer geeks in Tampa turned unruly during the release party for a coveted, limited-edition beer?

I don’t often hit craft breweries anymore, but if our outing last Saturday was any indication, those boho days are well behind us. Local breweries look more like family parks than gathering spots for guys with long beards and beanies (except for the brewers themselves).

The plan on Saturday was for me to drink a signature golden beer (lager, light ale or pilsner) at four breweries in St. Pete, hopping from one to the next. Bonnie, Vicki and David could have whatever they were having. Our stops were: 3 Daughters Brewing, Cage Brewing, Green Bench Brewing Company and Golden Isles Brewing Co.

Do not expect punctilious zythological analysis forthcoming. I’m no beer snob — just a fella who always has bottles of Bud Light in the garage fridge and likes to drink local drafts, usually in restaurants.

3 DAUGHTERS (5 p.m.)

Located in a converted warehouse in the Warehouse Arts District, the 3 Daughters complex also includes a large outdoor space with tables, chairs, cornhole and other games. Don and Linda met our quartet on a gorgeous, perfectly cloudless late afternoon. The place was just starting to get busy. Kids and dogs were in abundance.

I ordered a pint of Beach Blonde Ale, which I’ve had many times, at the indoor bar. We convened outside to a circle of Adirondack chairs, which I’m fond of sitting in because they promote relaxation and they go well with drinking beer.

I took a focused swallow and was immediately struck by how bold Beach Blonde is compared to my Bud Light. I knew it had some punch, but on other occasions I was probably too busy yapping to notice how much. Flavor — what a concept! The pint started to flag near the end. It could’ve used more staying power.

CAGE BREWING (6 p.m.)

Located on the busy corner of 1st Avenue South and 20th Street, Cage has a large outdoor courtyard covered in artificial turf. If it wasn’t for all the young adults socializing over libations, Cage could’ve passed for a particularly busy daycare center. Kids aplenty — most under age 5 — frolicked and squealed and ran around.

I found this scene a bit of a surprise, seeing as Cage is known as the local haven for Grateful Dead tribute acts and associated Deadheads.

I ordered a pint of C.B.R. American-style lager ($6) at the indoor bar. Bobby J bought the round. We joined three generations of the Jorgensen clan outside. (Raff, 3 months, chilled in his stroller — smiled if I poked his belly, never cried.)

The beer had a crispy start, but lost its head in about 30 seconds, then lost its carbonation and was soon uncrispy. I left about a quarter of it in the glass after David had a splendid idea …

DINNER BREAK (7 p.m.)

…

Vicki and David bade farewell. Bonnie and I forged on.

GREEN BENCH BREWING (8:15)

Located on a side street just north of Central Avenue in the Edge District, Green Bench’s lighted sign and brick exterior exuded an urban vibe. I’d go so far as to say it looked … hip.

Somewhat miraculously, we pulled into a parking spot directly across the street from the place. The crowd was adult and fairly sparse, the music on low volume. Green Bench Brewing was calm.

I commiserated with a woman behind the bar about what golden beer would best serve my purposes. She gave me three samples and I decided on the Postcard Pils (10 oz. $7.54), an American pilsner. We had a seat next to the open garage door and enjoyed the crisp night air.

Resting in its sleek, logo-inscripted glass, the beer looked positively elegant. Much of the head dissipated quickly, but some remained. I could see bubbles. Postcard Pils had a touch of agreeable hoppiness (this from someone with low hops threshold). It added bite to an overall smooth-drinking beer.

GOLDEN ISLE BREWING (9:30)

Golden Isle opened at MLK Street and 30th Avenue North in May 2023. We’d driven by it many times but had never been. After briefly debating whether to stop or head home, we pulled into the lot. The converted gas station has an adjacent fenced courtyard. As soon as I walked inside, I felt a welcoming vibe.

I told our bartenders —Karah and Kristen, both delightful — about my golden-beer hunt and we immediately got down to business picking out a type. Although only modestly buzzed, I was pretty beer’d out. They welcomed the challenge. I tried a few samples and chose the Golden Pilsner (10 oz., $5.25).

More bubbles — floating upward. I was charmed by the first sip and enthusiastically drank the silky, fresh-tasting elixir amid lively conversations with the women behind the bar. It shook me out of my beer fatigue, and I briefly considered getting a second glass, but decided against it.

We set out for home — Bonnie driving, as always.

Onto the Rankings …

1 — Golden Pilser, Golden Isle

2 — Postcard Pils, Green Bench

3 — Beach Blonde Ale, 3 Daughters

4 — C.B.R., Cage Brewing

My beer excursion was fun and flavorful, although I doubt I’ll engage in another any time soon. I’ll visit my craft breweries one at a time, thank you — and my next time will be Golden Isle.

A Final Tip: If the point of a beer excursion is not to get hammered but to appreciate the beer, it’s probably best to order the 10-oz. pours.

A Final Geek Thought: I repeatedly clicked on “Save Draft” while composing this column in WordPress, and it wasn’t until near the end that I made the connection.