As an homage to the one year anniversary of the local sighting of the Manaphin---the storied manatee-dolphin hybrid that caused a worldwide sensation in 2014---St. Pete's Green Bench Brewing Co. is tapped Manaphin Chocolate Stout, a special limited edition beer brewed in honor of the elusive sea creature.

And there is no April Fool's punchline this year.

The craft brew concoction came to fruition after Visit St. Pete/Clearwater's April Fool's joke a year ago made headlines around the world. The stunt even garnered a national award recently, earning a Platinum Award from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) Adrian Awards in New York City.

Manaphin Stout is a part of Green Bench Brewing's Wood Parade series and has been in the works for more than 6 months. It's a bourbon barrel-aged imperial oatmeal sweet stout aged on chocolate and vanilla.

"We're delighted that the team at Green Bench wanted to mark the anniversary of the Manaphin sighting by brewing this very special beer in its honor," said VSPC Executive Director David Downing. "It brings together two of the hottest trends in the destination---the burgeoning craft brewery scene and our beloved and elusive mascot."