WFTS Weatherman Denis Phillips cracks open a cold beer and the can looks a bit familiar.  

"It’s got that citrusy feel to it," he says. "Which is a Florida thing. That’s not bad."

The Tampa Bay Times writes that indeed, there’s a grapefruit finish to Rule #7 Hurricane Saison, a new brew a local company in tribute to Phillips, the longtime chief meteorologist at the Scripps station.

The beer was released for sale yesterday at the brewery, in cans modeled after Phillips’ signature suspenders, tie and banker stripe.

It’s a high honor in craft beer-crazy Tampa Bay, and this limited release has caused a social media stir. Hundreds of fans have already bugged Crooked Thumb and Phillips for a can. Phillips himself plans to buy 10 cases to give as gifts.

The idea sprung up during Hurricane Irma, when co-owner Kip Kelly settled on Phillips as his bar’s unofficial forecaster. He wasn’t alone — Phillips said his Facebook following grew from 70,000 to 200,000 that week. Kelly especially liked Phillips’ "hurricane rules," seven reassuring guidelines written for Hurricane Isaac in 2012 to help panicked viewers stay sane.

Rule #7: "Stop freaking out ... until I tell you to. We’re fine."

"He definitely came across to my household, and to the folks at the brewery, as a real calming influence during all of the hysteria," Kelly says. "So we wanted to do something to say thanks."