Friday, August 27, 2010

World Of Beer Grand Opening

The hype around the newly opened World Of Beer has been astounding.  It's great to see a place based around beer being talked about in such a positive light.  Newspapers are talking about how World Of Beer is bringing more business to the area and that people are happy to see it show that beer isn't for just drunk, ignorant people.

World Of Beer is celebrating it's grand opening this Saturday, August 28th from 12pm-2am.  Festivities kick off at 3pm as the Mayor of Coconut Creek cuts the ribbon.  Live band, Smugglin' Yo-Yo's, will be playing from 9:00pm-1:00am. There will be give-aways, free food from 160 Degrees, Fish City Grill, Lime, Scarfone's and Crepe Maker from 4:00pm-8:00pm.  Abi's Place non-profit organization will be giving away 5 free cruises too.  If you haven't been out to World Of Beer this sounds like a perfect time to check it out.

Saturday, August 28th 12:00pm-2:00am
World Of Beer
4437 Lyons Road
Suite E-101
Coconut Creek, FL 33073

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Mikkeller Brewery Weekend At Abraxas

From time to time we will get some rare beers down here in South Florida.  Usually they come from American breweries and are quite amazing.  This weekend Abraxas is taking it to another level.  Mikkeller Brewery is the #1 brewery in Denmark and #13 brewery in the world by Ratebeer.  We are lucky enough to have some of their bottles available from time to time but now we will be able to try some extremely rare brews on tap!!!  Abraxas will be tapping kegs of Mikkeller's Centennial Single Hop IPA and Bad Worse (American Style) Barleywine.  This is a chance to be not only be some of the only people in South Florida to have these beers on tap but also in the whole country.  There will also be bottles of Mikkeller's Black Hole Imperial Stout and Cascade Single Hop IPA - all on special, all weekend long.  There are other beers that have been on tap at Abraxas before that you may be able to see again but these most likely are never going to be available again so, you don't want to miss this.


Friday, August 27th-Sunday August 29th
Abraxas
407 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL

Monday, August 23, 2010

Beer Dinner With Brooklyn Brewery's Garrett Oliver

This weekend I was talking to some people about Brooklyn Brewery's Garrett Oliver coming down this week for some events and I was asked if I was going to the Brooklyn beer dinner at Mia Tardi in Miami's Design District on Wednesday.  I had heard nothing about the dinner and think I try to keep up as much as possible with these types of events, especially events that are held at a place that is only 10 blocks from my house, so you'd think I would have heard about it. Oh well.

Since it was the first time I was hearing about it I thought my loyal readers might like to know about it as well. It is a very rare occasion to have the actual brewer from breweries that are distributed in South Florida to travel down for a beer dinner. Garrett Oliver is one of the originators of beer dinners, and beer and food pairings.  His book, The Brewmaster's Table, is THE book on beer and food pairing.  I'm sure this beer dinner is going to be just amazing.  The $65 cost to attend is a bit higher than the usual beer dinners we have in the area but this may be one you want to splurge a little on.  Check out the menu below and call to reserve a spot before this is sold out.

MENU

Miatarde Ceviche (barramundi fillet, orange sections, ginger, lemongrass essence, yucca chips) w/ Brooklyn Sorachi Ace

Polpette di Bisonte (bison meat meatballs, Asiago cheese filling, spicy chili sauce) w/ Brooklyn Lager

Risotto Asparagi e Gorgonzola (carnaroli rice, Brooklyn local 1 beer, asparagus, gorgonzola dolce cheese) w/Brooklyn Local 1

Stinco di Agnello (Brooklyn brown ale braised lamb shank, juniper berries flavor, celery root mashed potatoes) w/Brooklyn Brown

Pere Alla Birra (Pears steamed in Brooklyn local 2, toasted almonds, mascarpone sauce) w/Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

$65/person
For Reservations call (305)572-1400

Wednesday, August 25th 8:00pm
Mia Tardi
163 NE 39th St.
Miami, FL 33137

Friday, August 20, 2010

Sunset Tavern Beer Tasting

Sunset Tavern has transformed from a macro beer-only bar to a reliable spot to grab great craft beer in the last few years.  This coming Wednesday, August 25th, at 7:30pm $21.95 will get you a sample of some of these great beers.  This is the 3rd beer tasting Sunset Tavern has held and all of them have been a lot of fun.  The beers are also accompanied by numerous snacks from Sunset Tavern's kitchen.  You'll probably also leave with some other goodies from the beer distributors for attending.  Here is what will be tasted:

Magic Hat #9
Sierra Nevada Tumbler
Yuengling Lager
Yuengling Light
Brooklyn Lager
Brooklyn IPA
Sierra Nevada Torpedo
Orange Blossom Pilsner
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat
Brooklyn Oktoberfest
Sam Adams Octoberfest
Magners Cider
Woodchuck Pear Cider
Woodchuck Amber Cider

Wednesday, August 25th 7:30pm
Sunset Tavern
7232 Southwest 59th Avenue
South Miami, FL 33143-5208
(305) 665-9996

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Avery Brewing Weekend

Abraxas is holding another of it's world famous brewery weekends this weekend.  If you were at the last Stone Brewery weekend you know what a blast it was.  Avery Brewing is the lucky brewery you will be able to have some rare beers from this time around.  Abraxas will have the very rare 17th Anniversary Dry Hopped Black Lager and Maharaja Imperial IPA on tap and tons of Avery bottles including the summer seasonal Karma (Belgian Pale Ale), White Rascal (Belgian Wit), Salvation (Belgian Strong Golden Ale), Dugana IPA, Hog Heaven (Barleywine), The Reverend (Belgian Quad), Kaiser (Imperial Oktoberfest), Collaboration Not Litigation (Belgian Strong Dark Ale), The Czar (Russian Imperial Stout), and hard to find The Beast Grand Cru (15% Belgian Strong Dark Ale).  See you there!!!


August 20th-August 22nd
Abraxas
407 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Global Beer News

Turns out, I may have to move to China soon to spread the prophecy. A craft beer enthusiasts' work is never done.

Check out what I'm talking about. NPR's Sarah McBride writes...

Beer-Drinking Trends In Emerging Markets Bode Well for Big Brewers
Categories: Developing Economies



People in developing economies just aren't drinking enough beer.

That's the argument analysts at Credit Suisse have laid out in a series of reports touting the beer and the alcoholic beverage sector. But there's hope for thirsty Brazilians and Chinese, the analysts say: It's just a matter of time before they start guzzling almost as much beer as Americans and Europeans.

The analysts looked at average beer consumption per capita— 80 liters per year on average in developed countries (it would have been higher, but wine-loving French dragged down the average). That compares to just 56 liters in Brazil, 32 in China, and 1 in India.

CreditSuisse went through this exercise so it could advise its clients on which beermakers to invest in (of the beverage companies the bank follows, SABMiller has the most emerging-markets exposure, and PernodRicard the least). Its reports, available to clients only, are chock full of charts tracking variables like global beer prices versus consumer confidence.

Despite relatively low per-capita consumption, China surpassed the U.S. as the world's biggest beer market by volume sales in 2002.

Raising prices there and in other emerging markets will be key to helping beer companies gain an extra $4 billion in profits over the next few years that the analysts reckon is there for the taking. Of course, the ability to raise prices depends on how much relatively low household incomes rise in those countries. Beer in Asia-Pacific costs around $2.20 a liter, CreditSuisse reports, compared to $3.70 in North America and $4.90 in Western Europe.

But suppose people turn to spirits instead? No worries, CreditSuisse concludes. Developing economies are expanding at a decent pace, and sometimes well over decent— China's GDP growth is still north of 10%. "Beer consumption is more closely tied to economic growth than spirits," the analysts write.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Archie's Pizza Hosts Beer Tasting

Key Biscayne has gained a few new craft beer spots in the last couple of months.  Archie's Pizza was one of the first places on the key to have any craft beer.  This Thursday, August 12th, from 7-9pm, I will be holding a 40+ beer tasting with pizza for $20.  I will be bringing some special bottles that you won't want to miss out on.  Hope to see you there.

Thursday, August 12th 7-9pm
Archie's Pizza
600 Crandon Boulevard
Key Biscayne, FL 33149-2008
(305) 361-3141

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Angelique Euro Cafe Host Beer & Tasting Menu

Tomorrow night, Thursday, August 5th, from 5pm-10pm Angelique Euro Cafe will be hosting a beer and tasting menu.  This is going to be a bit different then other beer type dinners you may have been to before.  For $29 you will choose from a selection of "types of beers" (dark, brown ales, Belgian and Belgian-style lights or pale lagers) and you'll be poured four 5 ounce glasses of beers in that style.  Then you will pick from two different sections for what you want for your meal.  Here is what the menu consists of.

Choose one from:
Gambas Angelique, Beef Tourneados, Moules Mariniere, Lamb Lollies, Branzino

Choose two from:
Truffle Potato Gnocchi, Tortilla Espanola, Marinated Olives, Chorizo in Wine, Escabeche de Mariscos, Pomme Frites with Aioli, Garbanzos Frito, Calamari Fritti

Thursday, August 5th 5:00pm-10:00pm
Angelique Euro Café
117 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, Fla.

For reservations call (305) 529-9922