This week will mark the 30th anniversary of one of America's original craft brewers, Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada has been putting out amazing beers for years and this year to mark the anniversary Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada, got together with some other luminaries in the craft beer movement and brewed four special beers. Now with the anniversary year coming to an end Abraxas will be throwing a big blowout for the occasion. Starting this Friday at 8:00pm and running through the weekend Diego, owner of Abraxas, has pulled out all the stops. They will be tapping kegs of 30th Ann. Series Barleywine (Jack & Ken's Ale) and Brewers Reserve Oak Aged Ale (a blend of oak-aged Bigfoot, Celebration Ale and Pale Ale... generously dry hopped), Estate Homegrown Ale, Northern Hemisphere Harvest Ale, Celebration Ale and Bigfoot 2010 kegs!!! All of these great beers along with all other Sierra bottles will be on special all weekend long.
Friday, November 19th- Sunday, November 21st
Abraxas Lounge
407 Meridian Ave
Miami Beach
305-534-9005
Showing posts with label Sierra Nevada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sierra Nevada. Show all posts
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Review: Sierra Nevada Rhymes Wit

I always love trying a new beer. It makes it even better when I get to try it with the person that was involved in brewing it. This past Friday at Abraxas I got to have one of those rare times I get to try the beer with the brewer. Diego, owner of Abraxas, was invited to Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp this past February to work with others that were invited to Beer Camp to brew what would become Rhymes Wit. Abraxas is one of the only bars in the country that you will be able to try this beer at. Rhymes Wit is a Belgian style Wit beer that is available on draft only. The beer has a nice tan hazy color to it with a small amount of puffy white head. Placing my nose into the cup I picked up the pleasant smell of citrus with a slight bit of pepper. The taste is is very similar to the aroma with the pepper moving a little infront of the citrus. The citrus is not quite as evident as you think it would be but is the perfect level for me. The nice light mouthfeel made this a very easy drinking beer. Rhymes Wit left me with a juicy after taste that made me want to come back for another sip. Overall, this was a great wit beer and for a first attempt brew an amazingly pleasant surprise. There is only a very limited amount of this beer available so make sure to head over to Abraxas sooner than later before it is gone. You won't be disappointed.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Abraxas Celebrates 3rd Anniversary with FREE BEER

That is correct. You did read the title correctly. Abraxas will be celebrating it's 3rd Anniversary this Friday night, April 16th, from 10:00pm-5:00am. The night will start out with Abraxas usual Friday night 2x1 happy hour from 5:00pm-10:00pm. When the clock strikes 10:00pm though the free beer starts flowing. The beer that Diego and the fine folks over at Abraxas will be serving isn't just any beer, but a very rare beer. They will be tapping a keg of their exclusive Sierra Nevada Rhymes Wit (Belgian style White Ale). Last February, Diego took part in the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #20 and this beer is the result of their brewing efforts. This beer will only be available at the bars owned by the participants in the Beer Camp and at the Sierra Nevada Brewpub in Chico, CA. - that is a total of 10 bars in the entire country!
I can guarantee there will be a few other special beers being poured that night as well. This is an event that you don't want to miss.
Friday, April 16thAbraxas
407 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-9005
Labels:
3rd Anniversary,
Abraxas,
events,
Free Beer,
Rhymes Wit,
Sierra Nevada
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Pre-Valentine's Day Events
It's that time of the year to snuggle up with that special someone and enjoy sometime together. What better way to snuggle up then with a few friends and beers. Here are some events going on this week leading up the V Day.
WEDNESDAY
Abraxas, South Beach- The bimonthly beer tasting is happening once again. Diego over at Abraxas is really throwing in a few rare ones on this tasting. Checkout the list and head on over for one of the best continuous beer tastings in South Florida. $15 for 12 three oz. pours and all the beers being sampled will be on sale for the rest of the night.
Beer lineup:
Hacker-Pschorr Gold (Germany) - Helles Lager
Sierra Nevada Glissade (CA) - Helles Bock
Xingu (Brazil) - Black Lager
Ayinger Celebrator (Germany) - Doppelbock
Belhaven (Scotland) - Scottish Bitter
Flying Dog Garde Dog (MD) - Biere de Garde
Caracole (Belgium) - Belgian Amber Ale
Dogfish Head India Brown Ale (DE) - American Brown Ale
St. Bernardus Tripel (Belgium) - Belgian Tripel Ale
Stone Double Bastard (CA) - American Strong Ale
Flying Dog Gonzo (MD) - Imperial Porter
Terrapin Side Project Dark Side (GA) - Belgian Imperial Stout (only place to get it on tap in Miami)
8:00pm-11:00pm
Abraxas
407 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL
(305) 534-9005
Lola's On Harrison, Hollywood- Lola's On Harrison will be another one of only a few great establishments that carry Magic Hat #9. They will be having a kick off party to celebrate the launch of #9 tonight. Stop by to try the great beer and good food. Magic Hat's Alebassador will be on hand as well with some free stuff.
6:00pm-8:00pm
Lola's On Harrison
2032 Harrison Street
Hollywood, FL
(954) 927-9851
THURSDAY
Barracuda, Coconut Grove- If you can't make it out to the beer tasting at Abraxas then you should checkout the tasting going on at Barracudas. Chris from Fresh Beer will be serving up about 40 different craft beers for only $20. Barracudas will also have some chicken wings for you to snack on while enjoying some tasty suds. Chris will have some of the newest beers available as well as some special stuff. Here is a sampling of what he will have:
Shiner Bock
Shiner Hefe
Shiner Black Lager
Flying Dog Doggie Style
Flying Dog Garde Dog
Summit Extra Pale Ale
Summit Red Horizon
The Bruery Saison Rue
Rogue Imperial Russian Stout
Dogfish Head Immort Ale
Dogfish Head 60 Minute
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale
Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
Rogue Yellow Snow
Ayinger Jahrundert
Clipper City Heavy Seas
Clipper City Holy Sheet
7:00pm-9:00pm
Barracuda
3035 Fuller Street
Miami, FL (305) 448-1144
FRIDAY
The Lodge, Boca Raton- The Lodge will be having a Sierra Nevada night this Friday. Head on out and meet the rep from the brewery as well as win some great stuff. They'll be pouring $5 pints of Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale and Glissade Bock. They will also have live music by Mike Mineo.
8:00pm-11:00pm
The Lodge
200 S Federal Hwy
Boca Raton, FL
(561) 392-5003
SATURDAY
Lake Worth Beach, Lake Worth- You have an opportunity to show your opposition to oil drilling as close as 3 to 10 miles off your coast. This movement is supported by Monk in the Trunk and will be made of people of all walks of life and will cross political affiliations. This movement is not about politics; it is about protection of our shoreline, our tourism, our valuable properties and our way of life. Let us share our knowledge, energies and passion with Hands Across The Sand to protect our coastline and waterways from the devastating environmental effects of oil exploration and support industries. Come out and show your support as the Surfrider Foundation holds a beach cleanup and hosts this event. Hold hands forming lines in the sand against oil drilling in our coastal waters. This event will take place RAIN or SHINE. Leave only your footprints. Further information is available at www.surfriderpbc.org. After party will be sponsored in part by Slow Food Glades starting at 3pm at Havana Hideout in Lake Worth, with food and drink specials and raffle.
Use ticket for 1 free Monk in the Trunk beer
Wristbands entitle wearer to:
2.oo Tacos
2.00 Monk in the Trunk Draft
12:00pm-3:00pm
Lake Worth Beach
Lake Avenue and A1A
3:00pm-5:00pm
Havana Hideout
509 Lake Avenue
Lake Worth, FL
(561) 585-8444
SUNDAY
Stage 84, Davie- If you don't have plans yet for Valentines Day let me make it easy on you and head out to Stage 84 for a great beer dinner being hosted by Holy Mackerel. For only $30 per person you'll get a 4 course meal paired with 5 beers. If that wasn't enough you'll also be some of the first people in the country to try the newest beer from Holy Mackerel family of beers. The beer will go into mass production in the early summer but you can try it before everyone else. Live music will follow the dinner so you can stick around and have a couple more beers if you are so inclined. You can also go and reserve your spot now and save $5 by clicking here.
MENU:
Welcome Beer - Brewer’s Choice
Ceviche Shrimp, Crab & Tuna
Holy Mackerel Golden Ale
~
Crisp Green Salad Sweet Pecans & Creamy Citrus Dressing
Dogfish head 60min IPA
~
Beef Navarin Classic French Stew with Spring Vegetables
Monk In the Trunk Organic Amber Ale
~
Chocolate Mack In Black Float
6:00pm-9:00pm
Stage 84
9118 W State Road 84
Davie, FL
(954) 474-5040
Labels:
beer dinner,
beer tasting,
events,
Magic Hat,
Sierra Nevada
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
New Beers Coming to South Florida
If you have been lacking in new beers to try recently well, that is changing this month. With Fresh Beers' inclusion into the Brown Distribution family they can now afford to bring some of the best breweries in the world to South Florida. This month will see the addition of three new breweries with more to follow, shortly. Gold Coast also continues to expand their selection of Sierra Nevada. Here is a little info on all of them.
The Bruery is one of the most hyped about breweries out there today and with good reason, they make great beers. I was able to sample a bunch of their different beers last year at Savor in Washington, D.C. I have been saving a bottle of their Saison Rue for a special occasion and now that it will be available all the time, I'm ready to crack it open. Here is some info on all the new beers from The Bruery that should be in stores by next week. And if they aren't, you should demand they get some in.
Orchard White is an unfiltered, bottle conditioned Belgian-style witbier. This hazy, straw yellow beer is spiced with coriander, citrus peel and lavender added to the boil and whirlpool. A spicy, fruity yeast strain is used to add complexity, and rolled oats are added for a silky texture.
ABV: 5.7%, IBU: 15, SRM: 3, Release: Year Round
Accolades: BeerAdvocate Magazine, October 2008, "A" Rating
Saison Rue is an unfiltered, bottle conditioned, Belgian/French-style farmhouse ale. This is a beer of subtlety and complexity, with malted rye, spicy, fruity yeast notes, biscuit-like malt backbone, and a slight citrus hop character. With age, this beer will dry out and will become more complex with rustic notes of leather and earth from the contribution of a wild yeast strain. Being a Saison, Saison Rue is ambiguous unto itself as it is a different beer when fresh and when aged. We hope you enjoy it in all of its incarnations.
ABV: 8.5%, IBU: 30, SRM: 9, Release: Year Round
Accolades: Los Angeles International Beer Competition 2008, Gold, French & Belgian Style Saison
BeerAdvocate Magazine, October 2008, "A" Rating
Meaning "rye bread" in Danish, we took our inspiration for this beer from the Danes' staple dark, whole-grain rye bread. Brewed with three types of rye malt, this robust brown ale showcases the earthy, spicy character of the grain, complemented by bready, nutty barley malts and a hint of roast. Loosely based on the Scandinavian Christmas beer or "Julebryg" tradition, this beer is perfect for the colder weather of winter, although it will be available year-round (because who doesn't love a dark beer now and again, regardless of weather?) And don’t worry about the name, we can’t pronounce it either! But we do have a video of us and a lot of others trying our best at http://www.vimeo.com/7504797.
ABV: 8%, IBU: 30, SRM: 18, Release: Limited Year Round
Hottenroth Berliner Weisse is brewed in memory of
Fred and Sarah Hottenroth, Patrick's grandparents. This tart German-style Berliner Weisse is as authentic as it gets. We used lactobacillus and a hint of brettanomyces to sour this very unusual, low gravity wheat beer. To cut the tartness for those with sweeter tastes, raspberry or woodruff syrup is a traditional way to sweeten the beer. Almost an extinct style, we hope to help revive the Berliner Weisse in memory of two great people.
ABV: 3.1%, IBU: 2, SRM: 2, Release: Limited Year Round
Accolades: Los Angeles International Beer Competition 2008, Gold, American-Style or German-Style Sour Ales
2 Turtle Doves is the second in the 12 Days/Years of Christmas Services. We decided to take our inspiration from the name and base the beer on the "turtle" candy, brewing it with cocoa nibs, toasted pecans, caramelized sugar and a lot of caramel malts. Somewhere between a Belgian-style Dark Strong Ale and an Imperial Porter, this beer is designed to take the journey through time until 12 Drummers Drumming.
ABV: 12%, IBU: 25, SRM: 30, Release: Winter 2009/2010
If you are from the upper Midwest then you are very familiar with Summit Brewing. They have been brewing in Minnesota since 1986. They are a highly respected and enjoyed brewery. With a lineup that is a bit more accessible to the average beer drinker, that is just starting out on craft beer, this is a good brewery to get them started with.

Summit's first-born child and flagship beer, Extra Pale Ale has a pronounced hop flavor and a light bronze color. Brewed since 1986, there's not a beer lover in the Twin Cities who isn;t familiar with Summit Extra Pale Ale.
ABV: 5.3% IBU:40-45

Artfully crossing the boundaries of traditional IPAs and Amber styles, Summit created a brew all of their own. Featuring an aromatic blend of Horizon, Amarillo, and Cascade hops with nicely balanced malts for a flavor to enjoy to the fullest.
ABV: 5.7% IBU:65-70
Shiner Beers are part of the Spoetzl Brewing empire and aren't new to Florida but they are being reintroduced after a short absence from the South Florida market. Shiner is to Texas what Yuengling is to Florida. It's that beer that has more taste than your average Bud type beer but not as complex as some other craft beers. They are known for their Shiner Bock but they also have other varieties that will be introduced into the market and they are all quite good. Shiner should be back on shelves by Mid-February but be sure at ask for it if you want to see you local store carrying it.
Bock reflects the tradition of genuine Bavarian beers as a brew only a craftsman like Kosmos Spoetzl, trained in the "Old Country," could bring to life. With its deep amber color, distinctive rich flavor and full body, Shiner Bock demonstrates the care of a handcrafted brewing process to bring forth a mellow taste free of the bitter aftertaste found in many micro, specialty, and imported beers. Just thing of it as Shiner smooth.
ABV: 4.4% IBU: 13
Recalls the classic beer of Bavaria as a true unfiltered wheat brew. This beer captures old-world Munich Malt, wheat grist used in a scant 1% of all brews worldwide, orange, and lemon zest in frothy classic example of bottle-conditioned beer. Adding clover honey and yeast just before it's bottled touches off a unique, secondary fermentation process inside every keg and bottle before its final release from the brewery.
ABV: 5.4% IBU: 17

Bohemian Black Lager, crafted according to exact old-world standards with imported Czech Saaz, Styrians Hops and selected roasted malt, is the darkest beer they brew. Initially added to the Shiner family as their 97 Anniversary Brew, the unique and complex flavor of this rare brew found such a following among the customers that they brought it back for good.
ABV: 4.9% IBU: 18
Sierra Nevada is introducing another new seasonal into their ever expanding portfolio. This should be hitting stores any day now.
Glissade is a remarkably mellow take on the traditional spring bock. With restrained sweetness, we emphasize subtle malt flavor, balanced against delicate aromas of spicy and floral European hops. This complex balance helps Glissade slide across the palate—bracing us against the last cold nights of winter, while its bright golden color turns our thoughts toward spring.
ABV: 6.4% IBU: 42


John John Dead Guy Ale is Dead Guy Ale that has been aged in the barrels Rogue uses to make it's Dead Guy Whisky. It should be on shelves now.
ABV: 6.4% IBU: 40
Ok, yes, I know this is a beer blog but I figured people who are interested in Rogue beers might be interested to know that they also make spirits. These are in South Florida now, so ask for them.
Dead Guy Whisky
Proof: 80
Tasting Notes: Delicately sweet with a rich malt complexity, opens up to a warm peppery finish.
6 Ingredients: Dead Guy Whiskey is made with the same 4 grains that are used to make Dead Guy Ale since 1991. Northwest Harrington, Maier Munich, Klages, and Carastan malts; Free Range Coastal Water & Distiller's yeast.

Spruce Gin
Proof: 90
Tasting Notes: Rogue Spirits released the first ever Spruce Gin, made with 14 ingredients in October of 2006
14 Ingredients: Spruce, cucumber, angelica root, orange peel, coriander, lemon peel, ginger, orris root, grains of paradise, tangerine, juniper berries. Champagne Yeast, Grain Neutral Spirit & Free Range Coastal Water.
Pink Spruce Gin
Proof: 90
Tasting Notes: Ocean aged in Oregon Pinot Noir barrels resulting in a slightly fruity, mellow and definitely Pink Gin that could only come from Oregon!
14 Ingredients: Spruce, cucumber, angelica root, orange peel, coriander, lemon peel, ginger, orris root, grains of paradise, tangerine, juniper berries. Champagne Yeast, Grain Neutral Spirit & Free Range Coastal Water.
A lot more breweries coming to South Florida shortly... Southern Tier and some others. As soon as I know when, I'll let you know.
The Bruery is one of the most hyped about breweries out there today and with good reason, they make great beers. I was able to sample a bunch of their different beers last year at Savor in Washington, D.C. I have been saving a bottle of their Saison Rue for a special occasion and now that it will be available all the time, I'm ready to crack it open. Here is some info on all the new beers from The Bruery that should be in stores by next week. And if they aren't, you should demand they get some in.
Orchard White is an unfiltered, bottle conditioned Belgian-style witbier. This hazy, straw yellow beer is spiced with coriander, citrus peel and lavender added to the boil and whirlpool. A spicy, fruity yeast strain is used to add complexity, and rolled oats are added for a silky texture.ABV: 5.7%, IBU: 15, SRM: 3, Release: Year Round
Accolades: BeerAdvocate Magazine, October 2008, "A" Rating
Saison Rue is an unfiltered, bottle conditioned, Belgian/French-style farmhouse ale. This is a beer of subtlety and complexity, with malted rye, spicy, fruity yeast notes, biscuit-like malt backbone, and a slight citrus hop character. With age, this beer will dry out and will become more complex with rustic notes of leather and earth from the contribution of a wild yeast strain. Being a Saison, Saison Rue is ambiguous unto itself as it is a different beer when fresh and when aged. We hope you enjoy it in all of its incarnations.ABV: 8.5%, IBU: 30, SRM: 9, Release: Year Round
Accolades: Los Angeles International Beer Competition 2008, Gold, French & Belgian Style Saison
BeerAdvocate Magazine, October 2008, "A" Rating
Meaning "rye bread" in Danish, we took our inspiration for this beer from the Danes' staple dark, whole-grain rye bread. Brewed with three types of rye malt, this robust brown ale showcases the earthy, spicy character of the grain, complemented by bready, nutty barley malts and a hint of roast. Loosely based on the Scandinavian Christmas beer or "Julebryg" tradition, this beer is perfect for the colder weather of winter, although it will be available year-round (because who doesn't love a dark beer now and again, regardless of weather?) And don’t worry about the name, we can’t pronounce it either! But we do have a video of us and a lot of others trying our best at http://www.vimeo.com/7504797.ABV: 8%, IBU: 30, SRM: 18, Release: Limited Year Round
Hottenroth Berliner Weisse is brewed in memory of
Fred and Sarah Hottenroth, Patrick's grandparents. This tart German-style Berliner Weisse is as authentic as it gets. We used lactobacillus and a hint of brettanomyces to sour this very unusual, low gravity wheat beer. To cut the tartness for those with sweeter tastes, raspberry or woodruff syrup is a traditional way to sweeten the beer. Almost an extinct style, we hope to help revive the Berliner Weisse in memory of two great people.ABV: 3.1%, IBU: 2, SRM: 2, Release: Limited Year Round
Accolades: Los Angeles International Beer Competition 2008, Gold, American-Style or German-Style Sour Ales
2 Turtle Doves is the second in the 12 Days/Years of Christmas Services. We decided to take our inspiration from the name and base the beer on the "turtle" candy, brewing it with cocoa nibs, toasted pecans, caramelized sugar and a lot of caramel malts. Somewhere between a Belgian-style Dark Strong Ale and an Imperial Porter, this beer is designed to take the journey through time until 12 Drummers Drumming.ABV: 12%, IBU: 25, SRM: 30, Release: Winter 2009/2010
If you are from the upper Midwest then you are very familiar with Summit Brewing. They have been brewing in Minnesota since 1986. They are a highly respected and enjoyed brewery. With a lineup that is a bit more accessible to the average beer drinker, that is just starting out on craft beer, this is a good brewery to get them started with.
Summit's first-born child and flagship beer, Extra Pale Ale has a pronounced hop flavor and a light bronze color. Brewed since 1986, there's not a beer lover in the Twin Cities who isn;t familiar with Summit Extra Pale Ale.
ABV: 5.3% IBU:40-45

Artfully crossing the boundaries of traditional IPAs and Amber styles, Summit created a brew all of their own. Featuring an aromatic blend of Horizon, Amarillo, and Cascade hops with nicely balanced malts for a flavor to enjoy to the fullest.
ABV: 5.7% IBU:65-70
Shiner Beers are part of the Spoetzl Brewing empire and aren't new to Florida but they are being reintroduced after a short absence from the South Florida market. Shiner is to Texas what Yuengling is to Florida. It's that beer that has more taste than your average Bud type beer but not as complex as some other craft beers. They are known for their Shiner Bock but they also have other varieties that will be introduced into the market and they are all quite good. Shiner should be back on shelves by Mid-February but be sure at ask for it if you want to see you local store carrying it.
Bock reflects the tradition of genuine Bavarian beers as a brew only a craftsman like Kosmos Spoetzl, trained in the "Old Country," could bring to life. With its deep amber color, distinctive rich flavor and full body, Shiner Bock demonstrates the care of a handcrafted brewing process to bring forth a mellow taste free of the bitter aftertaste found in many micro, specialty, and imported beers. Just thing of it as Shiner smooth.ABV: 4.4% IBU: 13
Recalls the classic beer of Bavaria as a true unfiltered wheat brew. This beer captures old-world Munich Malt, wheat grist used in a scant 1% of all brews worldwide, orange, and lemon zest in frothy classic example of bottle-conditioned beer. Adding clover honey and yeast just before it's bottled touches off a unique, secondary fermentation process inside every keg and bottle before its final release from the brewery.ABV: 5.4% IBU: 17

Bohemian Black Lager, crafted according to exact old-world standards with imported Czech Saaz, Styrians Hops and selected roasted malt, is the darkest beer they brew. Initially added to the Shiner family as their 97 Anniversary Brew, the unique and complex flavor of this rare brew found such a following among the customers that they brought it back for good.
ABV: 4.9% IBU: 18
Glissade is a remarkably mellow take on the traditional spring bock. With restrained sweetness, we emphasize subtle malt flavor, balanced against delicate aromas of spicy and floral European hops. This complex balance helps Glissade slide across the palate—bracing us against the last cold nights of winter, while its bright golden color turns our thoughts toward spring. ABV: 6.4% IBU: 42


John John Dead Guy Ale is Dead Guy Ale that has been aged in the barrels Rogue uses to make it's Dead Guy Whisky. It should be on shelves now.
ABV: 6.4% IBU: 40
Ok, yes, I know this is a beer blog but I figured people who are interested in Rogue beers might be interested to know that they also make spirits. These are in South Florida now, so ask for them.
Dead Guy WhiskyProof: 80
Tasting Notes: Delicately sweet with a rich malt complexity, opens up to a warm peppery finish.
6 Ingredients: Dead Guy Whiskey is made with the same 4 grains that are used to make Dead Guy Ale since 1991. Northwest Harrington, Maier Munich, Klages, and Carastan malts; Free Range Coastal Water & Distiller's yeast.

Spruce Gin
Proof: 90
Tasting Notes: Rogue Spirits released the first ever Spruce Gin, made with 14 ingredients in October of 2006
14 Ingredients: Spruce, cucumber, angelica root, orange peel, coriander, lemon peel, ginger, orris root, grains of paradise, tangerine, juniper berries. Champagne Yeast, Grain Neutral Spirit & Free Range Coastal Water.
Pink Spruce GinProof: 90
Tasting Notes: Ocean aged in Oregon Pinot Noir barrels resulting in a slightly fruity, mellow and definitely Pink Gin that could only come from Oregon!
14 Ingredients: Spruce, cucumber, angelica root, orange peel, coriander, lemon peel, ginger, orris root, grains of paradise, tangerine, juniper berries. Champagne Yeast, Grain Neutral Spirit & Free Range Coastal Water.
A lot more breweries coming to South Florida shortly... Southern Tier and some others. As soon as I know when, I'll let you know.
Labels:
new releases,
Rogue,
Rogue Spirits,
Shiner,
Sierra Nevada,
Summit,
The Bruery
Friday, December 18, 2009
Weekend Events

Lots of stuff going on this weekend. Last weekend to get out of the house before the holiday craziness starts.
FRIDAY
Abraxas, South Beach- Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head collaboration Life & Limb will be available for a free sampling, while supplies last. This will probably be your only chance to try this rare beer as all the bottles in South Florida are already sold out. They will also have Dogfish Head rarities Olde School Barleywine and World Wide Stout on tap for your enjoyment. Not to be missed.
9:00pm-11:00pm
Abraxas
407 Meridian Ave
Miami Beach, FL
(305)534-9005
Cervezas, South Miami- This brand new beer bar in South Miami is celebrating it's grand opening tonight and tomorrow. The bar boasts to having 200 bottled beers available and for the next two night they will only run you $3. This would be a good chance to check it out.
4:00pm-2:00am
Cervezas
5835 Sunset Dr.
South Miami, FL
SATURDAY
Total Wine, North Miami- Join Shipyard's Amy Marcoux for a tasting of their winter beer Prelude that is only available for a short time. This is a great beer and this is your chance to try it for free. What else you got going on a Saturday afternoon?
2:00pm-5:00pm
Total Wine
14750 Biscayne Blvd.
North Miami, FL
The Lodge, Boca Raton- It seems that the holiday spirit is lacking a bit this year but not at The Lodge. They are hosting their Christmas Ugly Sweater Party on Saturday from 7:00pm-2:00am. Pull out your ugliest sweater from the closet and get in on a chance to win a prize for having the ugliest one in the place. Draft and food specials all night too.
7:00pm-2:00pm
The Lodge
200 S. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL
Urbanite Bistro, Miami- Urbanite is hosting it's monthly beer dinner. A six course meal paired with a different beer for each course for only $40 plus tax and tip. Seats are limited so be sure to call and make a reservation. The last one was a big hit so this one is sure to sell out.
Course I
Holy Mackerel w / Wild Mushroom & White Truffle Risotto
Course II
Santa’s Private Reserve, Rogue Brewer
Duck Confit on Brioche Crostini with Balsamic-Strawberry Gastrique
Course III
Penn Pilsner, Penn Brewing Company
Red Deer & Pork Sausage with White Bean Cassoulet
Course IV
Horn Dog Barley-Wine
Magret Duck with wilted Baby Spinach & Duck Lardon
Course V
Stone Brewery Smoked Porter
Individual Beef Wellington with Grenache-Shallot Reduction
Dessert
Virgin Islands Mango Pale Ale
Asian Pear Cobbler
8:00pm-11:00pm
Urbanite Bistro
62 NE 14th St.
Miami, FL
(305)374-0662
Labels:
Abraxas,
beer dinner,
Cervezas,
Dogfish Head,
events,
Shipyard,
Sierra Nevada,
The Lodge,
Total Wine,
Urbanite
Monday, December 7, 2009
Post-Thanksgiving Beer Tasting
So, the beer closet was starting to overflow and I didn't want all this good beer to go to waste. I got together some of my friends that appreciate good beer and had them come over for a post Thanksgiving beer tasting. I pulled the candidates out of the closet and put together a little score card for everyone to keep track of what they liked and disliked. The tasters for the evening where my friends Eddy, Matt, George and Jason. George was running a bit late(nothing new) so we decided to try out a Southampton Double White Ale. Everyone enjoyed it. Wasn't much more than a white ale so not too sure what the double is about. A little more alcohol but without much more alcohol taste.
Finally, George arrived and we got started on the actual tasting. Started things off light and herby with Bison's Organic Honey Basil. This was pretty different for everyone since most aren't used to having basil in their beer. No one was entirely turned off by it and everyone could see really enjoying it with some pasta. We followed it up a winner from Sam Adams Longshot Series, Cranberry Wit. This didn't have quite the cranberry taste that we were all expecting. Not a bad beer but not one I would be searching out again either. River Horse's Double Wit followed up the cranberry wit. People were torn on this one. Some of us enjoyed it more than the Southampton Double and some less. It didn't have quite the aroma of the Southampton but I thought the overall taste was better and more like a wheat beer.
It was now time to leave the wheat beers and started it out with French Broad's Gateway Kolsch. This one did not go over well with anyone. I'm going to say that the beer was probably past it's prime which didn't help. This one got the lowest score of the night from everyone. With kolschs they are either amazing or horrible. I don't think I've ever had one I was really indifferent about. This unfortunately landed on the horrible side. New Belgium's Fat Tire, which followed, made up for it. This one got rave reviews from everyone. Although not the most interesting beer of the night everyone agreed this would be a great session beer. A good balanced beer. Not too heavy, not too light.
This is where things started to get into the funky side. We cracked open a bottle of De Proef Signature Les Deux Brasseurs Ale. T his belgian strong ale is a collaboration between De Proef and Allagash breweries. I was pleasantly surprised to see that everyone really appreciated this beer. Through the funkiness of it you could pull out the apricot and citrus aromas. Eddy's quote of the night, "It smells like ass, but in a good way." Take that for what it's worth.
We brought things back down a little with a Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale. You can see my original review here. This one I think was a little past it's prime as well. Still not bad and got good ratings from everyone. Still would love to see this available all the time. We kicked up the hops a little more with Rogue's Yellow Snow IPA. This was another one that got rave reviews. Starts with a nice bitter bite and smooths out with some maltiness in the finish. From there we kicked it up another notch with Victory's Hop Wallop. This one had more of a piney aroma than the Yellow Snow. Less of a piney taste than smell. Bit of citrus comes out in it.
Headed over to the maltier side of things and to some bigger beers with Harpoon's Leviathan Series Quad. This was the winner for the night. Sweet and fruity with more of an alcohol taste then most of the other beers. Raisin, figs and dates shown through and everyone was made a fan. Moved along to the always interesting Allagash Four. Four malts, four hops, four sugars, four yeasts and fermented four times. Everyone enjoyed the layering that came out in this beer.
As we were getting to the end we tried out some beers that people won't be having again. We started it off with the Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head collaboration Life and Limb. There is a lot of hype around this beer and I was very excited to try this beer. The use of ingredients from each breweries family farms were used to make the beer I thought was a great idea. Maple syrup from Dogfish and barley from Sierra. The end product unfortunately left me feeling a little flat. Not that it was a bad beer just didn't quite live up to the hype. Nothing really stood out in the beer. The syrup part was very evident while the rest seemed to be covered by it. We moved on to another rare beer collaboration with the Stone/Maui/Ken Schmidt Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter. This one poured very dark. The coffee aroma was very evident. Tasted strong of coffee with some roasted nut and some coconut faintly in the finish. People were divided on this one. We moved on to Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout. This was like a melted dark chocolate bar. I quite enjoyed this one. We finished the tasting off with Mikkeller's Beer Geek Breakfast. This oatmeal stout isn't kidding with it's name. The oatmeal and coffee are very prevalent. Not as thick as other stouts.
Overall, everyone had a great time. Always fun to hang with good friends and enjoy some good beers. Look out for a Christmas/Winter beer tasting coming soon.
You can see the full list of beers and which ones are available in South Florida as well as what everyone's top five beers of the night were below.
TASTING LIST:
Bison Organic Honey Basil (available in South Florida)
Sam Adam's Longshot Cranberry Wit (available in South Florida)
River Horse Double Wit
French Broad Gateway Kolsch
New Belgium Fat Tire (available soon in South Florida)
De Proef Signature Les Deux Brasseurs Ale w/Allagash (available in South Florida)
Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale
Rogue Yellow Snow IPA (available in South Florida)
Victory Hop Wallop (available in South Florida)
Harpoon Leviathan Quad
Allagash Four (available in South Florida)
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb (available in South Florida)
Stone/Maui/Ken Schmidt Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (available in South Florida)
Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast (available in South Florida)
Dave:
Finally, George arrived and we got started on the actual tasting. Started things off light and herby with Bison's Organic Honey Basil. This was pretty different for everyone since most aren't used to having basil in their beer. No one was entirely turned off by it and everyone could see really enjoying it with some pasta. We followed it up a winner from Sam Adams Longshot Series, Cranberry Wit. This didn't have quite the cranberry taste that we were all expecting. Not a bad beer but not one I would be searching out again either. River Horse's Double Wit followed up the cranberry wit. People were torn on this one. Some of us enjoyed it more than the Southampton Double and some less. It didn't have quite the aroma of the Southampton but I thought the overall taste was better and more like a wheat beer.
It was now time to leave the wheat beers and started it out with French Broad's Gateway Kolsch. This one did not go over well with anyone. I'm going to say that the beer was probably past it's prime which didn't help. This one got the lowest score of the night from everyone. With kolschs they are either amazing or horrible. I don't think I've ever had one I was really indifferent about. This unfortunately landed on the horrible side. New Belgium's Fat Tire, which followed, made up for it. This one got rave reviews from everyone. Although not the most interesting beer of the night everyone agreed this would be a great session beer. A good balanced beer. Not too heavy, not too light.
This is where things started to get into the funky side. We cracked open a bottle of De Proef Signature Les Deux Brasseurs Ale. T his belgian strong ale is a collaboration between De Proef and Allagash breweries. I was pleasantly surprised to see that everyone really appreciated this beer. Through the funkiness of it you could pull out the apricot and citrus aromas. Eddy's quote of the night, "It smells like ass, but in a good way." Take that for what it's worth.
We brought things back down a little with a Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale. You can see my original review here. This one I think was a little past it's prime as well. Still not bad and got good ratings from everyone. Still would love to see this available all the time. We kicked up the hops a little more with Rogue's Yellow Snow IPA. This was another one that got rave reviews. Starts with a nice bitter bite and smooths out with some maltiness in the finish. From there we kicked it up another notch with Victory's Hop Wallop. This one had more of a piney aroma than the Yellow Snow. Less of a piney taste than smell. Bit of citrus comes out in it.
Headed over to the maltier side of things and to some bigger beers with Harpoon's Leviathan Series Quad. This was the winner for the night. Sweet and fruity with more of an alcohol taste then most of the other beers. Raisin, figs and dates shown through and everyone was made a fan. Moved along to the always interesting Allagash Four. Four malts, four hops, four sugars, four yeasts and fermented four times. Everyone enjoyed the layering that came out in this beer.
As we were getting to the end we tried out some beers that people won't be having again. We started it off with the Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head collaboration Life and Limb. There is a lot of hype around this beer and I was very excited to try this beer. The use of ingredients from each breweries family farms were used to make the beer I thought was a great idea. Maple syrup from Dogfish and barley from Sierra. The end product unfortunately left me feeling a little flat. Not that it was a bad beer just didn't quite live up to the hype. Nothing really stood out in the beer. The syrup part was very evident while the rest seemed to be covered by it. We moved on to another rare beer collaboration with the Stone/Maui/Ken Schmidt Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter. This one poured very dark. The coffee aroma was very evident. Tasted strong of coffee with some roasted nut and some coconut faintly in the finish. People were divided on this one. We moved on to Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout. This was like a melted dark chocolate bar. I quite enjoyed this one. We finished the tasting off with Mikkeller's Beer Geek Breakfast. This oatmeal stout isn't kidding with it's name. The oatmeal and coffee are very prevalent. Not as thick as other stouts.
Overall, everyone had a great time. Always fun to hang with good friends and enjoy some good beers. Look out for a Christmas/Winter beer tasting coming soon.
You can see the full list of beers and which ones are available in South Florida as well as what everyone's top five beers of the night were below.
TASTING LIST:
Bison Organic Honey Basil (available in South Florida)
Sam Adam's Longshot Cranberry Wit (available in South Florida)
River Horse Double Wit
French Broad Gateway Kolsch
New Belgium Fat Tire (available soon in South Florida)
De Proef Signature Les Deux Brasseurs Ale w/Allagash (available in South Florida)
Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale
Rogue Yellow Snow IPA (available in South Florida)
Victory Hop Wallop (available in South Florida)
Harpoon Leviathan Quad
Allagash Four (available in South Florida)
Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb (available in South Florida)
Stone/Maui/Ken Schmidt Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (available in South Florida)
Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast (available in South Florida)
Dave:
- Harpoon Leviathan Quad
- Allagash Four
- Rogue Yellow Snow IPA
- New Belgium Fat Tire
- Victory Hop Wallop
- Harpoon Leviathan Quad
- Rogue Yellow Snow IPA
- Victory Hop Wallop
- Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb
- Allagash Four
- Allagash Four
- Harpoon Leviathan Quad
- De Proef Signature Les Deux Brasseurs Ale w/Allagash
- Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb
- Victory Hop Wallop
- De Proef Signature Les Deux Brasseurs Ale w/Allagash
- Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb
- Allagash Four
- Harpoon Leviathan Quad
- Victory Hop Wallop
- Harpoon Leviathan Quad
- Allagash Four
- River Horse Double Wit
- Victory Hop Wallop
- Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb
Labels:
Allagash,
Bison,
Brooklyn,
De Proef,
Dogfish Head,
French Broad,
Harpoon,
Mikkeller,
New Belgium,
Review,
River Horse,
Rogue,
Samuel Adams,
Sierra Nevada,
Stone,
tasting,
Thanksgiving,
Victory
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