Earth Day Beer Specials

So here it is. I'm letting you all in on one of the great hidden gems in Miami. If you have been looking for a place that has a great view right on the water, inexpensive drinks, and a laid back atmosphere this is the place for you. UM's Wet Lab Bar at the RSMAS Campus on Key Biscayne is just that place. Located right next to the Miami Seaqarium it is not the most conventional bar but it could well be one of your new favorites. It is located on a college campus, it is only open Wednesday- Friday from 5:00pm-12:00am, and the prices are the cheapest craft beers I've seen. Craft beers on draft will only $3.25 and even top shelf liquor drinks will only cost you $4.25. You can't beat it! And since it is Earth Day and the campus is for the Marine and Atmospheric Sciences what better place to celebrate it. For Earth Day they are having one of the best specials I've heard in a while of 2 of Southern Tier's 422 Pale Wheat Ale for only $4.22. The Southern Tier 422's packaging is made from 80% recycled materials and is totally recyclable. Head on over and enjoy the great scenery and great priced beer and take in the beautiful views that we have here in South Florida. Happy Earth Day.

Wet Lab
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149

Brooklyn Dark Matter and New Location for Burger & Beer Joint

Since I first posted my review of Burger & Beer Joint a few months back things have blown up for them. They are constantly one of the busiest restaurants/bars in Miami, they have been featured on the Miami edition of Man Vs. Food, been featured in tons of publications, and things aren't stopping for them either.

First off, they are one of the only locations in South Florida where you can pick up some of Brooklyn Breweries very rare Dark Matter. This is an American Brown Ale that is aged in Woodford Reserve barrels. The beer comes in at a 7.5% ABV but is still very drinkable. It pours a nice dark chocolate brown with not much of a head. The aroma gives me hints of caramel, vanilla, and some maple. The taste is similar with a bit of chocolate as well. For being aged in bourbon barrels I wasn't getting as much bourbon taste as I usually get from bourbon barrel aged beers. This is a good start for people not used to the style though. The mouthfeel is rather light for what I was expecting. Overall a great beer that is worth heading over to Burger & Beer Joint to try before this one time only brew is gone.

Second, Burger & Beer Joint is opening a new location in Brickell. They are opening in the former location of Blu's Pizza in Mark Brickell Village. The sports bar will be increased to about 2000 square feet with more outside seating for dinning. Look for it to open sometime this summer.

Burger & Beer Joint
1766 Bay Rd.
South Beach, FL
(305)627-EATS

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.

Top 50 Breweries for 2009

The Brewers Association announced yesterday the top 50 breweries based on beer sales volume. They have two lists, one for independent craft companies and one for all breweries. The highlighted breweries are the ones you can find in South Florida.

Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies

(Based on 2009 beer sales volume)
Rank Brewing Company City State
1 Boston Beer Co. Boston MA
2 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico CA
3 New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
4 Spoetzl Brewery Shiner TX (Shiner)
5 Pyramid Breweries Inc. Seattle WA
6 Deschutes Brewery Bend OR
7 Matt Brewing Co. Utica NY (Saranac)
8 Magic Hat Brewing Co. Burlington VT
9 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
10 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
11 Alaskan Brewing Co. Juneau AK
12 Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
13 Kona Brewing Co. Kailua-Kona HI
14 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
15 Stone Brewing Co. Escondido CA
16 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE
17 The Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
18 Abita Brewing Co. Abita Springs LA
19 Summit Brewing Co. Saint Paul MN
20 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
21 Shipyard Brewery Portland ME
22 New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus WI
23 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH
24 Rogue Ales/Oregon Brewing Co. Newport OR
25 Long Trail Brewing Co. Bridgewater Corners VT
26 The Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA
27 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose CA
28 SweetWater Brewing Co. Atlanta GA
29 Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles CA
30 Victory Brewing Co. Downingtown PA
31 Flying Dog Brewing Co. Frederick MD
32 BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery Huntington Beach CA
33 Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
34 Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants Louisville CO
35 BridgePort Brewing Co. Portland OR
36 Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe Eureka CA
37 Big Sky Brewing Co. Missoula MT
38 Stevens Point Brewing Co. Stevens Point WI
39 Mac and Jack’s Brewery Redmond WA
40 Karl Strauss Brewing Co. San Diego CA
41 The Saint Louis Brewery, Inc. St. Louis MO
42 Blue Point Brewing Co. Patchogue NY
43 Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants Chattanooga TN
44 Oskar Blues Brewery Longmont CO
45 North Coast Brewing Co. Fort Bragg CA
46 Breckenridge Brewery Denver CO
47 Utah Brewers Cooperative Salt Lake City UT
48 Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Houston TX
49 Boulder Beer Co. Boulder CO
50 Bear Republic Brewing Co. Cloverdale CA

Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies

(Based on 2009 beer sales volume)
Rank Brewing Company City State
1 Anheuser-Busch InBev St. Louis MO
2 MillerCoors Brewing Co. Chicago IL
3 Pabst Brewing Co. Woodridge IL
4 D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc. Pottsville PA
5 Boston Beer Co. Boston MA
6 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico CA
7 New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
8 Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. Portland OR (Kona and Red Hook) 9 Spoetzl Brewery (part of Gambrinus) Shiner TX
10 High Falls Brewing Co. Rochester NY
11 Minhas Craft Brewery Monroe WI
12 Pyramid Breweries (part of IBU) Seattle WA
13 Deschutes Brewery Bend OR
14 F.X. Matt Brewing Co. Utica NY (Saranac)
15 Magic Hat Brewing Co. (part of IBU) Burlington VT
16 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
17 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
18 Alaskan Brewing Co. Juneau AK
19 Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
20 Goose Island Beer Co. Chicago IL
21 Kona Brewing Co. Kailua-Kona HI
22 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
23 Stone Brewing Co. Escondido CA
24 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE
25 Iron City Brewing Co. Pittsburgh PA
26 August Schell Brewing Co. New Ulm MN
27 The Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
28 Abita Brewing Co., L.L.C. Abita Springs LA
29 Summit Brewing Co. Saint Paul MN
30 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
31 Shipyard Brewing Co. Portland ME
32 New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus WI
33 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH
34 Rogue Ales/Oregon Brewing Co. Newport OR
35 Long Trail Brewing Co. Burlington VT
36 The Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA
37 Mendocino Brewing Co. Ukiah CA
38 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose CA
39 SweetWater Brewing Co. Atlanta GA
40 Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles CA
41 Victory Brewing Co. Downingtown PA
42 Flying Dog Brewing Co. Frederick MD
43 BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery Huntington Beach CA
44 Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
45 Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants Louisville CO
46 Straub Brewery Saint Marys PA
47 BridgePort Brewing Co. (part of Gambrinus) Portland OR
48 Lost Coast Brewery & Cafe Eureka CA
49 Big Sky Brewing Co. Missoula MT
50 Stevens Point Brewery Co. Stevens Point WI

John Bull's Dogfish Head Dinner Postponed

The Dogfish Head Dinner scheduled for tonight at John Bull English Pub has been postponed till May 6th. They apologize for any inconveniences.

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 16th
Abraxas
407 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-9005

4/14 Sam Adams and Dogfish Head Beer Dinners

It looks like restaurants in South Florida are finally coming around to pairing beers and food. The flavor profiles in beer are so vast and can be paired with so many very interesting foods that beer dinners have been some of the best meals I've ever had.

There are two great restaurants hosting two great breweries beers on Wednesday, April 14th. Novecento, in Coral Gables, will be hosting the beers of Sam Adam and John Bull English Pub, in West Palm Beach, will be hosting the beers of Dogfish Head(ed. John Bull Dogfish Head Dinner postponed til May 6th). Both menus look amazing and you couldn't go wrong with either. Here is more info on both.

Novecento Sam Adams Beer Dinner
Menu:
Course 1: Seafood Ceviche- Shrimp, calamari, octopus, and fish marinated in lime juice, red onion, Peruvian yellow peppers , and yuca chips.
Paired with Samuel Adams Summer Ale

Course 2: Pizza Con Arugula Y Prosciutto- Pizza with arugula, mozzarella, and prosciutto crudo
Paired with Samuel Adams Pale Ale

Course 3: Beef Tenderloin Uncle Sam Style- Diced beef tenderloin marinated in Sam Adams Boston Lager, Dijon mustard served with caramelized onions and stuffed baby Croquets
Paired with Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Course 4: Linguine Putanesca- Linguine in a classic spicy red sauce with shrimps, Kalamata olives, and capers
Paired with Samuel Adams Boston Ale

Course 5: Dessert- Brownie with Vanilla-Cream Stout infused ice cream and chocolate ganache topped with Cherry Wheat infused cherries
Paired with Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat

$40 per person. Call to reserve your seat today.

April 14th 7:00pm
Novecento
121 Alhambra Plaza
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 444-7701


John Bull Dogfish Head Dinner
Menu:
Course 1: Reception- Grilled Salmon Salad with House Pesto and Asian Pork with Mango Chutney
Paired with 60 Minute IPA

Course 2: Salad- Mixed Baby Field Greens with Candied Walnuts, Carrots, Anjou Pears, Shaved Red Onions, and Stilton Cheese served with a Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette and Grilled Foccacia
Paired with 90 Minute IPA

Course 3: Appetizer- Herb encrusted Lamb Chops with a Fig and Port Wine Reduction
Paired with Raison D'Etre

Course 4: Entree- Grilled Veal T-Bone Steak with a Red Onion Risotto Finished Crisped Applewood Smoked Bacon and Wilted Greens
Paired with Palo Santo Marron

Course 5: Dessert- Individual Flourless Chocolate Cake with Fresh Berries and a Mocha Creme
Paired with Indian Brown Ale

$50 per person. Call for reservations.

April 14th, 7:30pm(postponed til May 6th)
John Bull Irish Pub
801 Village Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
(561)697-2855

U.S. National Beer Day Today

Today is U.S. National Beer Day. Today is the day that Prohibition was repealed on April 7, 1933. Here is more info from Wikipedia on today.

"The beginning of the end of Prohibition in the United States occurred as a result of the Cullen-Harrison Act and its signing into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 23, 1933. Sales of beer in the U.S would become legal on April 7, 1933, provided that the state in question had enacted its own law allowing such sales. The beer had to have an alcohol content less than 3.2% (4% ABV), compared to the 0.5% limit of the Volstead Act, because 3.2% was considered too low to produce intoxication. People lined up outside breweries and taverns in order to legally buy beer for the first time in over 13 years. April 7 has been called "National Beer Day" and April 6 "New Beer's Eve."


Make sure to have one today...just because you can.

This Week's Beer Events

TUESDAY

Cervezas, South Miami- Beer Tasting at Cervezas in South Miami from 7:00pm-9:00pm. $20 gives you the opportunity to try all of the beers listed below (plus a few suprise beers, maybe some limited Cigar City Beers, provided by the beer czar, Cesar)

Dogfish 60min

Dogfish 90min

Dogfish Burton Baton

Avery The Reverend

Avery Hog Heaven

Victory Storm King

Victory Golden Monkey

Flying Dog Horn Dog

Flying Dog Raging Bitch

Dales Pale Ale

Magic Hat #9

A great Selection of 10 big beer's celebrating American Craft brews like no other! The other 5 beer's are as follows.

Krikak - German Lager

Peak Organic

Palma Loca

PBR

Zipher

E-mail cervezasmiami@hotmail.com to pre-order a ticket for the event.

Cervezas
5833 Sunset Drive
South Miami, FL 33143-5219
(305) 397-8125

WEDNESDAY

Abraxas, South Beach- Join the Abraxas staff along with the resident beer expert, Chris Montelius, from Fresh Beer, for their next bi-weekly BJCP Beer Style Tasting at Abraxas from 8:00pm-12:00am. The $15 price includes 12 3oz samplings and all of the featured beers will be available on special for the entire night. This is a great way for people to try something new and... maybe find a new favorite. As usual, they will supply Tasting/Rating sheets and water for those that are a bit more serious about the tasting experience.

Beer lineup:

Hacker-Pchorr Gold (Germany) - Munich Helles

Einbecker Pils (Germany) - German Pilsner

Shiner Black Lager (TX) - Schwartzbier

Avery White Rascal (CO) - Belgian Wit/White Ale

The Bruery Saison Rue (CA) - Belgian Saison (w/ rye)

Caracole Amber (Belgium) - Belgian Amber Ale

Peak Organic Espresso Amber (VT) - American Amber (w/ espresso)

Bell's Two Hearted Ale (MI) - American IPA

Dogfish Head Aprihop (DE) - American IPA (w/ apricot)

Rogue John John Dead Guy Ale (OR) - Whiskey Barrel Aged Maibock

Flying Dog Horn Dog (MD) - American Barleywine

North Coast Old Rasputin (CA) - Russian Imperial Stout

Abraxas

407 Meridian Avenue

Miami Beach, FL 33139

(305) 534-9005

THURSDAY

Total Wine, Boyton Beach- From 4:00pm-6:00pm, Matt from Shipyard will be pouring some tasty samples of Shipyard and Sea Dog beers. Stop by, drink some beer, say hello.

Total Wine

850 North Congress Avenue

Boynton Beach, FL 33426

(561) 731-5411

Barracuda Beer Tasting Tonight

If you are lucky enough to have tomorrow off for Good Friday here is a great way to get your long weekend started tonight. Barracuda in Coconut Grove will be having their biweekly beer tasting hosted by Fresh Beer's Chris Montelius. $20 will get you an unlimited tasting of 40+ beers along with some chicken wings to snack on. This is a great way to try a bunch of different beers you haven't had a chance to try before. And if you have been to any of these beer tastings before you know you are always in for a big surprise with some special hard to find beers thrown in. The fun starts at 7pm-9pm.

Thursday, April 1 7:00pm-9:00pm
Barracuda

3035 Fuller St
Miami, FL 33133

(305) 448-1144

The Abbey 15th Anniversary/Not Closing Party

At this point you have probably heard the rumors about The Abbey closing. Well, I am happy to report that the rumors are FALSE. At least for the time being. I heard straight from the owners mouth that The Abbey will not be closing at the end of the month. They have made orders for more beer for next week so I tend to believe he is telling the truth. So why not celebrate the fact by heading on over tomorrow for The Abbey's 15th Anniversary party. 15 years for any business in Miami is a feat. Tomorrow you will be able to drink all you want from 8am-5am for only $25. Yes, only $25!!! Go show your support and let them know you want to see them around for another 15 years.

Sunday, March 28th 8:00am-5:00am
The Abbey Brewing Company

1115 16th St
Miami Beach, FL 33139

(305) 538-8110

Events This Week

WEDNESDAY
Abraxas, South Beach- Join the Abraxas staff along with their resident beer expert, Chris Montelius for their next bi-weekly BJCP Beer Style Tasting at Abraxas! The $15 price includes 12 3oz samplings and all of the featured beers will be available on special for the entire night! This is a great way for people to try something new and... maybe find a new favorite!

As usual, they will supply Tasting/Rating sheets and water for those that are a bit more serious about the tasting experience!

Beer lineup:
Staropramen Prague (Czech Rep.) - Bohemian Pils
Victory Prima Pils (PA) - German Pils
Great Divide Hoss Rye Lager (CO) - Maerzen
Southern Tier Phin and Matt's Ale (NY) - American Pale Ale
Ommegang Hennepin (NY) - Belgian Saison/Farmhouse Ale
Caracole Troublette (Belgium) - Belgian Witbier
Terrapin Hopsecutioner (GA) - American IPA
Orkney Skullsplitter (Scotland) - Scottish Wee Heavy
Unibroue Maudite (Canada) - Belgian Dark Strong Ale
The Bruery 2 Turtle Doves (CA) - Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Dogfish Head Burton Baton (DE) - American Strong Ale
North Coast Old Rasputin (CA) - Russian Imperial Stout

Abraxas
407 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-9005

THURSDAY
Archie's Pizza, Key Biscayne- I'll will be hosting a beer tasting from 7:00pm-9:00pm at Archie's Pizza. If you have been to any of the Archie's locations before you know they have great pizza. Now they also have a great beer selection. For only $20 you'll be able to sample 40+ beers and enjoy some free pizza. I will even have some new stuff from Magic Hat that will be hitting stores in the next couple of weeks along with a few other treats you may not find in FL at all. Come on out and be the first to try them.

Archie's Pizza
600 Crandon Boulevard
Key Biscayne, FL 33149-2008
(305) 361-3141

Howley's, West Palm Beach- Kenny from Fresh Beer will be hosting a Victory Brewing Beer Dinner from &:30pm-9:30pm. Howley's beer dinners are known to be great. For only $35 how can you go wrong.

MENU
prima pilsner -
tomato chevre torte (puff pastry square topped with goat cheese, tomato, caramelized onions. Finished with balsamic reduction)

golden monkey -
grilled chicken skewers with garlic lemon aioli

V12 -
avocado and hearts of palm salad (served over tender baby greens with red-wine vinaigrette and Parmesan cheese)

hop devil -
seafood jambalaya

baltic thunder - warm apple and goat cheese puff pastry triangles with a drizzle of warm caramel

*vegetarian options available upon reservation

*reservations required

Howley's Restaurant
4700 S. Dixie Hwy
West Palm Beach, Fl
561-833-5691

FRIDAY
Abraxas, South Beach- Abraxas continues their series of weekends featuring the best American craft breweries with Flying Dog Brewing Co. (from Frederick, MD), the winner of the Mid-Size Brewing Company Award at the 2009 Great American Beer Fest! They will be tapping kegs of their 20th Anniversary Raging Bitch Ale (Belgian IPA) and of the Gold Medal winning (at GABF), Gonzo Imperial Porter! They will also have on hand, bottles of Double Dog (double pale ale), Horn Dog (american barleywine), Snake Dog IPA, seasonal Garde Dog (biere de garde) and In Heat Wheat Hefeweizen. All this good stuff will be on special all weekend long.

Abraxas
407 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-9005

Whole Foods, PGA Blvd, West Palm Beach-
Enjoy a tasting of five courses of fresh sustainable seafood dishes, cheeses & dessert from Jan Dedeurwaerder, formally trained at De Groene Poorte in Bruges, Belgium and Whole Foods Market's own Terry Gaum. Special guest Kenny from Fresh Beer will pair craft beers from Florida and abroad with each course. An event you won't want to miss. The event will run you $25 and you can reserve tickets by clicking here.

Whole Foods
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561)691-8550

The Lodge, Boca Raton- Come and party with Shipyard Brewing Company at The Lodge in Boca. $4.50 Shipyard draught specials all night. Matt Villei from Shipyard will be on hand to raffle Shipyard prize giveaways every hour. From what I have been told it will be better than your average glass and shirt being raffled off.

The Lodge
200 S Federal Hwy
Boca Raton, FL 33432
(561) 392-5003

Revolution Live, Ft. Lauderdale- The H.E.L.P Event (Haitian Extension of Love and Peace) is fundraiser directly benefitting Haiti.

For $15 in advance or $20 at the door you can enjoy a night of music, drinks and a grand prize raffle. With admission you will receive one free beer provided by Fresh Beer.

All proceeds are to be distributed through two very different but equally important relief efforts.

The first is http://www.PlantingPeace.org an organization founded by a close friend of Haiti named Aaron Jackson. Aaron runs a few orphanages in Haiti and he needs assistance fortifying the actual structures that the Children sleep in due to damage sustained in the recent Earthquake. Furthermore, the earthquake has orphaned even more children now and he needs proper supplies and medical resources to compensate for this.

The second is a group that is part of the BURNING MAN project called http://burnerswithoutborders.org . They are active in many different capacities of humanitarianism, but recently have been bringing much needed supplies such as water, food, and medical supplies to the 2010 earthquake victims of Haiti.

For more info visit www.thehelpevent.org

Revolution Live
200 W Broward Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 727-0950

SATURDAY
The Lodge, Boca Raton- Come celebrate at The Lodge for their 1 Year Anniversary.
$1 off every draught that they have on tap, BBQ and more beer going on outside.

Come dressed up "Lodge" style! Get fully Lodged out in your plaid and snowboots, hunting gear, snow gear, whatever you can think of that reminds you of the LODGE, and get $1 Yuengling and PBR draughts. Plus costume contest for Most Decked Out Lodger. Most Decked Out Winner gets $25 Lodge Giftcard, Lodge Keychain, Lodge Tshirt, and a Lodge growler filled with your choice of Yuengling or PBR. Party starts at 4:00pm. Live music starts at 10:00pm, featuring The Pretty Faces.

The Lodge
200 S Federal Hwy
Boca Raton, FL 33432
(561) 392-5003

Craft Beer Comes to Key Biscayne

You've been over the Rickenbacker Bridge and enjoyed the view while you headed out to Carndon Park to enjoy the beach away from the tourists on South Beach. Maybe you will also be out on Key Biscayne this week for the Sony Ericsson Open. If you are out that way this Thursday, or if you want to make the trip to show your support for a new area with craft beer, I'll be hosting a beer tasting at Archie's Pizza. If you have been to any of the Archie's locations before you know they have great pizza. Now they also have a great beer selection. For only $20 you'll be able to sample 40+ beers and enjoy some free pizza. Come on out and say hello.

Thursday, March 25th
7:00pm-9:00pm
Archie's Pizza
600 Crandon Blvd
Key Biscayne, FL
(305)361-3141

Beer Making Class in Miami

This Sunday on a little farm in Little Haiti you can learn to make beer. May not seem the likely location for such an event but why not since the ingredients for the beer comes from a farm. I like the theme of "When the apocalypse comes, you will want to know how to brew your own beer!" A very true statement. This should be a great time in a nice relaxed atmosphere. Here is what will be covered in the class.

"From Seeds to Suds"
An Introduction to Homebrewing

Want to learn how to make your own beer? What better way to learn than by actually DOING? During this class we will physically make a 5-gallon batch of beer, and cover every step of the process from start to finish.

Important questions and topics that will be addressed:
• What equipment do I need in order to brew my own beer from home?
• What ingredients do I use to make beer?
o What is malted barley?
o Why does beer have flowers (hops) in it?
o What other flavors can I add to my beer?
o What exactly IS yeast and how does it make alcohol?
• What is the difference between a lager and an ale?
• How long does fermentation really take?
• Why and how is beer carbonated?
• Why would I want to spend more time and effort homebrewing when I can just pick up a six-pack at the store?

Did you try your “uncle’s” homebrew and nearly gag at the first swallow? Don’t be fooled, if you pay attention and take your time, you and ANYONE can make quality delicious homebrew. You will be amazed at how satisfying a feeling it is to crack open a bottle of beer that you carefully nurtured into existence and then share that creation with friends and family—and they will be even more amazed.

Relax, don’t worry, have a homebrew!

$45 until March 20th, $55 at the event. Bring 6 empty beer bottles with the labels off to house your own brew. Send payment by clicking on the "Paypal" button on the homepage of www.fertileearth.org and put "beer" in the subject. Hope to see you there!

Sunday, March 21st
1:00pm-5:00pm
Earth N' Us Farms
7630 NE 1st Ave
Miami, FL
(786)253-2222

St. Patricks Day Events

St. Patrick's Day is upon us once again. Or as some like to call it Amateur Night. It's that day when you get to see people who are obviously not Irish wearing shirts that say, "Kiss me I'm Irish." Drinking green beer or Guinness. And inevitably throwing up in their friend's car on the way home. For those of us looking for something outside of just Guinness and green beer(ok maybe some) you can enjoy some beers at these fine places.

The D.R.B., Miami- The D.R.B. will be having pints of green Magic Hat #9 and slices of Shepard's pie for only $3.50 each. And if you real want to get crazy let them draw a green shamrock on your forehead and your first Irish beer is free, and the rest are ½ off during your visit! And if that wasn't enough take a picture of yourself (away from The D.R.B.) with two other people and the shamrock on your forehead, post your picture to their Facebook page by Friday, and your first draft pint of beer is free on your next visit. I just hope they aren't using permanent marker or you are going to look real stupid at work the next day.

The D.R.B.
255 NE 14th St.
Miami, FL
(305)372-4565

The Lodge, Boca Raton- The Lodge will also be having a big St. Patty's Day blow out. Lots of beer specials, raffles, giveaways and even a chance to win a Sam Adam's Adirondack chair.

The Lodge
200 S. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL
(561)392-5003


Minibar, Miami- St Patty's Day Beer Tasting at Mini Bar in the Miami Design District.
Event is from 7-9 pm and will feature new beers from Southern Tier, Left Hand, and Rogue as well as some holiday appropriate selections. $20 entrance fee includes tasting and St Patty's Day buffet. Come on out and celebrate... everyones irish on St. Patty's.

Minibar
3612 NE 2nd Ave.
Miami, FL
(305)576-7031

Coffee District, Delray Beach- And if you are just looking to go and have a nice stout then check out Coffee District for the limited Cigar City release Patio Tools.

Coffee District
325 NE 2nd Ave. #104
Delray Beach, FL 33444
(561)455-0541

Urbanite Beer Dinner

I will be co-hosting this month's Urbanite Bistro Beer Dinner, Friday from 8:30pm-11:30pm. This will be the first beer dinner I have gone to at Urbanite but if their usual menu is any indication, this beer dinner is going to be one amazing spread. The menu looks to be top notch with beer pairings that will go nicely with each course. If you haven't reserved a spot yet do so now cause it is filling up fast. Vegetarian options are available just be sure to request it when you are reserving your spot. This six course meal with six different beers will only run you $40 plus tax and gratuity. You would spend more than that on just a normal dinner and drinks.

Menu
Course I
Dales Pale Ale, Oskar Blues Brewing, Lyons, CO
Alligator Corndog with Mango Ketchup

Course II
Ayinger Dunkel, Brauerei Aying, Aying, Germany
Diver Scallop & Asian Vegetable Napoleon with Clementine-Thai Chile Preserve

Course III
Terrapin Hopsecutioner IPA, Terrapin Beer Co, Athens, GA
Moroccan Lamb Empanada with Apricot Gastrique

Course IV
Gaurde Dog Biere de Gaurde, Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD
Roasted Grouper with Pineapple Beurre Blanc, Coriander Sticky Rice and sautéed Hericot Vert

Course V
Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone Brewing Co, Escondido, CA
Duck Confit with Kumquat-Rum Marmalade, roasted Fingerlings and dressed Greens

Dessert
Rogue Shakespeare Stout, Rogue Brewery, Newport OR
Flourless Chocolate & Espresso Tort

Please call 305-374-0662 to reserve your spot. Should be a great dinner!

Urbanite Bistro
62 NE 14th St.
Miami, FL
(305)374-0662

Miami Bicycle Pub Crawl

I just bought a bike a few weeks ago and haven't had much time to use it since I have been pretty busy with beer events. Thanks to the good people over at the blog Miami Bike Scene I can now combine both my new bike and a beer event. On Saturday, March 6th Miami Bike Scene will host what they are calling the Beer Snob Bicycle Pub Crawl. It will start at 4:00pm at Zeke's on Lincoln Rd. and will hit The Abbey, The D.R.B.(The D.R.B. will have Magic Hat #9 onsale for the biker participating in the ride for only $3.50 and a Magic Hat rep there handing out free swag), and end at Titanic in Coral Gables. Titanic is right by the Metrorail so if you would prefer to take that back part of the way instead of riding back you can do that. It is recommend to bring a bike lock and also a light as it will be dark for part of the ride.

They will also be making these commemorative t shirts for the ride for only $10. You can go and leave a comment about what size shirt you want by clicking here. You can also RSVP by clicking here.

Huge Sale!!!

I usually don't push any particular store but this weekend you can't miss out on the sale going on at Milam's Markets in Miami. They are having Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale and Old Scratch Amber on sale for only $6.99!!!! If that didn't do it for you they will also have Dogfish Head 60 Minute, 90 Minute, Indian Brown Ale, and Raison D'etre on sale for $7.99!!!! This is almost half the cost of what these usually are. If you want to stock up on some great beer this is the time to do it.

Southern Tier Brewing Comes to South Florida

If the continuous flow of great breweries coming into Florida never stops that would be fine with me. This month we can welcome a brewery that's new to most but a don't-miss. It will probably be one of your new favorite breweries. Southern Tier, from Southern New York, has finally come to town and with quite a selection. They will have four 12oz sixpacks and four 22oz bottles available year round with seasonals/limited releases rotating throughout the year (right now we have three). The other great thing about all of these beers are that they are pretty inexpensive for such great beer. Check the events calendar for upcoming launch parties. Here is what they say about each of the beers that are now available.

Year-round Beers
	ipa the iso-alpha acid experience
	IPA stands for India Pale Ale and ours is an American version of the classic style. IPA’s namesake lies in its colonial roots. British soldiers on their way to India drank a lot of beer, but found it would go stale on the long voyages. Meanwhile, brewers knew that by adding more hops the beer would stay fresh. Voila! A new style was born and it is one we are proud to brew. Southern Tier IPA is tripled on its journey to your glass for a fully aromatic experience. 6.9% abv • 11.4ºL • India Pale Ale
	phin & matt’s brewed with American hops & barley
	When we sat down to collaborate on this beer, we knew we had to create something extraordinary. After sampling a wide array of great beers, we hit upon an idea: use vast amounts of whole hops, the finest malted barley North America has to offer, and crystal filtered artesian water. Thus creating this classic American style pale ale. 5.4% abv • 7.3ºL • American Pale Ale
	porter don’t be afraid of the dark
	Porter is our darkest beer, but not necessarily our strongest. It is widely held that the darker the beer, the stronger the beer, but this is summarily false. The contribution of color comes directly from the color of malt that we use. Some malt is roasted to achieve dark color and coffee-like flavor which in turn get transferred to the beer. Our Porter is richly complex with overtones of chocolate and espresso beans followed by a subtle flavor of hops. It’s a nourishing beer without being too sweet or filling. 5.6% • abv • 46.7ºL • Robust Porter
	raspberry wheat beer malt beverage brewed with raspberries
	A golden wheat beer brewed with the finest North American malted barley and wheat. It’s then lightly hopped with the choicest European varieties. This smooth, crisp golden wheat beer is then finished with a hint of raspberry. Enjoy this beer any time of year. 4.6% abv • 4.2ºL • Raspberry Wheat Beer
	422 pale wheat ale “make everyday earth day!”
	Pour 422 Pale Wheat Ale into a pint glass, give it a long whiff and you’ll realize that this isn’t your average pale golden wheat. Preserved in its unfiltered state, 422 is a fantastic session ale in which flavors of wheat, barley and hops commingle to a refreshing and zesty conclusion. Hints of orange and sweet malts waft to the fore as a touch of bitterness contributes to a smooth finish. 422 is brewed as a tribute to preserving our precious planet and it’s environment. It is responsibly packaged with over 80% recycled consumer products and is completely recyclable. Enjoy 422 all year as to take one stride closer to a eco-friendly life. 5.8% abv • 5.0ºL • Pale Wheat Ale

Imperials
	unearthly Imperial IPA an uninhibited infusion of hops
	At the Southern Tier Brewing Company, vigorously hopped beer is our standard and inspiration. We continue a commitment to innovation with our most aggressive offering yet. Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewer’s craft; skillfully balancing art and the forces of nature to produce a divine liquid. Delicately pour a taste into a fluted glass. Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops waft forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul. To underestimate Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe, so please consume wisely. 9.8% abv • 15.6ºL • Imperial India Pale Ale • 22 oz
	hoppe Imperial Extra Pale Ale an ale of simple composition
	The simplicity of Hoppe tests the skill and ability of the brewer to create something truly majestic. We craft this much like a sculptor who uses only a hammer and chisel to shape stone into a masterpiece. Hoppe is spawned of these few essentials: barley, wheat, hops, yeast and water. This limited palette is an exercise in minimalism, with refined elements which are deliberately selected. This simple combination creates a golden shimmering brew infused with delicate aromas. The artful nature of this beer is exposed with the first taste. As the malt and hops create a composition of flavors, an elegant finish leaves an impression that your tastes will not soon forget. 8.3% abv. • 8.5ºL • Imperial Extra Pale Ale • 22 oz (pronounced 'hop')
	big red Imperial Red Ale fueled by creativity & imagination
	Inspiration can sometimes be found in the strangest of places. This eccentric brew started with a single flower from a hop named Hallertau. The delicate and spicy aroma present in this flower has been responsible for generations of great beers. Hallertau hops are to a brewer what an old tractor is to a farmer: reliable. Big Red expresses the nobility of Hallertau by placing it at the forefront of this Imperial Ale. Pour it into a snifter. A swirl allows the spicy aromas to come forward as a taste to the lips reveals the complex balance between sweet malts and the bitterness of hops. Big Red’s ability to please is as dependable as your grandpa’s old tractor, and just as powerful–so please don’t drink and drive. 9.5% abv • 15ºL • Imperial Red Ale • 22 oz
	iniquity Imperial Black Ale “the antithesis of unearthly”
	The hexagram talisman has been used around the world for centuries to invoke magic and good luck. The six–point star is also the customary symbol of the brewer, representing the essential aspects of purity: water, hops, grain, malt, yeast, and of course, the brewer. Wishes of good fortune often collaborate with the brewer’s creativity to yield dramatic results. We carefully chose the name for this Imperial India Black Ale, Iniquity – a word opposing goodness. Why? This beer is contrary to what one may expect from an IPA; this is an ale as black as night. It is the antithesis of Unearthly. Some may consider it an immoral act to blacken an ale. We suggest they don’t rely on conventional standards. Allow the darkness to consume you. Cheers! 8.9% abv • Imperial Black Ale • 22 oz

Limited Release Imperial
	gemini Imperial Blended Ale blended unearthly & unfiltered hoppe
	High in the winter sky, two parallel stick figures are visible & known as “the twins,” or the constellation Gemini. The astronauts of the 1960s flew as teams of two in a program named after the celestial pairing. At Southern Tier, we have our own fraternal twins, Hoppe & Unearthly. Blended together & placed in this vessel, the mission of our Gemini is to travel high & take passengers on a journey far into the heavens. 9.0% abv • 11.7ºL • 22oz.

Blackwater Series Imperial Stouts
	choklat stout Imperial Chocolate Stout the ancients called it 'food for the gods'
	The Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, unfolds a complex web of mystery around a beverage known as xocoatl (ch-co-atle). At Southern Tier, we’re not surprised that hieroglyphs of the ancient Maya depict chocolate being poured for rulers and gods. Even through the many voyages of Columbus, the mystical bean remained nothing more than a strange currency of the native peoples. Moving through centuries, the circular journey of cacao has been realized in our brewing house, encompassing the complexity of the darkest, bitter-sweet candy together with the original frothy cold beverage of the ancient Maya to bring to you our Blackwater Series Choklat Stout. We have combined the finest ingredients to tempt your senses & renew the power & interrelation of history in every bottle. 9.5% abv • 195º L • Imperial Chocolate Stout • 22 oz 2-row barley / caramel 60 malt / barley flakes / chocolate malt / bittersweet Belgian chocolate / kettle hops: chinook & willamette

Help Support Brewpubs Selling Beer To Go

Florida has come a long way in the beer world in the last few years. We now have a great selection of beers to choose from and you can buy growlers of beer at stores. One thing you still can't do though is buy beer from your local brewpub to drink at home. I'm sure there have been nights when you've sat at home and thought, "Boy, I would love one of those great beers they make over at (insert local brewpub name here) but I just don't feel like running out to the bar tonight. I wish I could just grab one out of the fridge." Well, the day has come to help make your dreams come true. Here is what the Florida Brewers Guild is asking you to do.

"We have a potential sponsor in the FL House to introduce legislation as a companion bill to Senate Bill 2062, but he is hesitant to keep the provision that would allow brewpubs to sell for off-premise consumption. We need you to send an email ASAP to Rep. Mike Horner, thanking him for considering sponsoring a companion bill to Senate Bill 2062, and state that you support legislation to allow brewpubs to sell for off-premise consumption. Use the following link: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4455&SessionId=64

The deadline for Representatives to submit bills for this years session is tomorrow, so please ACT NOW!!!!!!!!"

Do your part and help your local brewpub...and yourself.