Mike Loves Beer

Yesterday I got back from a much needed break.  My girlfriend, Melinda, and I spent Thursday through Sunday in Key West.  We both needed to get away from everyday life for a bit and Key West seemed far enough away yet still an easy drive.  There were a few places to get a good beer while down there so I’ll be reviewing those throughout the week.  Today we’ll start off with Krawl Off Duval.

In a old Florida style house just off Duval Street (as the name mentions) on Southard Street, Krawl was the first craft beer spot we hit as it was closest to where we were staying.  The small place has a few tables with about 8 – 10 spots at the bar.  Overhead are a number of tap handles on display in a unique way I’ve never seen.  They were all upside down.

They have 26 taps with a large number of Florida beers on tap.  The day we went in they had around 9 Florida beers on tap ranging from Tequesta to Holy Mackerel to Native stuff.  They also have around 50 bottles as well.

We apparently were just a bit early for happy hour on our first beer but on our next we were given a poker chip that is good for our next beer.

Andy the bartender was extremely nice and chatted it up with us.  We also got to speak with one of the owners, Peter, as well and he too was quite personable.  Andy even gave us $1 off each beer for what it said “Local” despite he knew we were not locals.

Now I do have two gripes with the place.  First is their choice of stools.  They are the backless variety and these are just no good on my back.  I have to constantly lean forward and this over time adds a lot of stress on my back and it begins hurting.  I much prefer the chairs with backs on them so that I can lean back.

The second is that they were slightly expensive on certain products.  A Bell’s Two Hearted Ale on tap was $9!  Same with Melinda’s Unibroue Ephemere.  I mean we knew we were in Key West but those prices are not reasonable in any town.  But a couple of our other beers seemed more on point.  I don’t know.

Overall we enjoyed Krawl Off Duval.  We went back the next day for happy hour and had a couple more beers.  The staff is nice, the setting is great.  They just need to check on the pricing of some of their stuff.  I don’t expect to pay a 120 Minute IPA price on a normal easy to find IPA.  But I definitely recommend checking them out if you are in Key West.

Krawl Off Duval
506 Southard Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-735-4146

In celebration of the 1st ever IPA Day Coffee District will be taking the hops to their taps with a number of great IPAs (and pale ales) on tap.  So without further delay here is the listing.

• Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
• Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
• Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA (rare keg!)
• Stone Ruination IPA (on Randall)
• Avery Maharaja
• Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
• Lost Coast Double Trouble IPA
• Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
• Great Divide Rumble
• Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale

The party starts at 7 pm and of course is pay as you go.  I will certainly be there to have my first ever glass of 120 on tap.  So I hope to see a number of you out there.

Coffee District
325 NE 2nd Avenue #104
Delray Beach, FL 33444

Last weekend I wasn’t able to get a video review done but fear not I am back to grace you with my beard and long hair.  For this review I am having Bell’s 25th Anniversary Ale that came out late last year.  So let’s see what I think about it.