Mike Loves Beer

If you aren’t like me you are probably well into your Christmas shopping by this point.  Call me a slacker but I really need time to muster up the strength to go deal with these large crowds of typically unfestive and straight up asshole like people.  And as much as I work online I’ve still never become a full blown online shopper.  I’ll pick up things here and there but typically it’s things that are free shipping or get digitally delivered to me.  But enough about me and on to choosing some gifts for the special beer geek in your life.

Craft beer is growing everyday.  More and more breweries and brewpubs keep popping up all over the country as well.  And if you aspire to do the same you better get started with brewing.  If you are in the South Florida locale like me I would recommend that you head to your local home brew shop and pick up a starter kit.  Or maybe a gift certificate if they are already brewing and just might need some things.  South Florida has AJ’s Beer City in Jupiter, BX Beer Depot in Lake Worth, Funky Buddha Home Brew in Boca Raton and BrewBox in Miami.  You can go in and support a local business to support your brewer.  If you aren’t in South Florida Northern Brewer and Midwest Supplies both have deals going on.

Okay so let’s say your special beer geek is already a home brewer.  But are they are a part of the largest home brew organization in the country?  They aren’t?  Well they can be.  The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) offers 1 year memberships that you can give as a gift.  As a member you will receive a card that gives you the right to discounts at over 500 different breweries, brewpubs and bars all over the United States.  You get a one year subscription to Zymurgy magazine.  And finally you get early access to purchase tickets to the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado and can purchase tickets for the AHA Members Only Session. Head over to their site and you can buy one today.

Okay so your beer geek doesn’t brew and doesn’t want to brew, they just want to drink good beer.  Gotcha.  Well the holidays offers a ton of great items to choose from in great specialty packs.  St. Bernardus, Ommegang and Innis & Gunn each have specialty packs out that include numerous beers and glass.  As a former recipient and owner of the St. Bernardus and and Innis & Gunn packs I can say that they are both awesome and the glasses are really cool.  The Ommegang pack out there has three big 750 ml bottles and a glass.  Great deal in my opinion.  Just check where you like to shop for beer and ask what types of gift boxes they have.

And lastly don’t forget that most breweries have online stores as well.  So if your beer geek just loves a particular brewery be sure to check out their online store and maybe you can find a shirt, hat, tacker or glass that will be perfect for under the tree, in a stocking, next to a Menorah or besides a pole.

Just have fun with it and I can assure you that your beer geek will be happy with your choice.

Another Treasure Coast Beer Fest is in the books and again it looks like a great success for all involved.  The weather was perfect as we caught the tail end of a little cold front coming through Florida.  The organization was top notch as well.  But of course the main reason we were all there was the beer.  So I give you (in no particular order) my top 5 beers of the festival.

Due South Brewing – Southbound Brown – This was actually the very first beer of the day for me.  Just happened that the soon to be open brewery was right up front as soon as you got into the festival.  So I stopped by to say hi to Mike and try some of the beers.  His new creation Southbound Brown was one part easy drinking and another part lots of flavor.  The roasted malts interlaced with caramel and a nice hint of hops wonderfully.  Great way to start off my day.

Tequesta Brewing – Vantoberfest – Matt at Tequesta keeps putting out excellent items to style.  This take on a German Marzen is incredibly to style.  It’s caramel and slight spices couple with an easy to drink session beer that Munich themselves should be proud of.

Innis & Gunn – Oak Aged Beer – Mark of the soon opening Vine & Barley Palm City took me over to the table to try this.  A pale ale aged in white oak barrels offers a lovely yet subtle hint of oak that adds vanilla to the easy drinking pale ale.  Just wish they didn’t put this stuff in clear bottles.

Funky Buddha Brewery – Bonita Applebum – What would a top 5 beer without one of Funky Buddha’s incredible experimental ales.  This apple pie in a glass could warm you up on the chilliest of Florida days.  Some ice cream maker needs to seriously contact them about a collaboration on this beer.

Tequesta Brewing – Hop Scotch – Making their second appearance on the list is Tequesta Brewing.  Hop Scotch is hands down my favorite beer that Tequesta has ever made.  And that’s saying a lot because I really like a number of their beers.  It interlaces so much going on with a brilliantly complex flavor.  I hope they decide to at least make this once a year if not more often.

Honorable Mentions
BX Beer Depot Scottish Heavy
Cigar City Hotter Than Helles
Due South Caramel Creame Ale
Florida Beer Conchtoberfest
Funky Buddha No Crusts

If you missed the fest you really missed a good time.  For people in the northern reaches of South Florida and the Treasure Coast this should be a staple in the beer fest year from now on.

Did you go to TCBF?  What stood out to you?

Let’s face it, you love Cigar City.  Who in Florida doesn’t really?  Tampa’s pride and joy of the craft beer community will be hosting 6 events in 3 days down here.  And coming with them are a number of interesting and rare kegs of CCB deliciousness.  Here is what to expect.

August 23, Tap Takeover @ Laser Wolf
901 Progresso Dr. ste. #101
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Enjoy nine Cigar City drafts, including
Jai Alai IPA
Maduro Brown
Peach IPA
Vanilla Maduro
The Hills have Coffee
Guava Grove
Florida Cracker White Ale
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
White Oak Aged Jai Alai

Starts at 8 pm

August 23, Unsual Wood Aged Beers @ BX Beer Depot
2964 Second Ave.
Lake Worth, FL 33461

Justin Clark of Cigar City Brewing will be giving a presentation on aging quality beer on different kinds of wood at BX Beer Depot. During the presentation, BX will be offering a ridiculous selection of Cigar City ales aged on wood, including:
White Oak Jai Alai IPA
White Oak-aged Florida Cracker
Humidor IPA
Heavy Toast Oak IPA
Soft Maple Brown Ale
Hickory IPA
Humidor Zhukov’s

Starts at 6 pm, cost is $5 and includes lecture and samples. Beers will be available by the glass after 7 p.m.

August 24, Cigar City Beer Dinner @ Sustain
3252 NE First Ave. ste. #107
Miami, FL 33137

It’s a night of outstanding pairings as Sustain Miami teams up with Cigar City Brewing for a six-course pairing dinner. Both the beer and the menu look outrageous:

First course: homemade corndogs
paired with Jai Alai IPA

Second course: Taylor Bay scallops
with preserved lemon, mustard oil, and cucumber
paired with Cucumber Saison (draft)

Third course: chille-rubbed quail
with fava bean, mint, and horseradish
paired with Tocobaga Red Ale (draft)

Fourth course: braised pork shank
with sweet-and-sour cabbage and corn bread
paired with Maduro Brown Ale

Cheese course: beer-washed cheese with guava marmalade
paired with Guava Groove Saison

Dessert: homemade truffles
paired with Cubano Espresso (draft)

Seats cost $50, plus tax and gratuity. To make a reservation, call 305-424-9079, or write to info@sustainmiami.com. Reception starts at 5:30 pm and dinner starts at 6.

August 24, Tap Takeover @ Cervezas
5835 Sunset Dr.
Miami, FL 33143

More CCB brews on tap including:
Jai Alai IPA
Maduro Brown
Peach IPA
Humidor IPA
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Puppy’s Breath Porter
Florida Cracker White Ale
Minarett ESB
Misseur Zhukov’s Biere De Stout
Big Dummy
Carmel Graham Cracker Brown Ale
Jose Marti

The kegs get tapped at 8 pm. sharp!

August 25, Tap Takeover @ World of Beer
4437 Lyons Rd.
Coconut Creek, FL 33073

Cigar City Week continues with a massive tap takeover at WoB Coconut Creek with the following:
Jai Alai IPA
Maduro Brown
Peach IPA
Humidor IPA
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Puppy’s Breath Porter
Tocobaga Red Ale
Florida Cracker White Ale
Minaret ESB
Table Saison
Vanilla Maduro
Cubano Espresso
Hot Blooded Foriegn Stout

Starts at 5 pm

August 25, Tap Takeover @ Funky Buddha
2621 N. Federal Hwy.
Boca Raton, FL 33431

Cigar City and Funky Buddha share the taps as CCB brings:
Barrel Aged Sea Bass
Vuja De
Dirac
Hot Blooded Foreign Stout
Cucumber Saison
and may a special surprise