Mike Loves Beer

Another year of the Jupiter Craft Brewers Fest is in the books after Saturday and there was yet another great turn out.  The weather despite being reported would rain all afternoon stayed nice for the entire event.  Don’t you wish you could be a weather person and be that wrong so much?

The brewers came out in full force again for this one so here are my top 5 beers of the festival.

BrewBar – Ziko’s Revenge – The upcoming brew on premise spot in Jupiter came out with a number of solid beers but their Ziko’s Revenge stout offered complex flavors with a nice full body.

Cigar City Brewing – White Oak Peach IPA – White Oak IPA from CCB is one of my favorites and their Peach IPA is a really tasty one.  Put them together and you get an awesome IPA with mixes of the peach and a nice white oak finish mixed in with those hops.

Due South Brewing – Saison du South – While many were talking about the Caramel Creame Ale (and rightfully so) it was the saison from Boynton Beach’s newest addition that got me happy quick.  Light, dry, citrus, cloves, horse blanket and enough funk in this would make anyone think it was made in Belgium or France.

Funky Buddha Brewery – Maple Bacon Coffee Porter – Yes I’ve had this plenty of times before but it’s been awhile.  The line for this was ridiculous with people once again chanting “bacon” just like last year.  There was even a fight in the lines during this.  I don’t condone this sort of stupid behavior at all but I think Funky Buddha has a new t-shirt they can make. Beer You Would Fight For.  I want credit.

Due South Brewing – Caramel Creame Ale – I couldn’t go the top 5 without having this one on there.  Yes I liked the Saison du South more but damn is this a fine beer.  Just think of those little candies that have the caramel with the creame in the middle of them.  Now imagine that taste in a beer.  It’s all there.

Honorable Mentions
Funky Buddha Bonita Applebum
Cigar City Church on a Hill
BrewBar Mystery Beer
Brewzzi Double IPA
Treasure Coast Brewers Club Key Lime Wheat

Those were my tops.  What about yours?  Leave a comment if you agree or disagree.

The time is almost here for the 6th Annual Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival.  This Saturday South Florida Beer Week will wrap up it’s first (and very successful) year at South Florida’s biggest and best beer festival.

Bad news is that online tickets sold out weeks ago but the good news is there will be 1500 tickets given the day of at the gate.  They are $35 and cash only.  Now here’s some more bad news if you don’t have a ticket but are wanting to go.  You are going to need to get there early.  The pay at the gate line is usually ridiculously long very early.  To put into perspective I arrive (with tickets) last year around 11 am and the waiting line was already a few hundred deep.  So keep that in mind.

But this year is gearing up to be the best year yet with some old faces that have been missing and some new kids on the block.  I’m very much looking forward to the offerings from the Florida breweries that we don’t get distributed down here like Swamp Head, Bold City and Seven Bridges.  Plus new brewery Due South will be there pouring.  I must say I got a chance to try a couple of the offerings last night and boy are you all in for a treat.  Then of course you will have the awesomeness that is Cigar City and Funky Buddha.  Plus a ton more craft breweries from all over the country.

The festival starts at 1 pm at Roger Dean Stadium in the Abacoa area of Jupiter.  They will usually start letting people in around 12 or 12:30.  So have a good time and be safe.  Say hi if you see me.

For more information please visit the Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival site.

Yesterday I spotlighted majority of the events for South Florida Beer Week.  Probably one of the most epic events will be tonight at the Funky Buddha when the taps will be completely consumed by Florida beers.  Just take a look at this list.

• Funky Buddha Maple Bacon Coffee Porter
• Funky Buddha Bonita Applebum (apple pie)
• Funky Buddha No Crusts (PB&J)
• Funky Buddha Pina Colada Wheat
• Funky Buddha Ordinary Madness (Barleywine)
• Funky Buddha Last Snow (coffee porter with white chocolate and coconut)
• Funky Buddha Ginger IPA
• Funky Buddha Key Lime Berliner
• Green Room Under Toe Barleywine
• Swamp Head Smoke Signal Chipotle Porter
• Cigar City Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
• Cigar City Humidor Tocobaga
• Monk IPA
• Holy Mackerel Holy Wit
• Native Glades Pale Ale
• Cocoa Beach Pale Ale
• Saint Somewhere Pays Du Soleil
• Tequesta Australian Amber Ale

All I have to say is that if you want to support Florida beer then you better be there tonight.  Things kick off at 7 pm.  Hope to see you there.

Funky Buddha Lounge and Brewery
2621 N. Federal Hwy
Boca Raton, FL 33431
http://www.thefunkybuddha.com