Mike Loves Beer

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

Florida is really getting craft beer crazy and to celebrate World of Beer Clematis will be hosting a tap takeover of all Florida beers tomorrow night (December 20th).  Come by to have beers from Cigar City, Tequesta, Florida Beer, Saint Somewhere, Holy Mackerel and Inlet.

Additionally they will be having a toy drive as well.  Bring in a unwrapped toy and get $1 off any draft beer.  You will also be entered into the raffles that will be ongoing through out the night.  So be charitable and have a good time.  Great combo.

World of Beer – Clematis
101 Clematis St.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
http://clematis.wobusa.com/

Name – Vuja De
Country – United States
Type – American Wild Ale

Dictionary.com defines Deja Vu as the illusion of previously experiencing something actually being encountered for the first time.  While Cigar City and Saint Somewhere defines Vuja De (ed. note: not a real word) as the feeling that none of this has ever happened.  Strong words.

I find it sort of funny the naming and definitions of these words as many people called Sea Bass a Cigar City and Saint Somewhere collaboration beer when it wasn’t in fact.  It just simply used a yeast strain from Saint Somewhere.  But fast forward a few months and the actual collaboration between the two Florida brewers has come to light.  Being a sour beer of it’s own I’m wondering if CCB had some fun with the naming of this because so many people thought Sea Bass was the official collaboration.

So let’s head right into the beer now.  I poured it, rightfully so, into my Cigar City snifter.  It poured out a deep reddish brown color.  The head was a bubbly light red to tan color.  It was an interesting color for a brew’s head.

Oh you know it’s a sour ale.  I could smell it just from pouring it and well before sticking my nose in the glass.  Vinegar, cherries and raspberries in the nose.  Some funky yeast notes in there as well.

To say the taste is mouth puckering would be an understatement.  It is tart with tastes of lemons and sour cherries.  But it is also funky with vinegar, hay and other barnyard like tastes.  The alcohol can be picked up a bit but I’m surprised how well it is hidden at 9.96% ABV.  Super complex.

So what do I think of the real Cigar City and Saint Somewhere collaboration?  In a word, awesome.

It reminds me a good deal of Sea Bass but slightly more complex.  I get a ton of things in the taste while most other sours I typically just pick up vinegar and a sour fruit.

Also with the higher than normal ABV for a sour this should age rather nicely over a few years.  Thankfully I picked up a few bottles of this just for that.

A great beer made by a couple great Florida breweries right here.  If you like sours then seek this out.

Grade - A