The Five Best Summer Beers at Brew at the Zoo

Miami's weather gods smiled down upon beer fans at Saturday's Brew at the Zoo.

A cool breeze fell on Zoo Miami for the annual event that pairs 100 beers with great live music. 
Dozens of breweries, large and small, showcased their best beers, while Grammy-winning hip-hop group Arrested Development entertained the crowd. Of course, with every food and drink event, there are standout moments, especially when it comes to local South Florida breweries. Best of all? With Miami's summer on the way, these hometown brewers turn out the best beers for the sun-filled days and steamy nights to come. Here are the five best summer beers from South Florida brewers to look out for. 

5. Concrete Beach
Concrete Beach's Tropic of Passion is a perfect porch-pounder for the humid days ahead. A low-alcohol (4.8% ABV) wheat beer with a slight tartness from passionfruit and hibiscus, it starts out fruity but finishes dry. 
4. Islamorada Brewing Company
Islamorada Brewing Company's Sandbar Sunday was designed to be enjoyed on a boat. This American wheat ale has a slightly spicy taste with citrus notes, giving it some good character.

3. Bangin' Banjo Brewing
Pompano Beach's Bangin' Banjo Brewing's Cypress Creek cream ale is a good segue into local craft beers. This 5% ABV beer is made with Mt. Hood hops and has warm honey notes that make it a perfect match for your favorite backyard barbecue. 
2. Miami Brewing Company
Miami Brewing Company brewmaster Jacob Lindsay poured both a light-orange creamsicle beer for warm days and an imperial ale aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. 
The brewery also commissioned Ricardo and Jacob Navarro for live art painting at the festival, adding an artistic component to an evening of drinking.
1. Infected Brewery
Usually, an infected beer means throwing out your work and starting over. But Infected Brewery's beers, — "infected" with intense flavors from peppers, fruits, and spices — transform good beers into taste explosions. The homebrewers served their Turkey Point, a cream ale "infected" with jalapeños, and the O.G., a pale ale "infected" with orange and ginger. These beers, along with Red Devil, a Hefeweizen "infected" with hops, should put Infected on Miami's radar as a fledgling brewery to watch.