As much as we enjoy not being snowed in by winter’s wrath in South Florida, it can sometimes be difficult to get into the spirit of the season. Sure, our toes are a little cooler than usual in our sandals, but it’s not quite the taste of winter we long for.
You know how sometimes a movie sequel can be better that the original? That’s how it is with SFL Hops, a South Florida beer-enthusiast group created by Stuart Skopit, which is celebrating its second anniversary February 4 with a beer festival featuring local breweries.
Washington Charles is no stranger to Mexican flavors. The cofounder of Taquiza, Masa, and the Grdn has opened his latest concept, El Grito, which Charles hopes to capture the attention of industry folks.
It’s here, folks. Barring an alien invasion (we’re talking to you, Martians), today Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the president of the United States. Doomsday scenarios are already being batted about — like CNN’s cheering thought that if everyone gets vaporized during the inaugural ceremonies (see the above-mentioned Martian attack), some low-level cabinet member could actually become interim president.
Depending upon your political views, drinking tequila this Inauguration Day could be a sign of celebration or an escape from reality. Or it could be that you’re drinking tequila at La Cueva, a new Mexican cave-themed bar located at 1111 SW First Ave. in the heart of Brickell. Meaning “the cave” in Spanish, La Cueva is a bar that specializes in all things tequila, mezcal, and the myriad cocktails containing those two spirits.
Legacy Caribbean Craft Brewery, located at 13416 NW 38th Ct., will open its taproom to the public Thursday, January 19, officially marking Opa-locka as a craft beer destination in Miami-Dade.
Happy Friday! We survived the first full work week of 2017, which means we deserve some good times (and a long weekend). Martin Luther King Jr. weekend coincides with South Beach’s Art Deco Weekend. Start by enjoying music-themed cocktails at the Regent Cocktail Club. Then channel the Great Gatsby at the Jazz Age Lawn Party or explore Miami’s beer scene at the fifth-annual Miami Beer Festival. Finally, stop by the Miami Flea.
Wynwood’s J. Wakefield Brewing Company (JWB) opened on a wave of demand for its beers following a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, but the brewery hadn’t distributed to Central Florida until now. This month, JWB will begin distributing its beers to more than 20 select bars and restaurants in the Orlando and Tampa areas. It’s also the first time the brewery has distributed in Florida outside its initial market. The distributor is Ohio-based Cavalier Distributing, which also has a facility in Lakeland, Florida.
After a week of partying hard to ring in the New Year, Miami is need of a major recovery plan. A hearty carb-and coffee-loaded brunch usually does the trick, but it’s a bold, salty and savory bloody mary that works wonders no matter the time of day. It’s a simple cocktail that starts with two main ingredients – tomato juice and vodka – and can practically function as a standalone meal, especially when it’s dressed in contents like bacon, horseradish, cocktail shrimp, deviled eggs, and of course, different layers of spice.
Celebrating the first anniversary of the Bridge Cocktail Lounge — which has become a permanent part of the Local after its insanely popular one-month pop-up — Thompson and Albuerne have developed 11 drinks to help bring a little winter wonderland to Miami palates now through April.
Many of the breweries showcased at the fifth-annual Miami Beer Festival (MBF) January 14 at Marlins Park will include local favorites, as well others that are soon to open in the Magic City. More than five dozen breweries, many local, will pour at this year’s MBF. Though there’s nothing wrong with sticking to the beers you know, festivals such as these give new breweries a chance to gauge recipes or gain public exposure before opening production facilities.
Over the past decade or so, South Beach has honed its reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, where money is no object. It’s so common to see a $400,000 Maybach pulling up to the valet at Prime One Twelve for a $300 slab of Japanese A5 Kobe that we don’t even look twice anymore. So when dropping a few Gs on a typical Thursday is commonplace, whatever do you do on New Year’s Eve?
Getting food and beverage service at the beach can feel like an impossible mission. Getting up from your towel to sprint across the hot sand for a cold drink is simply out of the question. That leaves flagging down one of the hotel servers that roam the beach across the vast landscape of chairs, umbrellas, and sunbathers at the pool. Sure, you could bring beer or water, but what if you really want a frozen rum runner? You’re out of luck — until now.
The Shops at Midtown Miami offers plenty of solid fare and drink, but the one thing the retail center had lacked was a dedicated craft cocktail bar. Until now. Bitter Truth, located at the former Barú Urbano space (3252 NE First Ave.), officially opens tomorrow.
Yaakov Berg at Psagot Winery in Jerusalem wants to change how kosher and nonkosher wines from Israel are perceived on the global stage.
Three years ago, when Wynwood Brewing Company opened its doors, Luis Brignoni had no idea the brewery he and his father started would be as successful as it is. But after numerous awards and a positive reception by Miamians and the beer community at large, the brewery is doing so…
Opening a brewery, winery, or distillery in unincorporated Miami-Dade County just became a little easier. This past December 6, the Board of County Commissioners reduced the minimum amount of space required to have such places next to schools to 1,000 feet (provided they’re not used for agricultural use). The decision was unanimous. Before, the law required a minimum distance of 2,500 feet — roughly a half-mile — from schools and churches and 1,500 from any other establishment that sells alcohol.
Funky Buddha Brewery is known for its popular Maple Bacon Coffee Porter and its imperial version, but now the Oakland Park brewery has a new java-infused release. Made with coffee and vanilla, it’s a Saved by the Bell-inspired imperial stout aptly called I’m So Excited, I’m So Scared. The beer is basically a Russian imperial stout loaded with caffeine, kind of like the character Jessie Spano in one episode.
On December 4, 2013, Wynwood Brewing Company officially opened its doors to the public with a celebration of music, art, and a nitro stout made with java from Panther Coffee. In a short period of time, the brewery, helmed by the father-and-son team of Luis G. Brignoni and Luis “Pops” Brignoni, along with brewer Nik Mebane, has become a staple in the Florida craft beer scene and beyond. The brewery was prominently featured at this year’s Great American Beer Festival and has won several national awards, including a gold medal at the 2014 GAB for its flagship beer, Pop’s Porter.
When Johnathan Wakefield opened his eponymous Wynwood brewery, his beers were already well known. The brewer, who raised more than $110,000 in a CrowdBrewed campaign, had already gained a fan base by collaborating with established breweries such as Cigar City and Terrapin. Once opened, Wakefield’s Star Wars-themed taproom became known for two things: its signature Florida weisses made with local fruit, and its legendary festivals featuring brews never before tasted in Miami.
Bousa Brewing Company co-owners Juan Pablo Vergara and Enrique Garcia have opened their brewery at 7235 NE Fourth Ave. in Miami’s Little River District. They hope to open the adjacent tasting room in February 2017 but will begin distributing beers first through Miami’s Eagle Brands.
Unbranded Brewing Company still has at least another year until its opening, but owner Zachary Swanson is set to debut Unbranded Maverick Beer Asylum, a 5,000-square-foot beer store, in Little Havana. The location will be near the corner of Calle Ocho and SW 25th Avenue.
