South Florida Brewers Create Beer in Memory of Mike White

Earlier this year, the craft beer community was struck a huge blow with the sudden passing of fellow brewer Mike White. White, whose beer won a gold medal for LauderAle Brewery at the Great American Beer Festival in 2017, passed away February 23 in Georgia. He was 31 years old.

Besides brewing for LauderAle, White worked at major craft breweries such as Revolver and Jester King in Texas, as well as Funky Buddha in Oakland Park. He was also a manager and beertender at Riverside Market and Odd Breed Wild Ales. “He had a larger-than-life Southern charm that would instantly make strangers into friends wherever he went,” Riverside Market’s Julian Siegel says.

To celebrate his life, several South Florida breweries have collaborated to make a beer in White’s honor.

Boca Raton’s Barrel of Monks brought together Tarpon River, Odd Breed Wild Ales, the Tank, Mathews Brewing, Gulf Stream, Royal Palm, and Riverside Market to brew the special collab.

The result is I Reckon, a 6 percent ABV Belgian-style brut pale ale that’s dry-hopped with Eukanot, Belma, Amarillo, and Azacca hops, with champagne-like carbonation.

I Reckon is offered on tap and in bottles at Barrel of Monks, and 100 percent of the sales profits will be donated to White’s family.

Barrel of Monks Brewing Company. 1141 S. Rogers Cir., #5, Boca Raton; 561-510-1253; barrelofmonks.com.