New Space-Themed Brewery Opens in Kendall

Intergalactic fans, this one’s for you. Kendall’s newest space-themed brewery comes with a quirky backstory: about 70 years ago, a rocket scientist, fed up with the state of beer, traveled through a wormhole in search of better brews. His name is “Bob,” and today he lives on as the mascot of Rocketeer Beer & Liquid Provisions, which recently opened in Miami.

The brewery, located at 12960 SW 89th St. in Kendall, celebrated its grand opening in September. The disgruntled scientist, named “Bob,” is the brewery’s eponymous mascot and the creation of owners Ricardo Abreu and Rudy Delgado. The pair describes Bob, also known as the “brewer of beverages,” as a scientist proficient in rocket technology, who occasionally sends them transmissions on how to make delicious beer, as the story goes. “No one truly knows his real name,” Abreu tells New Times. “His story is about a man who is unhappy with the state of beer, is proficient in rocket technology, and drops a message to us from time to time. He was there at the dawn of man when beer was invented.”

Among the beers on tap at Rocketeer are “Zero Gravity Pizza Party,” a hazy IPA brewed with citra and BRU-1 hops that’s 7.2 percent alcohol-by-volume, and “Fluffy Clouds,” a hefeweizen that’s 5.5 percent ABV.

A Brewhouse Inspired by the Jetsons

Leasing the Kendall location in 2023, Abreu and Delgado set out to create a brewery with a Jetsons vibe, featuring retro science-fiction décor throughout the space. The brewery is a two-story building that houses the taproom, mezzanine, and an outdoor patio.

Upstairs, the mezzanine is a lounge decorated with hardwood-style floors, tables and chairs, a comfortable couch, a flatscreen TV, and a foosball table. Abreu describes this space as “Bob’s living room,” which takes its inspiration from The Brady Bunch in terms of comfort and family entertainment. Downstairs, numerous brown stools line a fluted wooden bar situated in the taproom, which features a turquoise color scheme. A row of beer taps with a space suit-wearing rocket man for handles, two more retro-style flatscreen TVs, a pair of lava lamps, and a slushie machine sit behind the bar.

An arched hallway leading to the patio is strung with alternating LED lights. The bathrooms, situated on opposite sides of the hallway, are adorned with wallpaper that resembles pages from a 1950s-era comic book. Abreu and Delgado deny any influence from or affiliation with the 1991 movie The Rocketeer. “Everything here is a deliberate design choice,” Delgado tells New Times. “Nothing is by accident.”

There’s no kitchen, although the brewery partners with Astro Dining, a catering company. 

A Beer-y Long Process to Get Up and Running

A seven-barrel system with the capacity to produce about 1,200 barrels per year sits inside the brewhouse, which also holds two lagering tanks, a small canning line, and a keg cleaner. The equipment is powered by a boiler, which Delgado says is gentler with heating and results in better beer quality, even though the system requires more maintenance.

However, squeezing everything inside the brewhouse became a challenge because the brewery received its equipment before obtaining the necessary permits, according to the owners. Delgado says it was a complex project and a laborious process, describing it as like playing “a game of Tetris.” Then came the permitting process, which Abreu said was a “grueling” 10  months long, but added the process was somewhat streamlined since the inspector had previous experience with breweries in the county.

Friends and family who opened breweries in the state gave Abreu and Delgado some pointers, but for the most part, they were on their own. “There’s not really a manual for this stuff,” Delgado says, “so we just have to figure it all out as you go along. The construction stage is a rite of passage, but it’s really when you build your character.”

A Brewery Founded on a Budding Friendship

Abreu, 38, and Delgado, 40, met about two decades ago through mutual friends. They themselves became friends and eventually developed an interest in beer. Delgado credits Stone Brewing Company in San Diego, California, with steering his interest in beer. Delgado is originally from Miami-Dade County, while Abreu was born in Cuba and migrated to the U.S. with his family when he was five. Abreu told the New Times that the brewery is their manifestation of the American dream.

The idea for a brewery came sometime in 2014, although the two got serious about brewing in the following years. Abreu was a hospital corpsman in the Navy and Delgado has a background in information technology. Over time, both developed their talents in crafting fine beer. In 2015, after leaving the military, Abreu lived in Spain with his wife for a brief period and attended several online courses from abroad. The pair attempted to make beer using kits, although the results were underwhelming at first, it was a learning process. Delgado said the beer he made was “terrible,” but fun to make. But they pressed on with the aim of making a consistent product.

Abreu and Delgado were on the verge of opening their brewery in 2020, but then COVID-19 struck, and they became disheartened. They almost didn’t go through with their project. The pandemic helped them focus on opening a brewery that’s more “hospitality-forward,” Delgado said. They initially named their brewery “R Garage Ale Works” but rebranded in 2022.

Then, Abreu and Delgado entered the North Miami Brewfest competition in 2022 and took third place. They returned in 2023, taking first place with their selection of beers, which included one infused with blueberries and a Japanese rice lager. The team entered the competition in 2024 and, once again, was voted the top brewery among the festival’s attendees.

In addition to beer, Abreu and Delgado are both fans of graphic novels and plan to release their own comic books illustrated by artist Luis Cromeyer, with Bob as the main character.

The brewery’s mascot and theme are intentional — they want to increase awareness and excitement for the local beer industry, given the recent closures of several breweries. “We’re trying to initiate a revival in local craft beer,” Abreu adds. “Everybody knows what craft beer is; we’re just trying to bring a new experience.” 

Rocketeer Beer & Liquid Provisions. 12960 SW 89th St., Miami; rocketeerbeer.com.