Our sister paper may have just hosted Beerfest, and you may have already gotten your fill of beer for a while.
But where's the fun in that?
Brew at the Zoo is inching closer, and it's about time you realize what you'll miss if you skip this annual extravaganza.
Do you like Florida beer? We love it. And ya can't call yourself a true local without knowing the local brews. Here's a primer on some state-pride must-trys.
Amid the 100-plus beers to sample at Brew at the Zoo, at least five are worth the ticket price alone.
That doesn't even count the creative taps from the likes of our Homebrew Alley participants, which won't be entirely finalized until later (but we're equally ecstatic about what's in store there too).
Florida isn't the first state to pop up in the minds of those who think about quality local breweries. But that's a shame. Because we have plenty of breweries that are not only award-winning but also unsung and fantastic.
For the giveaway: Create a Florida Brew haiku in the comments section of this post. Contest ends at 4 p.m. We'll announce a winner on Facebook and Twitter at 5 p.m. today.
Florida Avenue Blueberry
A simple blueberry ale doesn't sound exciting until you take into account that Florida Avenue built a solid ale to complement the blueberry in it. It's light and refreshing, as well as one of our go-tos when we can't make up our minds.
Florida Beer Company
The Key West brews are our favorite from FBC. If vacation could be bottled and chilled, that's what it would taste like. Thankfully, they left out the hints of sunscreen.
Brew FIU
FIU's new brewing course isn't just for students. You can take a class too. But beyond the classroom is a team of local beer connoisseurs who knows what it takes to build a solid brew.
Misfit Home Breweries
Speaking of the classroom, sometimes, it's that kid who sits all the way in the back of the class that gets all the answers right because he or she is naturally inclined in almost everything. We totally hated those kids who barely tried and passed everything with flying colors. The Misfits might as well be Florida's classroom equivalent.
Schnebly Winery Brewery We first tried Schnebly's Big Rod blonde coconut ale at Sprung! Spring Beer Festival. We found ourselves going back for seconds and thirds (and bigger cups). Schnebly has perfected coconut and vanilla.
Brew at the Zoo takes place at Zoo Miami Saturday, May 4, from 7 to 11 p.m. General admission tickets cost $35 in advance and $45 at the gate. VIP tickets -- which grant you entry to the event one hour early, access to the VIP lounge, and catered food -- cost $75 in advance and $85 at the gate. You can purchase advance tickets here.
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