Miami Brewing Company's Jacob Lindsay tells New Times that he was hoping to have the place open by Halloween, but it had to remain closed because of permitting issues. The grand opening is set for January.
The taproom is a part of Schnebly's expansion. The room features a 40-foot coral rock bar, with 40 taps on a shipping container that was converted into a cold box — pretty much a refrigerator. Other than pouring MBC beers, the taps will host guest beers from other local breweries such as Biscayne Bay and J. Wakefield, Lindsay says. Overall, there are 20 beers on tap — from the lightest, 4-percent-alcohol Krome Ale, to the heaviest, 11-percent-alcohol Russian Imperial Stout. Beers range in price from $4 to $10. Tasting flights cost $10 to $14.
Besides beer, there's also executive chef Dewey LoSasso's menu, which includes a truffle burger, as well as a lot of rustic foods with microgreens and rarities from around the neighborhood. There's a grill next to the taproom that serves guava wings ($10 ) and burgers ($14).
Also inside the taproom are four 120-barrel fermenters, a
The opening was supposed to coincide with the bottle release of MBC's Jack O'Spades Imperial pumpkin ale. Topping out at 9 percent ABV, Jack O'Spades is aged in Jack Daniel's whiskey barrels.
There are also MBC's newest beverages, including Flanders Red, an Old World Belgian-style ale fermented with wild yeast; a 17-percent-ABV apple pie mead; and various-flavored alcoholic sodas.
Lindsay says he "pretty much invented" the alcoholic soda. It's like a spritzer but flavored with various tropical fruits growing on the Schnebly farm in the Redland. He describes the beverage as refreshing and not too sweet. "It's got some residual sugar from fermentation, but I didn't back-sweeten them with sugar. I wanted to keep it natural."
Lindsay is also eager — as any brewmaster should be — to release his breakfast beer, which is meant to replace your morning coffee. It's a 3-percent-ABV brew made with ginger, honey, cayenne, green tea, and ginseng. The low alcohol content is supposed to stimulate better than caffeine, he says.
The taproom was open this past weekend and will be open this coming weekend. Hours are Friday from 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. Call 305-242-1224 or visit miamibrewing.org.
