The Pub- Pembroke Pines

If you are looking for a diamond in the rough, The Pub in Pembroke Pines is just the place for you. The Pub is a ways from downtown Miami but with strong urging from my friend, Herbie, I headed out on a little road trip to the suburban oasis that is Pembroke Pines.

When I got off I-75 at the Pines Blvd. exit and pulled into the newly finished Shops Of Pembroke Gardens, I must admit I wasn't expecting much. I was hoping I wasn't going to some cookie-cutter, TGIFridays-equivalent chain. The Pub has locations in Ohio, Kentucky, and Florida (Naples). I was very happy to find out this bar was the furthest thing from it. As soon as my friends and I walked in the door, the ambiance was overwhelming. You could tell this wasn't some wannabe Irish bar. The Pub is closely fashioned to a classic English pub. The wooden bar is the central focus. With its large size it takes up half of the place. It's made of quality hardwood that's simply beautiful. With multiple taps on all sides of this wrap-around bar, no beer is repeated twice which made it hard to decide which taps of beer I wanted to be closest to. The Pub has the traditional bronze taps you would find in any pub in England. The large selection of Scotch behind the bar is also amazing. The place immediately makes you feel at home. There were maybe 10 other people in this rather large restaurant/bar and it didn't feel empty at all, just from the energy of the place.



I had been told that they had a beer engine at the bar. I was excited to see what they had on the beer engine but I wasn't expecting to be so surprised. They had BrewDog's Hardcore IPA. If you haven't heard of BrewDog before it's for a couple of good reasons. One, because it's not available in Florida and two, because it isn't readily available in the US. BrewDog is a British brewery that is trying to do different and exciting things with beer. They are deviating from the old standard of English brewing by experimenting, similarly to how American brewers do things. It was strange enough to find it at all in FL but to find it on a beer engine was beyond amazing. After talking to manager, Heather Manning, about how they had this beer, she told me that The Pub has an exclusive deal with BrewDog, giving them the sole right to have their casks in the US. The states of Ohio and Kentucky, where The Pub also does business, import BrewDog, providing the supply to their FL locations. To boot, they just put on BrewDog's Riptide Imperial Stout.


As if having such a rare brand of beer available wasn't enough, they also had a few other treats. The Pub has a beer specially brewed for them by Sam Adams, which is quite tasty. They offer a large selection of English, Scottish, and Irish draught, featuring more than just the usual beers you would expect at any English/Scottish/Irish bar in the US. It is much more authentic. British beers from Tenants, Hobgoblin and Belhaven are available on tap here, as well as some good beers from American brewers like Dogfish Head, Rogue and lots of others from around the world. You can see their beverage menu here. If you can't decide which beer to get, just ask the bartender. All the bartenders seemed to be highly trained in their products and easily suggested beers to other people. This is something that a lot of bars are lacking.


Too add to all of this, the food at The Pub is really great. They consider themselves a Gastropub much in the style of bars back in London. While we were there we indulged in the Happy Hour's half-priced appetizers. We had the Curry Chips, which were nice, thick steak fries with a red and yellow curry sauce for dipping. We followed that up with some Flash Fried Calamari that came with a very complimentary sweet chili sauce. If the appetizers are any indication of the rest of the menu I can't wait to go back try the rest of it.

Overall, The Pub is the local watering hole you wish you had in your neighborhood. Even though The Pub's business is growing, there is something about it that makes you feel like it's a one-of-a-kind place; where you feel at home because you grew up next door to the people working there. I think the ambiance had me sold me right away but the stellar beer selection pushed it over the top. I look forward to my next visit to The Pub.

The Pub- Pembroke Pines
237 SW 145th Terrace
Pembroke Pines, FL 33027
Located in The Shops at Pembroke Gardens
(954) 430-4230
www.luvthepub.com

Hours:
Monday - Wednesday 3PM -Close
Thursday - Sunday 11AM - Close


Happy Hour:
Mon-Friday 3-7pm
Drinks:
$4.95 Imperial Pints (20oz.)
$2.95 10ozPints
$3.95 Well Liquor & Select Red & White Wines By the Glass
BAR BITES-Happy hour Menu-
$3.95 FARE (Bar Only)
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Calamari
British Dip
Chicken Tenders
Pub Wings
Tavern Crisps

TONIGHT- Mayfair Hotel Beer Tasting

If right about now you are sitting at your desk at work and you're thinking, "Gee, I'm starting to get hungry and I could also use a few beers but I have nothing at home." I have just the thing for you. Tonight, from 7pm to 9pm Chris Montelius from Fresh Beer will be hosting another great beer tasting at the restaurant formerly known as Angelo & Maxie's at the Mayfair Hotel in Coconut Grove. Yes, I did hear that you were also hungry. Chris promises that there will be a house selection of appetizers (usually chicken wings) to indulge in while enjoying the 47 different beers, some of them pictured above, he will have for you to sample. That is unlimited beer and food samplings for only $20. Don't miss out. You can find more details right here.

President's choice.... Bud Light?!?

Tomorrow, President Barack Obama will meet with Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Cambridge, MA Police Sgt., James Crowley, to have a beer. The beer is a symbolic attempt to smooth over an incident that involved Prof. Gates' erroneous arrest for breaking into his own house after he had locked himself out. Each of them is choosing their favorite beer to drink. So now, I'm sure you are thinking that the President will be choosing from one of the many American-owned beer companies that the US has. Well you would be partly correct. His choice....drumroll please....Bud Light. Bud Light was made by Anheuser-Busch out of St. Louis, MO and was recently purchased by the Belgian company formerly known as InBev, which rebranded as AB InBev. It's too bad that with the current economy, the President didn't choose a beer that was owned by an American company, that could use the publicity. What do you think of the President's choice?

Sunset Tavern- First Beer Tasting event

On July 23rd, Sunset Tavern hosted its first beer tasting event. The event was a little different than other beer tasting events I have been to. Instead of having one person explain the beers, they had representatives from the individual beer distributors or breweries talk about their beers. The beers that were chosen were a good range of styles and the turnout was one of the biggest I've seen at recent events. I felt Sunset Tavern was a great venue for a tasting like this. I had never thought of Sunset Tavern as a spot for beer connoisseurs but their selection has greatly improved since the last time I was there. The last time, the craziest beer they had on the menu was Killians Red. Now, they have three different types of Sam Adams, Brooklyn Lager, Warsteiner, Anchor Steam and a bunch of other quality beers on tap. Jahn Kirchoff, owner of Sunset Tavern, said they will be bringing in Bell's Oberon on tap as well. The bottle collection has also grown with selections from Dogfish Head, Stone, Shipyard, Falkensteiner, Rogue and a bunch of others. Though their beer selection has changed and grown, their local crowd has stuck around and they are now expanding their beer horizons. This event has great potential in serving as a place to bridge the gap between people who only know big macro breweries (Bud, Miller, Coors etc.) and those who know more of the independent micro breweries (Dogfish Head, Rogue, Brooklyn, Seirra Nevada, etc). After the event, the people I spoke to seemed to enjoy the more independent beers over the macrobeers that they are used to because of their abundant flavor. Just looking around, the beers in peoples hands looked much darker than what I have seen at Sunset Tavern before. One of the few complaints I heard about the event was that instead of the tasting going from lightest to darkest, it involved one distributor going through all of their beers and on to the next. Going from a Stone Imperial Russian Stout to Presidente Light was a bit of a step back in the tasting. Also, the glasses were washed after every couple of beers and it was leaving a soap residue on the glasses that you definitely picked up in the beers. It really started to change both the smell and taste. I would suggest if they do another tasting that they just leave a pitcher of water and a champagne bucket on each table so that people can rinse the old beer residue out of their glasses. The one other thing is that they were a little short on the amount of beer they advertised. They announced a tasting of 20 beers and only showcased 14. They made up for it a bit by giving everyone a coupon for a free drink at a future time. Overall, the event was a big success with a great turnout. It introduced people to beers that they may have never tried before. Here are some pictures from the event and you can find even more here.

Weekend of Dogfish Head

If you are a fan of beers by the always ingenius brewers over at Dogfish Head brewery you are in for a real treat this weekend. Their are two great events going on this weekend. One in Miami and one in Lake Worth. If you live in either area, or anywhere in between, these are some great, hard to find beers that aren't to be missed. If you are new to Dogfish Head this is a great way to get introduced to them.

Abraxas in South Beach
This event will take place at Abraxas starting on Friday and will continue all weekend long (or until they run out of beer). They will be featuring some of Dogfish Head's best and most difficult beers to find. On draft, they will have Burton Baton (if you missed this at the Abbey before you don't want to miss it again), Palo Santo and 90 Minute IPA. Along with these excellent beers, they will also have lots of other great bottled beer from Dogfish Head like their 120 Minute, 60 Minute, Festina Peche, Raison D'etre, Indian Brown, World Wide Stout, and Red and White. Remember, all the Dogfish Head beers will be on special all weekend long.

BX Beer Depot in Lake Worth
The other Dogfish Head tasting is going to be quite an event as well. They will be featuring more of the hard-to-get DFH beers on draft. They will have Palo Santo, Midas Touch, Burton Baton, Chicory Stout, and Indian Brown. The event goes from 6pm-10pm and will run you about $6 for a 9oz pour of these unique kegs. You'll want to get there early, as the first 10 people will receive a free Dogfish Head snifter glass. To find out more info about this event and all the other great things they have going on, you can check out the BX Beer Depot website here.

Avery's Maharaja at The Abbey on Monday

On Monday at 9:00PM The Abbey on South Beach will once again be hosting another special event tasting of Avery's Maharaja on the handpump. Maharaja is Avery's Double/Imperial IPA. It is one of the highest rated Double/Imperial IPAs around. Having it on tap is a rare treat and having it on the handpump is just at a whole nother level. Check out out some of the reviews for the beer here. Hope to see you at The Abbey on Monday.

Lots of Beer Events This Week

This week seems to be a big week for beer events. These events are going to be hard to choose from as they all are pretty excellent, showcasing beers you may not find again for a while. You can always check out our Beer Events calendar for information on beer events all over South Florida.

Tuesday
The Boca Beer Lovers Meetup- Funky Buddah in Boca Raton
The Boca Beer Lovers events are organized every month by Jonathan from Case & Keg. The meetups are known to be lots of fun. They attract a great group of beer lovers who like to get together to enjoy some tasty beers and food. They will be tasting 6-8 of the Buddha' finest. Their current keg selection includes Gudden Draak, Nostradamus, and Prior 8, to name a few. You'll get a sampling of each for only $10. The meet up starts at 7:00pm. You can find more info on this meetup and future ones by joining the meetup group by clicking here.

Wednesday
BJCP Style Guideline Tasting- Abraxas in South Beach
This bi-weekly Beer-Judging-Certification-Program-style tasting is held at Abraxas and is hosted by Chris from Fresh Beer Inc. This installment is going to feature dark lagers and bocks. These tastings always feature some of the best beers in each style. Chris usually brings along a few other treats that you won't find anywhere else too. The tasting only costs $15 and gets you eight 3oz samplings of each featured beer. Another plus: the beer style showcased during the tasting is usually on sale for the rest of the night. The event starts at 8pm. You can find out more info about this event and become part of the South Florida Beer Drinkers meetup group by going here.

Thursday
Beer tasting- Sunset Tavern in South Miami
This beer tasting will be hosted by the bar itself, Sunset Tavern, and is the first of many they hope to have. For just $20, you'll get to sample 20 beers from around the world and munch on their tasty wings. The tasting starts at 7pm. Stone Imperial Russian Stout will be their featured beer and you'll be treated to 1/2 off domestic drafts at the conclusion of the event. Sign up via Pay Pal at www.delilane.com and receive a free draft at the end of the tasting for signing up in advance. You can also call 305.665.0606 or email Patty at pksyankees@aol.com. You can find out all the info on the event by checking out this previous blog post.

Friday
Dogfish Head Brewery Tasting Weekend- Abraxas in South Beach
This is one of two great Dogfish Head events happening this weekend in South Florida. This event will take place at Abraxas starting on Friday and will continue all weekend long (or until they run out of beer). They will be featuring some of Dogfish Head's best and most difficult beers to find. On draft, they will have Burton Baton (if you missed this at the Abbey before you don't want to miss it again), Palo Santo and 90 Minute IPA. Along with these excellent beers, they will also have lots of other great bottled beer from Dogfish Head like their 120 Minute, 60 Minute, Festina Peche, Raison D'etre, Indian Brown, World Wide Stout, and Red and White. Remember, all the Dogfish Head beers will be on special all weekend long.

Dogfish Head Beer Tasting - BX Beer Depot in Lake Worth
The other Dogfish Head tasting is going to be quite an event as well. They will be featuring more of the hard-to-get DFH beers on draft. They will have Palo Santo, Midas Touch, Burton Baton, Chicory Stout, and Indian Brown. The event goes from 6pm-10pm and will run you about $6 for a 9oz pour of these unique kegs. You'll want to get there early, as the first 10 people will receive a free Dogfish Head snifter glass. To find out more info about this event and all the other great things they have going on, you can check out the BX Beer Depot website here.

Review: Samuel Adams Long Shot Traditional Bock

In honor of the Bock tasting going on at Abraxas on Wednesday night I decided to review the Samuel Adams Long Shot Traditional Bock. The Sam Adams Long Shot series is a contest that Sam Adams has every year to find the best homebrews in the country and then Sam Adams brews it for mass consumption in this limited six pack. This version of Long Shot six pack also comes with a Double IPA and a Cranberry Wit. You get two of each beer.

This traditional bock pours a nice dark amber with a very thin head. It gives off a nice malty aroma initially but once it warms up a bit the aromas get a bit more fruity with some cherry and sugar. The malt and fruits carryover into the taste as well. As the beer warms the fruitiness comes out more and the maltiness moves back a bit. The lack of carbonation in this gives it a creamy mouth feel. Their is a slight alcohol taste at the very end but dissipates very quickly and leaves you with that maltiness that bocks are known for. It makes you want to come back for more. I enjoyed this beer and would drink it again, for sure, if it was around but not something I would necessarily seek out.

Review: Rogue Captain Sig's Northwestern Ale

I had picked up Rogue's Captain Sig's Northwestern Ale at Sunset Corners in South Miami a few weeks ago to enjoy on the 4th of July. This beer was brewed in honor of Captain Sig Hansen and the other Hansen brothers who are part of Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch. These are hard working fishermen out in the Bering Sea around Alaska in some of the most treacherous waters in the world. This is a beer that fits them perfectly.

This beer is a little something different. Their is a nice combination going on here of two great beers, an IPA and a Red Ale. The result is a beer that gives off a nice malty aroma with a bit of hoppiness sneaking through. It pours a nice dark amber which was very similar to what you would expect from a Red ale. The head was a good two fingers high and slightly off white and never fully dissipates. What you get from the aroma is opposite from the taste. You get a bitter hoppy taste up front with the maltiness coming through in the end. It has a slightly slippery with a nice full mouth feel. The beer finishes with the maltiness leaving you first and the hops sticking around a little while in the end. A very enjoyable beer overall. This one is only around for a short time so pick it up while you can.

Deli Lane/Sunset Tavern First Beer Event

Deli Lane/Sunset Tavern in South Miami will be hosting it's first beer event on Thursday, July 23rd at 7:30pm. Look like it will be a pretty cool event with lots of beer samples and wings to try for a low price of only $20. If you act quick and buy tickets for it before hand you can also get a free draft after the event. Check out all of the info below.

What: Sunset Tavern 1st Beer Tasting Event

When: Thursday, July 23rd at 7:00pm

Where: Sunset Tavern - 7230 SW 59th Ave. South Miami, FL 33143

Why: For just $20, guest will be able to sample 20 beers from around the world and snack on out of this world chicken wings. Guest will also be treated to ½ price on Domestic Draft @ conclusion of the event.

How: Sign up via Pay Pal at www.delilane.com and receive a free draft at the end of the tasting, call 305.665.0606 or email Patty at pksyankees@aol.com

Beers that will be featured include:

Fresh Beers Incorporated - Shipyard Export Ale, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Boulder Mojo IPA, Stone IPA, Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA and the featured beer, “ Stone Imperial Russian Stout”

Presidente Beer Company - Presidente, Presidents Light

Gold Coast Distributors - Brooklyn Lager, Irish Setter, Sierra Nevade Pale Ale, Black Pecker, Warsteiner Dunkel, Snake Bite, Warsteiner, Cream of Wheat, New Castle Brown Ale, Black & Blue, Royal Extra Stout, Murphy’s Stout

Slow Foods Glades to Coast Beer Dinner

Tonight Lola's on Harrison will be hosting the Slow Foods Glades to Coast Beer Dinner. If you are looking to have a nice dinner and some good beers tonight this might be the place for you.

Here is all the info for tonight's event:

Thursday July 9th 7:00pm

Cocktail Reception

Watermelon-Organic Mint Saketini
Spicy Local Mango-Ginger Martini
Nectarine-Grapefruit Cooler

Hors D'oeuvres

Yucca-Rock Shrimp Croquettes
Maytag Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Puff Pastry
Grilled Peaches Wrapped with Mint and Prosciutto

Dinner

COURSE ONE

Chilled Florida Avocado Soup with Local
Organic Cilantro Crème Fraiche

Paired with Native Brewing Company Native Lager

COURSE TWO

"Cracked" Conch Salad with Local Jalapeno, Coconut, Key Lime
Swank Farms Heirloom Tomatoes and Red Bibb Lettuce

Paired with Gordash Beer Company Holy Mackeral

COURSE THREE

Herb Marinated Grass Fed Flat Iron Steak, Boniato and Sweet Potato Au Gratin Sauteed Swank Farms Rainbow Swiss Chard
and Green Peppercorn Sauce

Paired with Native Brewing Company Eleven Brown Ale

COURSE FOUR

Local Orange Angel Food Cake with Caramel Sauce
Passion Fruit and Mango Compote

Paired with Dessert Spritzer

$59 INCLUDES TAX AND GRATUITY
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
954-927-9851

Cooks Inc Beer Sale for the 4th

Cooks Inc. in Abacoa(Jupiter) is having a big sale on craft beer for the 4th of the July. If you are in the area and in need of craft beer check out the selection a Cooks.

'Mix-a-Six' of Craft Beers
Here are some Mixed Sixes to choose from:

Independence Day Mixed Six for $12.95 includes:
12 oz bottle of White Rascal
12 oz bottle of Sweaty Betty
12 oz bottle of Penn Weizen
12 oz bottle of Native Lager
12 oz bottle of Aprihop
12 oz bottle of Hazed and Infused

Sea to Shining Sea Mixed Six for $13.95 includes:
12 oz bottle of Penn Gold
12 oz bottle of Sawtooth ESB
12 oz bottle of Shipyard Summer Ale
12 oz bottle of Oaked Arrogant Bastard
12 oz bottle of Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
12 oz bottle of McGovern's Oatmeal Stout

The Bottle Rocket
Mixed Six for $16.95 includes:
12 oz bottle of Dogfish Head Immort Ale
12 oz bottle of Dogfish Head Aprihop
12 oz bottle of Dogfish Head Palo Santo
12 oz bottle of Dogfish Head Festina Peche
12 oz bottle of Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
12 oz bottle of Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

The Red, White and Blue 3-pack for $22.95 includes:
22 oz bottle of Hog Heaven
22 oz bottle of The Reverend
22 oz bottle of Salvation

Our beers are brewed and bottled in the United States.

The selection of 34 American Craft Beers from which you can mix and match follows:

From Dogfish Head Brewers in Milton, Delaware

• Dog Fish Head 120 min (12 oz) @ price of $8.99 ea (10% off retail)

• Dog Fish Head 60 min (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

• Dog Fish Head 90 min (12 oz) @ price of $3.25 ea (35% off retail)

• Festina Peche (12 oz) @ price of $2.75 ea (45% off retail)
• Palo Santo (12 oz) @ price of $4.50 ea (25% off retail)

• Immort Ale (12 oz) @ price of $4.50 ea (25% off retail)
• Black and Blue (750 ml) @ price of $13.50 ea (10% off retail)

• Aprihop (12 oz) @ price of $2.75 ea (45% off retail)

From Avery Brewery in Boulder, Colorado

• The Maharaja (22 oz) @ price of $9.00 ea (10% off retail)

• The Anniversary Ale (22 oz) @ price of $8.00 ea (20% off retail)
• The Reverend (22 oz) @ price of $8.00 ea (20% off retail)
• Hog Heaven (22 oz) @ price of $8.00 ea (20% off retail)
• Salvation (22 oz) @ price of $8.00 ea (20% off retail)
• Avery White Rascal (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 (43% off retail)

From Stone Brewery Corporation in Esconidido, California

• Arrogant Bastard (22 oz) @ price of $6.50 ea (35% off retail)
• Oaked Arrogant Bastard (12 oz) @ price of $3.75 ea (25% off retail)

• Ruination IPA (12 oz) @ price of $3.75 ea (37% off retail)

• Smoked Porter (22 oz) @ price of $6.50 ea (35% off retail)

From Boulder Beer Company in Boulder, Colorado
• Mojo Risin (22 oz) @ price of $8.50 ea (15% off retail)

• Sweaty Betty (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (55% off retail)
• Hazed and Infused (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

From Pennsylvania Brewery in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

• Penn Pilsner (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)
• Penn Hefe Weizen (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (55% off retail)
• Penn Gold (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

From Left Hand Brewers in Longmont, California

• Left Hand Milk Stout (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)
• Sawtooth Ale (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

From Oskar Blues in Lyons, Colorado
• Dales Pale Ale (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)
• Old Chub (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

From Rogue Brewery in Newport, Oregon

• Dead Guy Ale (12 oz) @ price of $2.50 ea (37% off retail)

From Shipyard Brewers in Portland, Maine

• Shipyard Summer Ale (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

• Old Thumper (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

From Narragansett Brewing Company in Rochester, New York
• Narragansett (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

From Indian River Beverages in Melbourne, Florida
• Native Lager (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

From Belfast Breweries in Belfast, Maine

• McGovern's Oatmeal Stout (12 oz) @ price of $2.25 ea (43% off retail)

Biltmore's Cellar Club Hosts Beer Tasting

The very exclusive Cellar Club at Miami's Biltmore Hotel is hosting a "Beers Of The World tasting" on July 7th. The Cellar Club which is a member's only club that usually focuses on wine has broadened it range to start including beer tastings as well. If you want to go to the event you can become a member for either $750 for the year or $75 a month. If you know someone who is already a member you can go with them and it will only cost you $25.

Review: Weyerbacher's Blithering Idiot

I have been sitting on this Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot for about a year now. It has aged quite nicely. It poured a nice amber brown color. Not much of a head. Strong fruity malty with a slightly hoppy smell. Strong malt and fruit taste. Not very noticeable alcohol taste. The mouthfeel is not as thick and aggressive as some barley wines. Good starter if you are new to barley wines. It's not as intensely hoppy as say Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot barley wine. Finishes very smoothly with bit of a hoppy aftertaste. The 11% alcohol is barely noticeable at all. This is very dangerous for such a smooth beer. As the beer warms up a little the alcohol comes out a little more but still very faint. I will have to get a fresher Blithering Idiot and see if it's as mellow as this year old one is. I could easily drink many of these. Though I don't think that would be such a good idea.