The Abbey 15th Anniversary/Not Closing Party

At this point you have probably heard the rumors about The Abbey closing. Well, I am happy to report that the rumors are FALSE. At least for the time being. I heard straight from the owners mouth that The Abbey will not be closing at the end of the month. They have made orders for more beer for next week so I tend to believe he is telling the truth. So why not celebrate the fact by heading on over tomorrow for The Abbey's 15th Anniversary party. 15 years for any business in Miami is a feat. Tomorrow you will be able to drink all you want from 8am-5am for only $25. Yes, only $25!!! Go show your support and let them know you want to see them around for another 15 years.

Sunday, March 28th 8:00am-5:00am
The Abbey Brewing Company

1115 16th St
Miami Beach, FL 33139

(305) 538-8110

Events This Week

WEDNESDAY
Abraxas, South Beach- Join the Abraxas staff along with their resident beer expert, Chris Montelius for their next bi-weekly BJCP Beer Style Tasting at Abraxas! The $15 price includes 12 3oz samplings and all of the featured beers will be available on special for the entire night! This is a great way for people to try something new and... maybe find a new favorite!

As usual, they will supply Tasting/Rating sheets and water for those that are a bit more serious about the tasting experience!

Beer lineup:
Staropramen Prague (Czech Rep.) - Bohemian Pils
Victory Prima Pils (PA) - German Pils
Great Divide Hoss Rye Lager (CO) - Maerzen
Southern Tier Phin and Matt's Ale (NY) - American Pale Ale
Ommegang Hennepin (NY) - Belgian Saison/Farmhouse Ale
Caracole Troublette (Belgium) - Belgian Witbier
Terrapin Hopsecutioner (GA) - American IPA
Orkney Skullsplitter (Scotland) - Scottish Wee Heavy
Unibroue Maudite (Canada) - Belgian Dark Strong Ale
The Bruery 2 Turtle Doves (CA) - Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Dogfish Head Burton Baton (DE) - American Strong Ale
North Coast Old Rasputin (CA) - Russian Imperial Stout

Abraxas
407 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-9005

THURSDAY
Archie's Pizza, Key Biscayne- I'll will be hosting a beer tasting from 7:00pm-9:00pm at Archie's Pizza. If you have been to any of the Archie's locations before you know they have great pizza. Now they also have a great beer selection. For only $20 you'll be able to sample 40+ beers and enjoy some free pizza. I will even have some new stuff from Magic Hat that will be hitting stores in the next couple of weeks along with a few other treats you may not find in FL at all. Come on out and be the first to try them.

Archie's Pizza
600 Crandon Boulevard
Key Biscayne, FL 33149-2008
(305) 361-3141

Howley's, West Palm Beach- Kenny from Fresh Beer will be hosting a Victory Brewing Beer Dinner from &:30pm-9:30pm. Howley's beer dinners are known to be great. For only $35 how can you go wrong.

MENU
prima pilsner -
tomato chevre torte (puff pastry square topped with goat cheese, tomato, caramelized onions. Finished with balsamic reduction)

golden monkey -
grilled chicken skewers with garlic lemon aioli

V12 -
avocado and hearts of palm salad (served over tender baby greens with red-wine vinaigrette and Parmesan cheese)

hop devil -
seafood jambalaya

baltic thunder - warm apple and goat cheese puff pastry triangles with a drizzle of warm caramel

*vegetarian options available upon reservation

*reservations required

Howley's Restaurant
4700 S. Dixie Hwy
West Palm Beach, Fl
561-833-5691

FRIDAY
Abraxas, South Beach- Abraxas continues their series of weekends featuring the best American craft breweries with Flying Dog Brewing Co. (from Frederick, MD), the winner of the Mid-Size Brewing Company Award at the 2009 Great American Beer Fest! They will be tapping kegs of their 20th Anniversary Raging Bitch Ale (Belgian IPA) and of the Gold Medal winning (at GABF), Gonzo Imperial Porter! They will also have on hand, bottles of Double Dog (double pale ale), Horn Dog (american barleywine), Snake Dog IPA, seasonal Garde Dog (biere de garde) and In Heat Wheat Hefeweizen. All this good stuff will be on special all weekend long.

Abraxas
407 Meridian Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-9005

Whole Foods, PGA Blvd, West Palm Beach-
Enjoy a tasting of five courses of fresh sustainable seafood dishes, cheeses & dessert from Jan Dedeurwaerder, formally trained at De Groene Poorte in Bruges, Belgium and Whole Foods Market's own Terry Gaum. Special guest Kenny from Fresh Beer will pair craft beers from Florida and abroad with each course. An event you won't want to miss. The event will run you $25 and you can reserve tickets by clicking here.

Whole Foods
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561)691-8550

The Lodge, Boca Raton- Come and party with Shipyard Brewing Company at The Lodge in Boca. $4.50 Shipyard draught specials all night. Matt Villei from Shipyard will be on hand to raffle Shipyard prize giveaways every hour. From what I have been told it will be better than your average glass and shirt being raffled off.

The Lodge
200 S Federal Hwy
Boca Raton, FL 33432
(561) 392-5003

Revolution Live, Ft. Lauderdale- The H.E.L.P Event (Haitian Extension of Love and Peace) is fundraiser directly benefitting Haiti.

For $15 in advance or $20 at the door you can enjoy a night of music, drinks and a grand prize raffle. With admission you will receive one free beer provided by Fresh Beer.

All proceeds are to be distributed through two very different but equally important relief efforts.

The first is http://www.PlantingPeace.org an organization founded by a close friend of Haiti named Aaron Jackson. Aaron runs a few orphanages in Haiti and he needs assistance fortifying the actual structures that the Children sleep in due to damage sustained in the recent Earthquake. Furthermore, the earthquake has orphaned even more children now and he needs proper supplies and medical resources to compensate for this.

The second is a group that is part of the BURNING MAN project called http://burnerswithoutborders.org . They are active in many different capacities of humanitarianism, but recently have been bringing much needed supplies such as water, food, and medical supplies to the 2010 earthquake victims of Haiti.

For more info visit www.thehelpevent.org

Revolution Live
200 W Broward Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 727-0950

SATURDAY
The Lodge, Boca Raton- Come celebrate at The Lodge for their 1 Year Anniversary.
$1 off every draught that they have on tap, BBQ and more beer going on outside.

Come dressed up "Lodge" style! Get fully Lodged out in your plaid and snowboots, hunting gear, snow gear, whatever you can think of that reminds you of the LODGE, and get $1 Yuengling and PBR draughts. Plus costume contest for Most Decked Out Lodger. Most Decked Out Winner gets $25 Lodge Giftcard, Lodge Keychain, Lodge Tshirt, and a Lodge growler filled with your choice of Yuengling or PBR. Party starts at 4:00pm. Live music starts at 10:00pm, featuring The Pretty Faces.

The Lodge
200 S Federal Hwy
Boca Raton, FL 33432
(561) 392-5003

Craft Beer Comes to Key Biscayne

You've been over the Rickenbacker Bridge and enjoyed the view while you headed out to Carndon Park to enjoy the beach away from the tourists on South Beach. Maybe you will also be out on Key Biscayne this week for the Sony Ericsson Open. If you are out that way this Thursday, or if you want to make the trip to show your support for a new area with craft beer, I'll be hosting a beer tasting at Archie's Pizza. If you have been to any of the Archie's locations before you know they have great pizza. Now they also have a great beer selection. For only $20 you'll be able to sample 40+ beers and enjoy some free pizza. Come on out and say hello.

Thursday, March 25th
7:00pm-9:00pm
Archie's Pizza
600 Crandon Blvd
Key Biscayne, FL
(305)361-3141

Beer Making Class in Miami

This Sunday on a little farm in Little Haiti you can learn to make beer. May not seem the likely location for such an event but why not since the ingredients for the beer comes from a farm. I like the theme of "When the apocalypse comes, you will want to know how to brew your own beer!" A very true statement. This should be a great time in a nice relaxed atmosphere. Here is what will be covered in the class.

"From Seeds to Suds"
An Introduction to Homebrewing

Want to learn how to make your own beer? What better way to learn than by actually DOING? During this class we will physically make a 5-gallon batch of beer, and cover every step of the process from start to finish.

Important questions and topics that will be addressed:
• What equipment do I need in order to brew my own beer from home?
• What ingredients do I use to make beer?
o What is malted barley?
o Why does beer have flowers (hops) in it?
o What other flavors can I add to my beer?
o What exactly IS yeast and how does it make alcohol?
• What is the difference between a lager and an ale?
• How long does fermentation really take?
• Why and how is beer carbonated?
• Why would I want to spend more time and effort homebrewing when I can just pick up a six-pack at the store?

Did you try your “uncle’s” homebrew and nearly gag at the first swallow? Don’t be fooled, if you pay attention and take your time, you and ANYONE can make quality delicious homebrew. You will be amazed at how satisfying a feeling it is to crack open a bottle of beer that you carefully nurtured into existence and then share that creation with friends and family—and they will be even more amazed.

Relax, don’t worry, have a homebrew!

$45 until March 20th, $55 at the event. Bring 6 empty beer bottles with the labels off to house your own brew. Send payment by clicking on the "Paypal" button on the homepage of www.fertileearth.org and put "beer" in the subject. Hope to see you there!

Sunday, March 21st
1:00pm-5:00pm
Earth N' Us Farms
7630 NE 1st Ave
Miami, FL
(786)253-2222

St. Patricks Day Events

St. Patrick's Day is upon us once again. Or as some like to call it Amateur Night. It's that day when you get to see people who are obviously not Irish wearing shirts that say, "Kiss me I'm Irish." Drinking green beer or Guinness. And inevitably throwing up in their friend's car on the way home. For those of us looking for something outside of just Guinness and green beer(ok maybe some) you can enjoy some beers at these fine places.

The D.R.B., Miami- The D.R.B. will be having pints of green Magic Hat #9 and slices of Shepard's pie for only $3.50 each. And if you real want to get crazy let them draw a green shamrock on your forehead and your first Irish beer is free, and the rest are ½ off during your visit! And if that wasn't enough take a picture of yourself (away from The D.R.B.) with two other people and the shamrock on your forehead, post your picture to their Facebook page by Friday, and your first draft pint of beer is free on your next visit. I just hope they aren't using permanent marker or you are going to look real stupid at work the next day.

The D.R.B.
255 NE 14th St.
Miami, FL
(305)372-4565

The Lodge, Boca Raton- The Lodge will also be having a big St. Patty's Day blow out. Lots of beer specials, raffles, giveaways and even a chance to win a Sam Adam's Adirondack chair.

The Lodge
200 S. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL
(561)392-5003


Minibar, Miami- St Patty's Day Beer Tasting at Mini Bar in the Miami Design District.
Event is from 7-9 pm and will feature new beers from Southern Tier, Left Hand, and Rogue as well as some holiday appropriate selections. $20 entrance fee includes tasting and St Patty's Day buffet. Come on out and celebrate... everyones irish on St. Patty's.

Minibar
3612 NE 2nd Ave.
Miami, FL
(305)576-7031

Coffee District, Delray Beach- And if you are just looking to go and have a nice stout then check out Coffee District for the limited Cigar City release Patio Tools.

Coffee District
325 NE 2nd Ave. #104
Delray Beach, FL 33444
(561)455-0541

Urbanite Beer Dinner

I will be co-hosting this month's Urbanite Bistro Beer Dinner, Friday from 8:30pm-11:30pm. This will be the first beer dinner I have gone to at Urbanite but if their usual menu is any indication, this beer dinner is going to be one amazing spread. The menu looks to be top notch with beer pairings that will go nicely with each course. If you haven't reserved a spot yet do so now cause it is filling up fast. Vegetarian options are available just be sure to request it when you are reserving your spot. This six course meal with six different beers will only run you $40 plus tax and gratuity. You would spend more than that on just a normal dinner and drinks.

Menu
Course I
Dales Pale Ale, Oskar Blues Brewing, Lyons, CO
Alligator Corndog with Mango Ketchup

Course II
Ayinger Dunkel, Brauerei Aying, Aying, Germany
Diver Scallop & Asian Vegetable Napoleon with Clementine-Thai Chile Preserve

Course III
Terrapin Hopsecutioner IPA, Terrapin Beer Co, Athens, GA
Moroccan Lamb Empanada with Apricot Gastrique

Course IV
Gaurde Dog Biere de Gaurde, Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD
Roasted Grouper with Pineapple Beurre Blanc, Coriander Sticky Rice and sautéed Hericot Vert

Course V
Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone Brewing Co, Escondido, CA
Duck Confit with Kumquat-Rum Marmalade, roasted Fingerlings and dressed Greens

Dessert
Rogue Shakespeare Stout, Rogue Brewery, Newport OR
Flourless Chocolate & Espresso Tort

Please call 305-374-0662 to reserve your spot. Should be a great dinner!

Urbanite Bistro
62 NE 14th St.
Miami, FL
(305)374-0662

Miami Bicycle Pub Crawl

I just bought a bike a few weeks ago and haven't had much time to use it since I have been pretty busy with beer events. Thanks to the good people over at the blog Miami Bike Scene I can now combine both my new bike and a beer event. On Saturday, March 6th Miami Bike Scene will host what they are calling the Beer Snob Bicycle Pub Crawl. It will start at 4:00pm at Zeke's on Lincoln Rd. and will hit The Abbey, The D.R.B.(The D.R.B. will have Magic Hat #9 onsale for the biker participating in the ride for only $3.50 and a Magic Hat rep there handing out free swag), and end at Titanic in Coral Gables. Titanic is right by the Metrorail so if you would prefer to take that back part of the way instead of riding back you can do that. It is recommend to bring a bike lock and also a light as it will be dark for part of the ride.

They will also be making these commemorative t shirts for the ride for only $10. You can go and leave a comment about what size shirt you want by clicking here. You can also RSVP by clicking here.

Huge Sale!!!

I usually don't push any particular store but this weekend you can't miss out on the sale going on at Milam's Markets in Miami. They are having Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale and Old Scratch Amber on sale for only $6.99!!!! If that didn't do it for you they will also have Dogfish Head 60 Minute, 90 Minute, Indian Brown Ale, and Raison D'etre on sale for $7.99!!!! This is almost half the cost of what these usually are. If you want to stock up on some great beer this is the time to do it.

Southern Tier Brewing Comes to South Florida

If the continuous flow of great breweries coming into Florida never stops that would be fine with me. This month we can welcome a brewery that's new to most but a don't-miss. It will probably be one of your new favorite breweries. Southern Tier, from Southern New York, has finally come to town and with quite a selection. They will have four 12oz sixpacks and four 22oz bottles available year round with seasonals/limited releases rotating throughout the year (right now we have three). The other great thing about all of these beers are that they are pretty inexpensive for such great beer. Check the events calendar for upcoming launch parties. Here is what they say about each of the beers that are now available.

Year-round Beers
	ipa the iso-alpha acid experience
	IPA stands for India Pale Ale and ours is an American version of the classic style. IPA’s namesake lies in its colonial roots. British soldiers on their way to India drank a lot of beer, but found it would go stale on the long voyages. Meanwhile, brewers knew that by adding more hops the beer would stay fresh. Voila! A new style was born and it is one we are proud to brew. Southern Tier IPA is tripled on its journey to your glass for a fully aromatic experience. 6.9% abv • 11.4ºL • India Pale Ale
	phin & matt’s brewed with American hops & barley
	When we sat down to collaborate on this beer, we knew we had to create something extraordinary. After sampling a wide array of great beers, we hit upon an idea: use vast amounts of whole hops, the finest malted barley North America has to offer, and crystal filtered artesian water. Thus creating this classic American style pale ale. 5.4% abv • 7.3ºL • American Pale Ale
	porter don’t be afraid of the dark
	Porter is our darkest beer, but not necessarily our strongest. It is widely held that the darker the beer, the stronger the beer, but this is summarily false. The contribution of color comes directly from the color of malt that we use. Some malt is roasted to achieve dark color and coffee-like flavor which in turn get transferred to the beer. Our Porter is richly complex with overtones of chocolate and espresso beans followed by a subtle flavor of hops. It’s a nourishing beer without being too sweet or filling. 5.6% • abv • 46.7ºL • Robust Porter
	raspberry wheat beer malt beverage brewed with raspberries
	A golden wheat beer brewed with the finest North American malted barley and wheat. It’s then lightly hopped with the choicest European varieties. This smooth, crisp golden wheat beer is then finished with a hint of raspberry. Enjoy this beer any time of year. 4.6% abv • 4.2ºL • Raspberry Wheat Beer
	422 pale wheat ale “make everyday earth day!”
	Pour 422 Pale Wheat Ale into a pint glass, give it a long whiff and you’ll realize that this isn’t your average pale golden wheat. Preserved in its unfiltered state, 422 is a fantastic session ale in which flavors of wheat, barley and hops commingle to a refreshing and zesty conclusion. Hints of orange and sweet malts waft to the fore as a touch of bitterness contributes to a smooth finish. 422 is brewed as a tribute to preserving our precious planet and it’s environment. It is responsibly packaged with over 80% recycled consumer products and is completely recyclable. Enjoy 422 all year as to take one stride closer to a eco-friendly life. 5.8% abv • 5.0ºL • Pale Wheat Ale

Imperials
	unearthly Imperial IPA an uninhibited infusion of hops
	At the Southern Tier Brewing Company, vigorously hopped beer is our standard and inspiration. We continue a commitment to innovation with our most aggressive offering yet. Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewer’s craft; skillfully balancing art and the forces of nature to produce a divine liquid. Delicately pour a taste into a fluted glass. Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops waft forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul. To underestimate Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe, so please consume wisely. 9.8% abv • 15.6ºL • Imperial India Pale Ale • 22 oz
	hoppe Imperial Extra Pale Ale an ale of simple composition
	The simplicity of Hoppe tests the skill and ability of the brewer to create something truly majestic. We craft this much like a sculptor who uses only a hammer and chisel to shape stone into a masterpiece. Hoppe is spawned of these few essentials: barley, wheat, hops, yeast and water. This limited palette is an exercise in minimalism, with refined elements which are deliberately selected. This simple combination creates a golden shimmering brew infused with delicate aromas. The artful nature of this beer is exposed with the first taste. As the malt and hops create a composition of flavors, an elegant finish leaves an impression that your tastes will not soon forget. 8.3% abv. • 8.5ºL • Imperial Extra Pale Ale • 22 oz (pronounced 'hop')
	big red Imperial Red Ale fueled by creativity & imagination
	Inspiration can sometimes be found in the strangest of places. This eccentric brew started with a single flower from a hop named Hallertau. The delicate and spicy aroma present in this flower has been responsible for generations of great beers. Hallertau hops are to a brewer what an old tractor is to a farmer: reliable. Big Red expresses the nobility of Hallertau by placing it at the forefront of this Imperial Ale. Pour it into a snifter. A swirl allows the spicy aromas to come forward as a taste to the lips reveals the complex balance between sweet malts and the bitterness of hops. Big Red’s ability to please is as dependable as your grandpa’s old tractor, and just as powerful–so please don’t drink and drive. 9.5% abv • 15ºL • Imperial Red Ale • 22 oz
	iniquity Imperial Black Ale “the antithesis of unearthly”
	The hexagram talisman has been used around the world for centuries to invoke magic and good luck. The six–point star is also the customary symbol of the brewer, representing the essential aspects of purity: water, hops, grain, malt, yeast, and of course, the brewer. Wishes of good fortune often collaborate with the brewer’s creativity to yield dramatic results. We carefully chose the name for this Imperial India Black Ale, Iniquity – a word opposing goodness. Why? This beer is contrary to what one may expect from an IPA; this is an ale as black as night. It is the antithesis of Unearthly. Some may consider it an immoral act to blacken an ale. We suggest they don’t rely on conventional standards. Allow the darkness to consume you. Cheers! 8.9% abv • Imperial Black Ale • 22 oz

Limited Release Imperial
	gemini Imperial Blended Ale blended unearthly & unfiltered hoppe
	High in the winter sky, two parallel stick figures are visible & known as “the twins,” or the constellation Gemini. The astronauts of the 1960s flew as teams of two in a program named after the celestial pairing. At Southern Tier, we have our own fraternal twins, Hoppe & Unearthly. Blended together & placed in this vessel, the mission of our Gemini is to travel high & take passengers on a journey far into the heavens. 9.0% abv • 11.7ºL • 22oz.

Blackwater Series Imperial Stouts
	choklat stout Imperial Chocolate Stout the ancients called it 'food for the gods'
	The Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, unfolds a complex web of mystery around a beverage known as xocoatl (ch-co-atle). At Southern Tier, we’re not surprised that hieroglyphs of the ancient Maya depict chocolate being poured for rulers and gods. Even through the many voyages of Columbus, the mystical bean remained nothing more than a strange currency of the native peoples. Moving through centuries, the circular journey of cacao has been realized in our brewing house, encompassing the complexity of the darkest, bitter-sweet candy together with the original frothy cold beverage of the ancient Maya to bring to you our Blackwater Series Choklat Stout. We have combined the finest ingredients to tempt your senses & renew the power & interrelation of history in every bottle. 9.5% abv • 195º L • Imperial Chocolate Stout • 22 oz 2-row barley / caramel 60 malt / barley flakes / chocolate malt / bittersweet Belgian chocolate / kettle hops: chinook & willamette

Help Support Brewpubs Selling Beer To Go

Florida has come a long way in the beer world in the last few years. We now have a great selection of beers to choose from and you can buy growlers of beer at stores. One thing you still can't do though is buy beer from your local brewpub to drink at home. I'm sure there have been nights when you've sat at home and thought, "Boy, I would love one of those great beers they make over at (insert local brewpub name here) but I just don't feel like running out to the bar tonight. I wish I could just grab one out of the fridge." Well, the day has come to help make your dreams come true. Here is what the Florida Brewers Guild is asking you to do.

"We have a potential sponsor in the FL House to introduce legislation as a companion bill to Senate Bill 2062, but he is hesitant to keep the provision that would allow brewpubs to sell for off-premise consumption. We need you to send an email ASAP to Rep. Mike Horner, thanking him for considering sponsoring a companion bill to Senate Bill 2062, and state that you support legislation to allow brewpubs to sell for off-premise consumption. Use the following link: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4455&SessionId=64

The deadline for Representatives to submit bills for this years session is tomorrow, so please ACT NOW!!!!!!!!"

Do your part and help your local brewpub...and yourself.