The Florida Foodie
South Florida’s Microbrewery Boom
By Saucy Sarah
The popularity of beer has grown exponentially over the past decade and, in response to the popularity, our area has seen a boom in independently owned and operated breweries. Many breweries in the area are open to the public and range from offering simple tastings to full-service restaurants. In addition to the great selection of breweries to visit, Palm BeachCounty plays host to many beer festivals throughout the year. The festivals’ offer the beer aficionado a chance to sample a vast selection of beers from all over the nation. Many festivals also include local restaurants offering beer-friendly food pairings. Sampling locally crafted beers is a great way to savor the unique culinary flavors of our area. Here are my top picks for getting your “brew on”.
Due South Brewing
2900 High Ridge Rd. #3
Boynton Beach, Florida 33426
(561) 463-BEER (2337)
Due South Brewery, located in the industrial section of Boynton Beach, is a rising star on the national beer scene. Due South’s humble beginnings from homebrew to a 15,000 sq ft facility has not gone unnoticed by beer lovers. Their beloved Caramel Crème Ale is a local favorite and is always on tap at their Boynton Taproom, which is open Tuesday through Sunday’s. The taproom also hosts several guest beers on a rotating basis. You can drop by and taste some of their favorites and some of their new flavors. On the weekends, you can also take a tour of the brewery for a nominal fee.
Saltwater Brewery
1701 W. Atlantic Ave.
Delray Beach, FL 33444
561-865-5737
Saltwater Brewery, Located in Delray Beach is a well-known beer found at many local bars and eateries. Saltwater offers a wide selection of innovative, hand-crafted beers that complement the local atmosphere. With beer names such as, “Sea Cow” and “Smokin’ Red Fish”, you’ll want to try them all. The brewery has a taproom on site and offers happy hour specials. Tours are offered on Wednesdays and the weekends.
The Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery
2621 North Federal Hwy
Boca Raton, Florida
561-368-4643
The Funky Buddha, located in Boca, is a hip place to a good beer and some great food. The owners are always trying out strange and interesting beer flavors in their brewery. It’s like a mad scientist’s lab. Along with food and libations, the brewery hosts live music and entertainment. It is a hip, cool place to spend a few hours exploring exciting flavors.
Tequesta Brewing Company
287 U.S. 1 Tequesta,
FL 33469 United States
561-745-5000
Tequesta Brewing Company offers seven to eight hand-crafted brews on site plus highlights a revolving selection of guest brewers from around Florida. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Tequesta Brewing company boasts a great happy hour. Tequesta Brewing offers the unique “Growler”, as stated on their website, “Named for the growling sound made by CO2 escaping from buckets of beer sold a century ago, growlers are containers filled with fresh beer meant to be taken home. What makes the growlers at Tequesta Brewing unique is the method in which they are filled. Rather than simply opening a tap to fill the bottle [Tequesta Brewing Co.] has purchased an Austrian machine, one of only a few in the United States”.
April Beer-Themed Events
April 15th: Palm Beach Zoo’s, “Brew at the Zoo”
Enjoy at day at the zoo sampling hand-crafted beers from 25 breweries. Half of the featured brews will be from Florida. There will also be food on hand from a variety of local restaurants for purchase. The event begins at 6:00pm and admission begins at $35.00, which gets you a 2oz sampling mug. VIP options are available.
April 25th: Craft Beer & Burger Bash at PGA National Resort
This event boasts over 60 craft beers and hard ciders to sample. In addition to the brews, local restaurants offer sample sliders. Tastes test the best of Palm Beach County and vote for the best burger! PGA National is offering special event packages that included hotel accommodations and event admission. Call for more information on pricing for packages and single day tickets. 1-800-863-2819
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In her previous life, Sarah, a Palm Beach County Native, spent ten years working in various high-end eating establishments around South Florida. She is currently a fiction thesis candidate in the MFA program at Florida International University where she also teaches creative writing and rhetoric. If that is not enough, Sarah is also the owner of Cakes by Sarah, a local custom cake shop. Sarah lives in Lake Worth with her husband and two beautiful boys. “Food, fiction, and family are my life.”