Bars & Breweries

Sports bars are usually convivial places to get together with friends to watch the game and hoist a few. But though they’re often homey and inviting, most aren’t considered elegant. Enter Black Market Miami, a swanky bar that recently opened in downtown Miami. It’s the creation of Red Rabbit Presents, composed of Shane Vernon, Erick Passo, and Michael Mora. This is the nightlife team’s first brick-and-mortar, which is represented by a glowing bunny displayed front and center at the bar.

Tales of the Cocktail, the annual New Orleans celebration of spirits and industry professionals, announced the finalists for its annual Spirited Awards. The awards were founded in 2007 to celebrate excellence in the cocktail and spirits industries.

M.I.A. Beer Company has partnered with Deb Fogarty of Be Well Travel and Norwegian Cruise Line for a four-day brews cruise from Miami to Cuba March 26, 2018.

North Miami will soon get its first brewery. Descarga Brewing Company is expected to open in September at 12355 NE 13th Ave., co-owner Manny Jannes says.

The latest venue to open at CityPlace Doral lets guests pair a night of bowling, games, and karaoke with tropical-inspired comfort food and plenty of rum.

Deerfield Beach resident Bryan Turner was first in line for J. Wakefield Brewing’s most recent bottle release this past weekend. He arrived at the Wynwood taproom just after 9 p.m. Friday, June 9, and set up chairs in front of the brewery bay doors about 13 hours before bottle sales began.

This past weekend, the Fort Lauderdale-based Hukilau — considered one of the world’s largest and most authentic celebrations of tiki culture, cocktails, art, and music — kicked off its annual festivities. It was bigger and better than ever thanks to an expanded schedule of events and educational symposiums.

It was nearly three years ago that Ancho Reyes introduced its Chile to Miami. The chili-infused liqueur has spread among many local bar programs. Spirits visionaries Daniel Schneeweiss and Moises Guindi, founders of Milagro Tequila and Montelobos Mezcal, recently added a new flavor to their repertoire, Ancho Reyes Verde. Both…

This Memorial Day weekend, some of the leading ladies of the country’s craft beer industry will be gathering in Fort Lauderdale for what is being hailed as the nation’s first all-female beer fest. On May 28, the local women’s advocacy group the Fem Collective will launch its inaugural FemAle Brew Fest, organized by Fem Collective CEO Frances Antonio-Martineau.

Sake has come a long way and not only in literal terms. In Miami, it’s becoming more and more common to spot at least one bottle of the Japanese beverage some people refer to as “rice wine.” From chefs developing their own labels to DJs curating sake collections, sake is becoming as popular as beer in the Magic City.

It’s been almost six years since the Rusty Pelican, Key Biscayne’s sunset-viewing happy-hour hangout, completed its $7 million renovation. Now the iconic restaurant has introduced an extensive collection of wines, as well as a revised menu to go with the unbeatable view.

As the craft beer industry continues to grow, larger beer companies are taking notice and are acquiring smaller breweries. Florida isn’t immune to this phenomenon. Several international conglomerates have already snatched up breweries in the Sunshine State. Since the purchase of North Carolina’s Wicked Weed Brewing Company by Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB-InBev), rumors have beens swirling on social media that Oakland Park’s Funky Buddha Brewery was next.

Part of what makes visiting a local brewery’s taproom so special is the draft lineup: there’s usually something on tap you can’t find in stores, or many of the local craft beer bars, for that matter. But what about when you want to take some of it home? Well, that’s what bottle releases are for. They don’t happen

Last year’s Drink Miami Hostel transformed the Freehand’s rooms into mini cocktail experiences where guests were entertained and educated by some of the industry’s best bartenders and brand managers. This year, organizers Gabriel Urrutia, Giovanny Gutierrez, and Matt Hirsch bring Drink Miami Hostel back to the Freehand from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 24.

Spring is well underway, which means Miamians are rapidly preparing for the unrelenting heat and humidity of our most tropical season. The good news is, while you’re sizzling outside, Miami’s best bars and restaurants are here to cool you down with the season’s most refreshing and bright cocktails. Here are the top five beverages to revive you during the looming annual heat wave.

Tap 42 has announced the opening date for its midtown Miami restaurant. The newest addition to the Tap & Co. family, Tap 42, located on the corner of NE 33rd Street and First Avenue, will officially open for business Saturday, May 20

Finding new recipes to brew is a pastime for pretty much all zythophiles, including John Falco from Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Company, who recently teamed up with local attorney Josh Hubner to put an original Florida style of beer back on tap in Miami’s beer scene.

Do you know how to hula? Want to learn to play the ukulele and drink lots of rum? You can do it all at this year’s 2017 Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale, considered one of the world’s largest and most authentic celebrations of tiki culture, cocktails, art, and music. The event returns to the Mai-Kai June 7 through 11, and this year the party promises longer hours, more events, and cocktails from pop-up bars and sponsors included with all weekend passes.

American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) is May 15 through 21: seven days dedicated to the people and culture of the industry in the U.S., including South Florida. This year, breweries and bars across the region will host a variety of events, including beer-pairing dinners, releases, anniversary parties, and tap takeovers.

These days, there are plenty of bars that serve good beer. But not all of them are true craft beer bars. What makes a good beer bar? First, it’s selection: a thoughtful draft and bottle list that changes frequently and offers up a good variety of styles and flavor profiles…