I hate the camera on my phone. I deserve it because I absolutely despise the business model of cell companies and always pay cash for my phone. Leasing one or doing some stupid payment plan is for millenials who can't afford their phone. I'm old school and because I don't need the latest and greatest, I bought an older model. Geez, that has nothing to do with this cool brewery, except two of my photos were so blurry that in full disclosure, one of my pics I used above is borrowed off the internet. The crappy photo is mine from the street entrance. Sorry.
Ok, so on a recent trip to Florida, I had just enough time to sneak a trip to a brewery close to the airport in Miami. Bay 13 is not far from the airport, so this is what I choose. I actually got there before they were open and was the first and only patron there for my visit. The brewery is in a business area and kind of comes out of nowhere. The outside area is really cool with a pool/fountain feature, a little green area with nice tables with umbrellas. I choose to sit inside because it was hotter than a mother at 10 am that morning. It was cool and inviting inside, but also had that Miami vibe to it. There was a nice bar and behind that you could see the stainless steel vats of beer goodness. It was an upscale brewery, for sure. I can see it being a hot spot to watch the beautiful people of Miami.
Their beer selection was also Floridacentri.c. Lighter beers dominated the selections as you would suppose in a warm climate. I nearly went for the Brown Note, a darker American brown ale, but that would almost be too easy for me. I quickly reversed course and chose the Blonde ale, called The G. It is a light ale made from German and New Zealand hops. It had a spice note that I knew it would have, but also a fresh clean finish. I liked the smell and taste right away. I don't think I have ever said anything about New Zealand hops before, but they are a renowned group of hops. There are several kinds, but all are known for their intense tropical flavors. The best known might be the Nelson Sauvin, which is distinct for its white wine flavor. I don't think they used this hop as that was not the flavor I got. It might have been a Riwaka or a Nectaron, which is a specific hop from the best known New Zealand hop producer, Nzhops. It had more of a fruity taste, maybe passion fruit or pineapple. New Zealand hops are really robust because they grow in a lush tropical environment and do not suffer from some of the diseases other hops can get. A variety of beers are made using New Zealand hops, mostly IPA's and ales. It doesn't really matter, the beer was a smooth drinking beer that had a both malt and fruit flavors and worked well. I really wanted to eat something, but had no time to do this. Instead, I punished myself by eating at the airport. Doh! In reality, I probably could've eaten there as the wait at the airport was only 20 minutes. Sometimes I regret my decisions. Their food menu was excellent and it was Saturday and I could've had brunch.
Their other beers were intriguing as well, with a Hefeweizen and German pilsner that needed to be tried. Of course, they had several IPA's too. I won't even say it this time about IPA's being overdone. Doh! There I go again. In truth, some are worth trying and obviously I'm odd man out on them as they are the most popular beers. I digress. If you plan better than I did, you should get there with time to spare so you can enjoy more of their offerings. Next time I go to Miami, I might drive directly there. It is worth checking out. They have a prolific collection of beer they produce and other cocktail selections too. I'm glad I stopped in and I do recommend Bay 13 Brewery as a quintessential Miami brewery. Two thumbs up for just a short excursion.
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