I found it funny that the Miami GPO was the day before and the next day was the event for the Fort Lauderdale Girl’s Pint Night Out.
The event was being held at Lucky’s Market in Oakland Park. My first time coming to Lucky’s to drink beer, I know that you can buy a beer and shop, though I haven’t done that. So I walked up to the bar area, I figured that would be the likely place we would be meeting at, I noticed there was already a few ladies sitting around, I honestly didn’t recognize anyone. I felt that maybe since I didn’t go to the last event at Gulfstream brewing, I may have missed on seeing and meeting some of the ladies that were already here. Oh well, time to start sipping on beer solo until I feel like being social with others.
I walked to get into the line at the bar/counter and they were offering samples of Lúpulo de Hielo from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, 7.6%, sour wheat IPA, on their website they describe it as “his hoppy sour wheat IPA was aged for four months and dry hopped with Cascade and AMARILLO® hops. Bright flavors of tangerine and bitter orange pair well with the earthier notes of spruce and pine. All combining beautifully with our house Jolly Pumpkin funk.”
I recall immediately trying it and thinking it was tart, a little citrusy and that it was alright. I’m not sure I’d go for this beer, though it seems perfect for those who like tart beers.
From the taps, I choose Namaste White from DogFish Head Brewery, 4.8%. I’ve had this one before and I thoroughly enjoy this one! They describe it as “dried organic orange slices, fresh-cut lemongrass, peppercorns and a bit of coriander for a refreshing and sessionable experience. With notes of clove and subtle coriander, you’ll find flavors of citrus and sweet malt, with a slightly spicy finish for a zesty mouthfeel.” I think all the flavors blend well.
Lucky’s provided the FTL GPO with food of chips, soft tacos, pulled pork and salsa table. I’d say they are missing cheese and sour cream for tacos, though, I didn’t eat from the spread and I’m sure it was fine. I think later on they added chicken tenders. A lot of ladies seemed to enjoy the spread and the food.
I decided to go check out the beer selection here in order to have a comparison to the one I’ve gone to in Plantation. I don’t like how they have the beer layout in this store because, first it’s in the middle of the store, where the one in Plantation has the beer to the left side of the store. Second, they have some beer shelves also displayed throughout the store in various locations, which I dislike. Why can’t you have the beer all in one place?Make it nice and easy for me to find what I want. Though regardless, its not like I’ll necessarily be coming to this location for beer or anything other than today’s event.
I did find a beer that I wanted to buy, it is, Jule Mælk by To Øl, it’s an imperial milk stout, they describe it on untapped as “In Denmark we are very fond of Christmas beers. In fact, most of December goes with drinking Christmas beers while chewing on fat duck, pork roast, red cabbage and herrings left in vinegar for months. Jule Mælk. Our so far strongest beer, bumped up to 15% ABV and loaded and loaded and loaded with lactose, just until it couldn’t get any more heavy. You could say this is the Foie Gras force-feeding edition of a beer. But then again, it is Christmas after all… Style:Imperial Sweet Stout, Malts:Pale, Special B, Melanoidin, Chocolate, Smoked, Dark Crystal, Roasted Barley, Cassonade Sugar, Lactose, Hops:Tettnanger, Tomohawk, Sorachi Ace.” – It has a 15% ABV which has me intrigued. I can’t wait to try that one, one of these days..
There was a representative of New Belgian there with beers and swag. They brought The Hemperor, Belgian White and Brut IPA for tasting.
I happened to notice a couch in the area behind the New Belgian rep, I decided that would be a good place to leave my beer and sweater should I walk around. Which is when I asked if could get a glass, to which, he asked what my next beer would be, I answered incorrectly the first time I believe, I don’t recall what I said right now, though the second time I got the right brewery name lol. So I got a glass with a sticker, lip balm and beer opener. I also then asked if it would be possible to have the Belgian White instead of what Lucky’s had on tap since I didn’t want The Hemperor, which is what they had.
After that, I was given a full size Broo Shampoo and Conditioner. It’s nice to get this so I can try it out some time.
Once the New Belgian rep opened some beers and started having tastings of the other ones I then came up and sampled the Belgian White, I liked the flavor, I immediately thought Belgian beer! That is the taste that came thru above all else, then afterwards I could taste some other elements.
The New Belgian, Belgian White at 5.2%, it’s described as “made with Seville oranges and Indian coriander, both freshly ground less than a mile from our Fort Collins brewery. It’s a fresh, perfectly sweet, natural tasting Belgian White.”
I liked this a lot, definitely Belgian style beer, the flavors aren’t jumping at you right away, I feel they are toned down, good and light. Noticeable differences in the Witbier vs. Witbier, they are both good where Namaste White, I think normally has prominent lemongrass/pepper/coriander and just is a little louder, the Belgian White has more of a Belgian beer taste and the flavor is little toned down, though it was good and it wasn’t discounted from the enjoyment of the beer, I feel like I enjoyed this a little more than the Namaste this evening.
Sometime thereafter I noticed that there was another beer rep setting up, I waited and once they were setup, I walked up to investigate. They represented, Shiner Bock Beer, I was a little surprised, can’t say I ever thought of them or that I had gone out of my way to have one of their beers. They are based out of Texas. If you are giving me beer to try, I may as well, besides, it’s not bud light!
I tried the Wicked Juicy IPA first, I was surprised that it was an IPA. I recall seeing the “Wicked Juicy” before I noticed that the beer label also said IPA. It was decent, it’s described as ” Tropical hops with a Bright juicy kick” on Untapped and then on the brewery website itself says “It’s dry hopped, unfiltered, and bursting with Citra hops for a bright juicy kick. The result is a deliciously hazy brew that’s just waiting to be popped open.”
My thoughts on this were, it was okay, can’t say I feel the “kick” of anything. It’s a decent, average, get someone who doesn’t like an IPA, to try an IPA, kind of beer. It’s not very assertive in bitterness to me.
The next one I tried was the Light Blonde, it’s like bud-light, except better and not made by Budweiser. Moving on to Shiner Ruby Redbird, it’s described on the brewery website as “Popping the top on this brew is like slicing into a ripe Texas ruby red grapefruit. a bold kick of ginger combines with the citrus for a tart, refreshing lager that’s perfect anytime of the year.” I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this one, I tasted the ginger, I liked the balance of the flavors and thought it was good. I would consider ordering this sometime, depending. Though overall better than expected.
Than I had the Shiner Bock, which is described on the brewery site as “Brewed with rich roasted barley malt and german specialty hops. This lightly hopped american style dark lager always goes down easy.” – It was decent. I feel like its average style beer, though good in drink-ability. Most of their beers are around 4% and the highest was the IPA at 5.7% abv.
He also had beer swag with him, some shirts, a hat or two, I was interested in one shirt that said “Eat Meat, Drink Beer” I’m not a vegetarian and I totally support eating meat, and I thought the shirt was awesome, and I wanted it. Lucky for me, I was able to take one home!!
Then I noticed that there was someone repping Darwin. I wasn’t too excited for what they had brought with them. I tried the blood orange Berliner Weisse they had, it was good. Though I didn’t like the whole trying to impress upon me that its limited and I should consider getting some. I think it’s okay, certainly not good enough for me to consider getting this evening, especially since I didn’t consider getting it when I was at the brewery on the 27th of December.
