SO, WHAT’S UP WITH CRAFT BEER?

Craft beer is one of the fastest-growing alcoholic beverage industries in America. Craft beer can be brewed by any company, but craft breweries are independently owned and produce less than six million barrels annually.

There are more than 5,000 craft breweries in the US alone! That’s a lot of variety for lovers of craft beers everywhere.

Miami Brewing Company has been brewing artisanal beers since 2009. They offer many different types of specialty brews including their award-winning Miami Vice IPA!

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT CRAFT BEERS

Did you know that President Barack Obama is a homebrewer? That’s right! The world of craft beers is full of fun facts and many amazing things to discover. Check out some fun facts about this delicious drink:

1.- SO, WHO CONSUMES THE MOST ARTISANAL BEER?

The most beer-loving country in the world, per capita, is Czech Republic! They consume an average of 148.6 liters per year each! That’s about 418 12oz bottles per person.

2.- WOMEN AND THEIR BEER

The first artisanal beer brewers in the world were WOMEN! That’s right! In ancient Peru, breweries were only operated by women of the elite class. In the 1600s, midwives created super-strong beer to ease the pain of labour!

WHAT ABOUT THE “RULE OF THUMB”?

The term “rule of thumb” comes from brewers! They would stick their thumb into the mix to see if the temperature was right to start adding the yeast. Also, “Hangover” in Norwegian is directly translated to “carpenters in the head”.

4.- HOPS!

The United States is the second largest hops producer in the whole world. Only behind Germany! So, what are hops? Hops are the flowers that give beer its bitterness. Hops are the known as the “spice” of beer. You should know, though, that hops are poisonous to pets! So keep an eye on your furry friends if you’re homebrewing.

5.- HOW OLD IS OUR FAVORITE DRINK?

In the year 2010, the world’s oldest drinkable beer was found on a Baltic Sea shipwreck. The ship is believed to have sailed over 200 years ago. Now that’s a long time to enjoy this amazing artisanal drink. Even Vikings loved it many years ago! Vikings believed that when they died, a giant goat would be waiting for them. Of course, this goat’s udders had an unending supply of…you guessed it! Beer.

6.- SAVE WATER DRINK BEER

In medieval Europe, the average person drank 220-250 litres of beer a year! That’s almost 66 gallons! Why? Since beer had undergone fermentation, it was cleaner and safer to drink than the water, which was usually dirty and made people sick. So yes, beer saved lives!

7.- COOK WITH BEER

People know cooking with wine is amazing, but did you know that for meats and BBQ’s it’s even better to use beer? That’s right! Adding some beer to your marinade can help soften the meat and make it tastier. The acids in the beer go to work on the proteins in the meat, whether it’s cooked or uncooked. Now you know, for your next BBQ party you can wow your guests by cooking with beer (and also adding it to the food).

8.- EVERYONE LOVES THEIR BEER

Even snails and slugs! They are naturally attracted to beer, so if you want to get rid of these pests in your garden, just leave out some beer on a container and they will go to it. Even plants love beer too! The sugar in beer is said to supercharge your plants. Maybe it’s time to install your very own beer sprinkler! In general, beer is great for your garden too.

9.- NEVER FEAR

There is a term for the very rational fear of running out of beer or having an empty beer glass. We know you all feel it! Cenosillicaphobia! Now you know your biggest fear is shared by many people in the world. Of course, at Miami Brewing Company, this fear is irrational since your will never run out of your favorite craft beer in Miami.

10.- THANKSGIVING!

It is said, that the pilgrims first decided to land at Plymouth Rock because their ship ran out of beer, and they needed their favorite artisanal drink very much! Due to the unsafe drinking water, passengers on the Mayflower drank beer as a main hydration source — each person was rationed a gallon per day. They started to run out as the ship approached Plymouth Rock. We know it seems far-fetched, but this story is true! Now, their beer wasn’t that good. Corn was used from the beginning of English settlement for brewing, both at Jamestown and Plymouth since their barley crops often failed, and the cost of importation was prohibitive.

11.- SUCH A HEALTHY DRINK!

Beer is used for preventing diseases of the heart and circulatory system, including coronary heart disease, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), heart failure, heart attack, and stroke! Craft Beer is also good for your bones! Beer has high levels of silicon, which promotes strong bones. It is a source of GOOD CHOLESTEROL! So, now you know. Keep drinking your favorite artisanal beers and live a long and healthy life. actually ancient Egyptian texts have been found that contain over 100 medicinal uses for beer. The Egyptians know their stuff!

Just as an extra health tip, and this one’s more for the ladies…beer makes your hair healthy and shiny! You can use beer as a conditioner. Good quality brews will leave your locks silky and soft!

12.- BEWARE OF FAKES

Beers that are released by big mega brewers that look like craft beers are termed “crafty beers”. These are not really craft beers and shouldn’t be considered as such (even if they want to make you believe they are specially brewed). Big beer companies saw how much the love for artisanal beer was growing, and they responded by creating these crafty beers. Not very crafty indeed! Miami Brewing Company as a Florida brewery that understands the real love for the art of beer making, and has been brewing their own craft beers in Miami since 2010. Don’t fall for the fakes!

13.- IT’S ALIVE!

We all know one of the most important discoveries for humankind was how to make milk more drinkable and better. But did you know this discovery happened thanks to beer? In 1850, Louis Pasteur studied beer. After finding it ‘was alive’, he invented pasteurization. As the yeast wake up in the beer and then reproduce, they live out their short-but-happy lives they use the sugars in the beer to fuel their activity, and in the process, ferment those sugars into alcohol. Yeast in beer converts into two things: ethanol (which attributes to the drunk feeling) and CO2 (which makes the bubbles). So yes, at one point, beer is ALIVE! And it led to a groundbreaking discovery that we take advantage of every day of our lives. Go beer!

14.- STORE CRAFT BEER

Craft beer is stored in darker bottles as exposure to light will spoil the special artisanal brew. In South Africa, green bottles are associated with premium beers, while in fact, these beers are prone to get “light struck”. Brown bottles are better for craft beer! Now you know why most artisanal beers are stored in dark container and not transparent ones.

Also, it’s better to store your craft beer lying down. Storing bottled beer as such minimizes oxidation and contamination from the cap.

15.- EXPENSIVE!

Tutankhamun Ale is a craft beer that is prepared in Cambridge according to a recipe that was discovered in the temple of Queen Nefertiti. It is one of the most expensive beers one can buy: about $75 a bottle! Now that’s some Egyptian delight.

MIAMI BREWING COMPANY’S CRAFT

Miami Brewing Company combined their passion for homebrewing, with local ingredients found in the Redlands, the super fertile land in Homestead where the Brewery is located, to create some of the best craft beers in Miami. In fact, the company was inspired by Miami and everything it has to offer. Local flavors are poured into every batch of brew to produce truly unique specialty beers. A truly unique line of beers brewed with fruits such a lychee, coconut, and much more!

FLAGSHIP BEERS AT MIAMI BREWING COMPANY

Miami Brewing Company brews special beers year round, and always combines local flavors with new and exciting concoctions! Some of their beers are brewed only in special seasons, but their flagship beers are available year round and a MUST TRY when you’re in the Miami area:

Big Rod Coconut Blonde Ale: Coconut, caramel, and vanilla flavors with a slightly sweet finish and overall smoothness

Shark Bait Mango Wheat Ale: A malt with a smooth delivery and a mango finish

Miami Vice India Pale Ale: Flavors of citrus, pine, and herbs mix smoothly, providing a dry sweet finish

Gator Tail Brown Ale: Chocolate and coffee combine for a velvet delivery with a rich feel

BEER FLIGHTS

You can visit Miami Brewing Company’s Taproom, open every single day, for one of their famous Beer Flights! The perfect way to try all their beers and enjoy your favorite once you know which one it is. Flights feature four 4oz beers to try, plus your favorite pint to finish, for just $20!

Miami Brewing Company is located in Homestead, at 30205 Southwest 217th Avenue in Homestead, FL. Make sure to visit and get ready to get your mind blown!