Not that long ago in a brewery far far away…
Whether you like beer, Star Wars, or hell both, you should stop by the J. Wakefield Brewery in Miami. While I love Star Wars just as much as the next guy, I wouldn’t say I’m a fanatic. I have seen every film (post me coming into this world in 1989) in theaters with the exception of Rogue One, but does that really count? Below is the J. Wakefield Brewery Review.
J. Wakefield Brewing is tucked away off 24th Street near Miami Avenue. You can’t miss the huge Darth Vader mural that screams “You’ll love this place.” Luckily for Meg and I, it did not disappoint. Right as you walk in, you’re greeted with stunning Star Wars art along the walls with large TVs surrounding the top of the bar. It is an extremely welcoming brewery although could be somewhat of a tight fit on a busy night. We dropped by on Christmas Eve and we easily found a hightop to enjoy our flight and watch the Saturday NFL games.
Enough galavanting, let’s get to the good stuff. Here’s what we had to drink at JWB:
Money, Cash, Gose (3.5%) : Great play on words, I see what you did there. A premium sour and exactly what I was looking for. It’s a German style wheat ale with a fantastic sour finish. I love that sours are becoming all the rage. I had my first sour in Brussels at the Delirium Cafe (so cultured, right?) while studying abroad in 2011. I’ve been hooked ever since however only recently have I been able to find decent sours. What I think makes a great sour is the tartness. I know it’s a good sour when I can feel the acid in the beer eating the lining of my stomach. This refreshing sour is a must for any sour fan or anyone feeling a little squirrel-y (see Meg trying the sour below!).
Hop 4 Teacher IPA (6.0%): Before we go any further, I have a confession to make. I am not a fan of IPAs. Wait, wait wait! Before you IPA connoisseurs click back on to Facebook, I am REALLY trying to acquire the taste for them. I would be inclined to call anyone a liar who says they loved IPAs from the get go so hey, I’m trying. Hop 4 Teacher is an extremely likable, light IPA that is highly rated across the major beer rating sites. The beer has a deep orange tint to it and has a full, fruity flavor. I found the mild hop taste perfect for my pallet.
Phat Bottom (6.0%): Yet another sour! Phat Bottom is actually a collaboration with RAR Brewing in Cambridge, Maryland. The beer is an interesting spin on sours. It’s a German style wheat beer back-flavored with apples, making it somewhat of a sour/cider hybrid. Absolutely delicious and is the perfect drink on a hot, swampy Miami day.
The Big Show (7.5%): Named after the iconic wrestler, The Big Show packs quite a punch at 7.5%. It’s brewed in a New England IPA fashion, meaning it has a cloudy body with a creamy head. Adding to the creaminess, the beer is brewed with lactose and guava creating what J. Wakefield Brewing calls a “milkshake style IPA”. Being the non-IPA guy I am, I didn’t hate it. I thought it had a great citrus flavor although I recruited Meg (an IPA gal) to finish it off.
All in all, J. Wakefield Brewing is absolutely worth a visit while exploring Miami and is within walking distance to other breweries such as Concrete Beach Brewery, which was sadly closed on Christmas Eve.
I hope you enjoyed the J. Wakefield Brewery review. Be sure to subscribe to the site and check out other brewery reviews on the Drunken Traveler page!
