Today kicks off American Craft Beer Week, a seven-day celebration of all that is good about barley and hops bred and brewed within our borders. There are dozens of official ACBW activities -- beer dinners, pairings, movie screenings, parties, etc. -- throughout the week. Or if you're simply in the mood for a few pints, we've got a list of seven suggested bars and breweries in Broward and Palm Beach counties that should be on your to-do list this week.
Due South Brewing Co. -- Say hello to the new kid on the microbrew block. This brewery/taproom opened on Saturday in Boynton Beach, producing brews like a caramel cream ale, a Florida-style IPA, a roasted cocoa stout, and rare and specialty brews like the Mariana Trench imperial stout (which isn't yet available, but is part of the repertoire). Update: They're closed Mondays, but check them out later this week.
Brother Tuckers -- This bar stocks tons of Belgian and Belgian-style brews, but the beer geeks who work the bar also carry a carefully chosen selection of American craft brews, including some from Florida.
Laser Wolf -- Good luck ordering a Miller product in this hip Fort Lauderdale haunt. Good music, cool environs, and more American craft styles than you can possibly handle in one sitting.
Funky Buddha Lounge -- This lounge will host several official ACBW events (a Southern Tier Tap takeover with a Skype session with the brewers on Thursday and a pub crawl/beer release on Saturday), but any day of the week will bring excellent craft selections. Try one of the in-house brews, or go with a bottled craft variety from around the country.
The Coffee District -- An ever-changing selection of popular and hard-to-find styles from a range of brewers. This is a good spot to get your feet wet trying new-to-you brews.
Tequesta Brewing Co. -- Stop in for a Florida craft beer like the Double IPA or Der Chancellor. Or try the oak-aged Imperial Red, which was tapped on Saturday in honor of this week's festivities.
Tap 42 -- With 42 craft beers on tap, you can find a fun selection any day of the week. Or head there from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday for a Florida beer tap takeover.
Follow Clean Plate Charlie on Facebook and on Twitter: @CleanPlateBPB.
