The Original Fat Cat's

I first met Don in February, when he was slinging the highest-quality beers from around the world at the Upstairs Lounge of Beach Bar. He left to find a home base that could offer him more freedom and fridge space to spread his passion for microbrews. Many months passed, and...

By Jake Smith

September 7, 2006

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I first met Don in February, when he was slinging the highest-quality beers from around the world at the Upstairs Lounge of Beach Bar. He left to find a home base that could offer him more freedom and fridge space to spread his passion for microbrews. Many months passed, and while walking down Himmarshee, I came across the old-school bartender extraordinaire at Original Fat Cat's. Don's a big jovial guy sporting island wear who seems happiest when he's informing drinkers about the history of a beer or explaining why two liquors taste better when mixed together. Luckily, one of the coolest spots downtown has one of the top-five bartenders in Broward running its two-for-one Happy Hour. Fat Cat's, which is the last bar on Himmarshee Street, has stood out as an independent Bourbon Street-style pub on a block that is quickly being filled with chain bars and hipster enclaves. Don is the antidote to that encroachment. I just tell him what style of beer I'm in the mood for and he produces some strangely shaped bottle from a microbrew in Colorado or Calcutta. So far, every time I've let him choose a new brew for me to try, he's served up the perfect frothy glass of goodness.

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