Here's something you don't hear about very often: a new brewery is opening in South Florida.
No, but seriously, Broward County will welcome yet another brewery to the area's rapidly expanding scene when Khoffner Brewery USA opens the doors to its Fort Lauderdale-based brewing facility and taproom December 26.
Chief brewmaster and co-founder Rauf Vagifoglu-Khoffner said he is currently preparing for a late December grand opening with a launch of several of Khoffner's flagship beers including a Belgian tripel, oatmeal stout, and Russian imperial stout.
The 1,600-square-foot tap room is located in a quiet industrial park just north of Sunrise Boulevard, and features 15 taps that will rotate with seasonal and specialty releases. You will also be able to find the brewery's more than 20 core beers, says Vagifoglu-Khoffner, a portfolio that focuses on traditional, German-style recipes brewed using grains and malt sourced directly from Bamberg, Germany.
When Khoffner Brewery opens Saturday, December 26, the inaugural lineup will include several beers that are currently in the finishing stages. There's a classic pilsner made with a specific water chemistry that mimics Vagifoglu-Khoffner's hometown in Germany; an IPA brewed using Citra hops; and a traditional West German Hefeweizen that uses a 45-year-old recipe noted for its low hop bitterness.
Several months ago, Vagifoglu-Khoffner told New Times his mission was to amass the area's largest selection of true-to-style German-style craft ales, and he's certainly made good on that promise. The Khoffner portfolio includes dozens of traditional styles made using knowledge from several generations of German brewers and more than 300 Khoffner family recipes.
Just don't expect any over-hopped or funky-flavored concoctions, says Vagifoglu-Khoffner.
"I don't care about novelty or making any crazy new style beers. All I care about making good, balanced, drinkable beer."
Khoffner Brewery USA will celebrate its grand opening on December 26 at 1110 NE Eighth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Follow them on Facebook for updates, or visit khoffner.us.
Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.
Nicole Danna is a Palm Beach County-based reporter who began covering the South Florida food scene for New Times in 2011. She also loves drinking beer and writing about the area's growing craft beer community.
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