On Saturday evening, hundreds of beer lovers in South Florida came together in Esplanade Park to sample the finest beers, enjoy great live music and have a great time at New Times' Beerfest. Even the weather cooperated. Mother Nature is clearly a beer lover, because the evening was cool and clear -- perfect for hanging out and having a second glass of your favorite brew.
Speaking of brew, each partygoer received a pencil and scorecard in their beer tasting glass so they could take notes on which beers were best. We too got in on the action, with some New Times writers judging the beers in several different categories.
See also
- Photos: New Times Beerfest 2013 at Esplanade Park
- Ten Best New Times Beerfest Photos on Instagram
With that in mind, it's time to announce the winners. How did we compare with your picks? We'd love to hear what beer set your heart ablaze in the comments section.
Best Overall Brew - Funky Buddha
With two house brews always on tap and hourly beer "specials," the Funky Buddha team pulled out the stops and served some fantastic suds, including a crisp Hop Gun IPA, a tart Berliner Weisse, and a maple bacon brew. Bacon in our beer? Winner!
Best Import Brew - Mackeson Stout, brewed by Carib Brewery in Trinidad
Rich, sweet, and bold, this is a true departure from the usual light lagers of the Caribbean.
Best Local Brew - The Native Brewing Co.
From a porch pounder like Native Lager to the light hop bitterness of Thunderhead Red, we appreciated the brewery's range -- and their taste in T-shirts!
Best Display - Tap 42
Twinkle lights, several beers on tap and in bottles, and a friendly staff turned a mere tent into a brew pub. Tap 42's display was a complete experience.
Here are some other "awards" that we think should have been handed out...
Most Honest
Look, they could have said they were saving for graduate school. But they didn't.
Best Accessories
Sure that Tiffany necklace is pretty. But can you eat it when you get hungry? Pretzel necklaces are attractive and oh so tasty.
Best Swag
Look at this awesome Four Loko glove!
Best Photo Op
A picture from the Most Wanted photo booth. Because this is the only mug shot you'll ever actually smile for!
Best Moonlighting Gig
Firefighters by day... home brewers by night. The Angry Union guys made great beer too!
Best Eyewear
She's got her beer goggles on, and it's not even dark yet!
Best Snack
Giant turkey legs. Forever and always.
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