Big Bear Hunting in South Florida

After a bit of hunting on busy University Blvd. in the south Florida town of Coral Springs, I had dinner and a couple of microbrews at Big Bear Brewing. This restaurant/microbrewery is a beautiful establishment and had people waiting outside to dine there on a Saturday night. Fortunately for me and my young nephew, Matt, who was accompanying me, the bar had a few seats available with no wait. Without hestitation I, of course, went for the Hibernation Pale Ale first and foremost- and in a word - well, make it three words: just about perfect. Despite not being dubbed an IPA this "aggressive" American pale ale had a great hoppy aroma and taste with a smooth finish. Since they don't label it an IPA, I have no qualms in calling it the best American Pale Ale I have ever had....and I have had a bunch. I regretted my second choice almost as I ordered it. Their Kodiak Belgian Dubble has won many awards including gold at the 2002 Great American Beer Festival in Denver (kind of the World Series of Beer) and I am sure has it's fans, I just don't happen to be one of them, but in retrospect I don't personally care for the Belgian style of brewing that much anyway. I have given it lots of chances and it just doesn't work with my palette I guess. I don't mind a mild nut brown ale now and then, but this beer had a biting aftertaste to me that the nutty aroma and taste just couldn't hide and I just did not enjoy it that much - finished it, mind you - just didn't enjoy it. My 17-year-old nephew had two pints of the Bruin that was on tap - easy there, folks, it's just a root beer that is also brewed on-site - and obviously thought it was delicious. It had it's own tap handle and everything. Very cool. I am surprised these guys aren't spread out all over South Florida as a chain. They have been doing this since 1996 and yet Coral Springs remains their only location. Can't say I don't love finding local gems like this, it just surprises me.

SIDENOTE: Earlier in the day after getting knocked out of a poker tournament in 14th place (rats! so close! They only paid the top 7) at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Dining/Shopping Complex, I ambled up to the outside bar of the Renegade Barbecue Company and tried their Renegade Red Ale. Pretty standard fare and nothing really memorable about it except the cost - $6 for maybe 10 ounces served up in a plastic cup - good grief, Charlie Brown! What a joke! Avoid this place like the plague if you are ever in the area. Maybe they ought to stick to making BBQ.