Online tickets have sold out, but 1,500 more will be available on fest day. In this case, good things do come to those who wait as the vast majority in the queue will make it inside.

For those who don’t, there’s the second annual Craftoberfest across the street at Abacoa Green. No ticket needed here, just "an ID and a smile," which fest organizer Fran Andrewlevich says will get you a choice of several quality craft beers in a souvenir cup. Live oompah music is provided on the side for free.

How do I love thee, Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival? Let me count the ways:

5. The Silent Disco: I never participate in the activity in an effort to retain the few remaining shreds of dignity I still possess. But it’s really fun to watch, because the dancers are all wearing headphones (so we don’t hear the music) and most have gleefully left their dignity at the entrance.

4. The Intimate Atmosphere: The fest could be huge by now, but organizers have kept the event from growing out of control or turning into a "drunk fest" by limiting the number of tickets sold to about 3,000. It does get fairly packed in its confined space, but the fest feels like a big lawn party with mellow live music and the best beer selection you could ever imagine.

3. The Homebrew: As a former homebrewer, it’s always nice to see my homeys who remain so dedicated to their hobby (read: obsession) and produce some of the best beers you’ll try at the fest. This year, more homebrew than ever will be flowing from The Palm Beach Draughtsmen, Treasure Coast Brew Masters through AJ’s Beer City and The Brew Bar, a soon to be opened brew-on-premise establishment in Jupiter.

2. Surprises: This fest is extremely popular with the brewers as well and they do their darnedest to come up with some very special beers for the occasion. Saint Somewhere Brewery of Tarpon Springs will be uncorking a brand new Saison made with the Cynthiana (aka Norton) wine grape of early American origin.

Also new at the fest this year: the famous Green Man Brewing Co. out of Asheville, N.C., Milwaukee’s popular Lakefront Brewery, Fort Collins Brewery and Twisted Pines, both of Colorado. The soon-to-open Due South Brewery of Boynton Beach and the B. Nektar Meadery from Ferndale, MI, will represent as well.

1. The Beer! (Duh). There will be 26 booths serving just under 200 different beers, 90 percent of which will be craft made. A good portion of those have been brewed in our own backyard, including samples from Tequesta Brewing Co., Brewzzi West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, Big Bear Brewing company of Coral Springs, and Funky Buddha, Boca Raton.

Other favorites including Cigar City, Tampa; Swamp Head, Gainesville; Stone Brewing, San Diego; South Carolina’s Thomas Creek; and many more will be back as well. There’s just no other spot on the planet this Saturday where you’ll find a better variety and quality of suds to sip. Believe me.

2012 JUPITER CRAFT BREWERS FESTIVAL

• Where: Roger Dean Stadium, Abacoa, Jupiter | Directions, invite a friend
• When: 1 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28
• Tickets: $35 at the door (cash only)

CRAFTOBERFEST

• Where: Abacoa Green, Jupiter | Directions, invite a friend
• When: 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28
• Tickets: None. Beer sold by souvenir cup.
• Directions: From I-95, exit at Donald Ross Road (Exit 83) and go east to the second left, which is Parkside Drive. Go north on Parkside Drive and, before stop sign, follow turn to the right.

Tabica Grill in Jupiter is hosting a Belgium Tour Beer Dinner Sept. 16 featuring four courses with beer pairings for $40 per person. (Allen Eyestone/The Palm Beach Post)

SUDS SCENE: FOUR BEER DINNERS IN 10 DAYS

The Beer Guy has been lucky enough to attend a number of beer and food pairing dinners in the past couple of months along with other special craft beer-related events. Here’s a heads-up on a few coming attractions with hopes I’ll see you there.

Beer events on tap:

• JoJo’s Raw Bar Oskar Blues Beer Dinner, Sept. 10, 8 p.m.

Five distinctive Oskar Blues beers paired with five equally creative courses for $50 plus tax and gratuity. The lineup includes G’KNight, an Imperial Red Ale, with a fresh seared diver scallop topped with a fresh cherry and raisin glaze.

JoJo’s is at 13889 Wellington Trace A-20, Wellington. Phone: (561) 427-1997 | Directions, invite friends, more

• Howley’s Stone Brewing Co. Beer Dinner, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.

This dinner will feature a reception hour plus five courses, each paired with a unique beer from Stone Brewing Co., including Stone IPA, Oaked Arrogant Bastard, Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine, Stone Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout, and Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA. Cost is $50 plus tax and tip.

Howley’s is at 4700 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Phone: (561) 833-5691 | Directions, invite friends, more

• Tabica Grill Belgium Tour Beer Dinner, Sept. 16, 8 p.m.

Featuring a “Beer Tower,” from which Leffe Blonde, Hoegaarden, Stella Artois and Palm Amber Ale will be poured. The menu offers four courses including Thai peanut roasted chicken wings, coriander-crusted scallops, traditional barbecued salmon and Belgian chocolate fondue. Cost is $40 per person plus tax and gratuity.

Tabica Grill is at 901 W. Indiantown Road, Jupiter. Phone: (561) 747-0108 | Directions, invite friends, more

• World of Beers Rogue Brews and BBQ Loyalty Appreciation Party, Sept. 20, 5 to 8 p.m.

Featured Rogue Brews include Chatoe Single Malt, John John Hazelnut, Double Chocolate Stout, XS IPA, Maierfest, Morimoto Imperial Pilsner, Brutal IPA and Cap’n Sig’s. WOB also will have the year-rounders like Deadguy, Juniper, Hazelnut, Shakespeare Stout and Chocolate stout. (Regular beer prices apply.)

The catered menu will feature two different styles of wings, ribs, beer bratwurst, baked beans and potato salad. Dessert will be a peach and berry cobbler. (There’s no food charges for WOB Loyalty Card Holders.)

World of Beer is at 101 N. Clematis St., Suite 100, West Palm. Phone: (561) 833-3375 | Directions, invite friends, more

- Dan Oliver (The Beer Guy)

What's on deck?: A Bohemian Pilsner, Speit IPA and a Dark Belgian Farmhouse Ale, at Brewzzi in Cityplace, that will be featured at the Jupiter Craft Beer Festival. (Richard Graulich/The Palm Beach Post)

Update: Field of Beers event on Friday has been sold out. Tickets are not available online or at the door.

Organizers have upped the ante once again for the 5th rendition of the Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival, featuring 175 craft beers from over 50 breweries. There will also be more room this year, as the Fest area, just outside of Roger Dean Stadium, has been expanded by 4,000 square feet, allowing extra space to accommodate the beer tents, “silent disco,” live entertainment, and, among the 3,200 fest-goers, a certain Beer Guy dressed in a monk’s habit.

If you haven’t picked up tickets by now, your chances of getting in (assuming you arrive plenty early) are actually still pretty good. Website sales have ended, but 1,600 more will be available at the door on Saturday. Festival organizer Fran Andrewlevich estimates 97 percent of folks waiting in line last year made it inside.

But this time, there’s a contingency plan in place just in case you get turned away at the gate, or would prefer a little more chill atmosphere. It is called “Craftoberfest.”

A special beer tent will be raised nearby at Jupiter’s Abacoa Green, where those who miss the festival can still enjoy special craft beers (sold by the cup), along with live music from an authentic Oompah band and German eats as well prepared by an authentic German chef. Admission is free.

Friday night’s Field of Beers event, held inside Roger Dean Stadium, has become a very tough ticket indeed. (At deadline time there were still tickets available, but it may be sold out by now. Check out the website jupitercraftbrewersfestival.com to find out.

What might you be missing? Fifteen different craft breweries create special batches of beer and pair them with 15 different gourmet bites of food from a team organized by local chef John Carlino. It is truly a feast for the senses and, in my opinion, well worth the $77 price tag.

As for Saturday’s festival, with more brewers and hence, more beer, the selection will again be dizzying.

Andrewlevich is looking forward to trying several different offerings from visiting breweries, including 2009 and 2010 Great American Beer Festival medalist Cigar City’s White Oak IPA.

He’s also eager to sample a Coffee Porter, brewed by Mike Silvernale, his former assistant brewer and now brew master of Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Flying Fish Brewery of New Jersey and Southern Tier of New York will both be making their festival debut, as well.

The festival is also importing volunteers, 55 of them to be exact, from 12 states and three countries — Ecuador, Canada and Trinidad.

Importing is just fine, but The Beer Guy subscribes to the theory, well espoused by Dorothy of Kansas, that “there’s no place like home.” In that spirit, I invite you to meet and support your local brewers and beer retailers and make sure to sample their products at the festival.

They look forward to this event every year and brew up special batches for the occasion. You won’t find anything fresher or better tasting at the event, I assure you.

Meet Five Local Beer Masters – Who are they and what are they pouring at the fest?

Richard Graulich/The Palm Beach Post.

Beer is his life because: “To me, it’s the creative process. You’re constantly creating different beers using yeast, a living organism, and it never gets old. As soon as you think you’re in control, brewing can humble you very quickly. So it’s constant challenge as well.”

Beers serving at the fest: Darkhouse-American/Belgian Farmhouse Ale, Boca Blonde-German Helles Lager, Black Duke Dark-German Schwarzbier, City Fest-Vienna Lager, Bohemian Pilsner.

Favorite beer quote: “Beer will save the world. I don’t know how, but it will” – Anonymous

Photo provided.

Beer is his life because: “I have a great appreciation for its fine craftsmanship as well as teh culture and history that surrounds it…and lastly, beer is in my life because I can’t wait to enjoy the next one. Cheers!”

Beers serving at the fest: Home brew from Treasure Coast Brewmasters: American Hoppy RED, American Brown, APA, Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Wit, Lemon Wheat, English Mild, Oaked Black IPA.

Favorite beer quote: “If it weren’t for great beer there would be no great quotes” – Jim Stewart

Photo provided.

Beer is his life because: “Nothing can bring a smile to someone’s face at the end of a rough day like a great pint of beer.”

Beers serving at the fest: Gnarley Barley-American Pale Ale, Der Chancellor-Kolsh, Terminally Ale-American Brown Ale, Julio’s Weizen-Bavarian Hefe, English IPA, Belgian Dubbel .

Favorite beer quote: “I would trade all my fame for pint of ale and bit of safety” – Shakespeare

Photo provided.

Beer is his life because: “It is my inspiration for getting up in the morning and frequently the reason I can’t get out of bed.”

Beers serving at the fest: Carry My Bags Porter, Beaver Cleaver IPA, Frau Blucher Kolsch.

Favorite beer quote: “All right, brain, you don’t like me and I don’t like you. But let’s just doing this, and I can get back to killing you with beer” – Homer Simpson

Sally Parson (left) with Nicole Tippe. (Photo provided)

Beer is his life because: “The possibilities of brewing and enjoying beer are endless and the people who love and make craft beer are some of the best people in the world.”

Beers serving at the fest: Black IPA, Hefeweizen, Stout.

Favorite beer quote: “Beer is proof God loves us and wants up to be happy” – Benjamin Franklin

2011 Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival Weekend

Jupiter CraftBrewers Festival
When: Saturday, Jan. 29, 1 to 5:30 p.m.
Where: Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
Tickets: $30 at the door (cash only)

Field of Beers
When: Friday, Jan. 28, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Roger Dean Stadium, Abacoa, Jupiter
Tickets: Sold out online and tickets won’t be available at the day of

Craftoberfest
When: Saturday, Jan. 29, 2 to 7 p.m.
Where: Abacoa Green, Jupiter
Tickets: None needed. Beer sold by souvenir cup.

Dan Oliver is a member of the Palm Beach Draughtsmen homebrewing club. He can be contacted at doliver@pbpost.com.

But make no mistake, this friendly neighborhood eatery has its own vibe and personality. It also has George Raboni, the manager/beer and wine guy, who is making it his mission in life to bring in unusual and flavorful micro-brewed beer from Florida and beyond. (And from one Beer Guy to another, well played sir.)

Combine the brew with the innovative food creations coming out of the kitchen, led by chef Tim Lipman, and you have a truly remarkable gastronomic experience awaiting you. Seafood takes a starring role, but even the macaroni and cheese is good enough to make your knees buckle. During our visit on a Tuesday night, the place was buzzing with activity, energy and just plain fun. Watch the video, and I think you’ll see what I mean.

Leftovers Cafe, 451 University Blvd., Jupiter. (561) 627-6030.

Hours: Lunch and dinner served 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday (Bar stays open later.)
Closed Sunday

Event listing: Ticket info, directions, more

Video: Watering Holes

When Anchor Brewing Co. calls you and asks to take part in your brewers festival it’s a sure bet your little beer bash has taken on enough mystique to create that ever elusive buzz. And such is the case with the fourth annual Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival, on tap this weekend in its new home, Roger Dean Stadium.

About 3,300-plus beer lovers are expected to attend two different events, starting with Friday’s “Field of Beers,” where 15 beers will be paired with an equal number of “bites” in an attempt to create culinary harmony between food and drink.

Saturday’s fest will include lots of great beer, plus such popular sideshows as the Silent Disco and the Best Dressed Monk contest.

When all is said and done, more than 40 different breweries from across the country will have poured samples of more than 150 distinctly unique beers. That’s a lot to choose from, I know. So, may The Beer Guy suggest a “top 10″ list of brews that should not be missed?

10. Bourbon Barrel-aged Milk Stout-Corner Café and Brewery-Smooth. With chocolate and roasted flavors, along with bourbon, of course, locally brewed in Tequesta by Matt Webster.

9. Double Diablo Imperial Amber Ale-Big Bear Brewing. Matthew Cox has created a bear of a beer, dry-hopped twice, unfiltered, with full body and plenty of drinkability, even at 8.7 percent alcohol.

8. Belgian Pale Ale-Inlet Brewing. The makers of Monk in the Trunk have come up with a special recipe just for fest season. Belgian Ale spiked with five different whole cone American hops.

7. Imperial Coffee Porter-Brewzzi. A 9 percent alcohol, dark, rich beer flavored with locally roasted Ethiopian and Panamanian coffee beans. Starbucks, eat your heart out!

6. Festivus IPA-Palm Beach Draughtsmen-Homebrew. Made with Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale in mind and dry-hopped for the rest of us.

5. Gold Clipper Ale-Kelly’s Caribbean Bar and Grill. Mike Silvernale’s golden America Pale Ale is loaded with hops and is smooth as the Key West sunset it was brewed under.

4. Glissade Golden Bock-Sierra Nevada Brewing. A new seasonal billed as a mellow take on a traditional spring Bock which helps one “slide into the sunny days of spring.”

3. Orange Honey Wheat-Jefferson Street Brewing. Made by Wesley Chastain (the former brewer of Stuart’s former Monkey King) in the hills of Lynchburg, Va. You have to try it — he’s driving all this way.

2. Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout-Cigar City Brewing. The god Hunahpu gave chocolate to the Mayans. Florida’s hottest new brewery gives it back to you in a limited-release brew flavored with Mayan chocolate and peppers.

1. Humming Ale-Anchor Brewing. A commemorative beer, made with the unusual Nelson Sauvin hop, makes its Florida debut at the JCBF. There’s huge buzz surrounding this new brew.

So there you have it, 10 down — only 140 or so to go.

Kidding.

With so many great beers on hand at the Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival, it would be nearly impossible, and inadvisable to attempt to sample them all. Better to target a manageable list of your favorites and keep your buzz at a safe and legal level.

Dan Oliver is a member of the Palm Beach Draughtsmen homebrewing club. He can be contacted at doliver@pbpost.com.

A brewer’s weekend:

Schedule of events

FRIDAY

What: Field of Beers

Where: Roger Dean Stadium, Abacoa, Jupiter

When: 6-9 p.m.

Tickets: $77, online only

Web site: jupitercraftbrewersfestival.com

SATURDAY

What: Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival

Where: Roger Dean Stadium, Abacoa, Jupiter

When: 1-5:30 p.m.

Tickets: $30.50 online, $30 at the door (cash only)

One of the top Oktoberfest celebrations will be held at the American German Club in suburban Lake Worth. (Gary Coronado / The Post)

The Beer Guy’s Oktoberfest Six-Pack | More Oktoberfest events
Recipes mentioned below | More on American German Club’s celebration

Oktoberfest, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

There’s something about the annual German celebration that gives the Beer Guy a warm, fuzzy feeling inside and seems to bring out the gemutlichkeit (good fellowship) in all who participate. I mean, it’s pretty much impossible to do the Chicken Dance and be in a bad mood at the same time, right?

Since its origin in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Bavaria, Munich’s Oktoberfest has grown into the largest beer blast in the world, hosting about 6 million thirsty revelers who down 1.8 million gallons of German lager over 16 days each year. This year’s event tapped out on Sunday.

Lucky for us, though, Oktoberfest is just getting started in our area and this year there are more ways to celebrate than ever. As a public service to my beer brethren and sisters, I offer the ideas below.

Party at the American German Club of the Palm Beaches:

It’s the 36th year for the event on Lantana Road, and the best local alternative to hopping on a plane to Munich — and it’s certainly less expensive. This Lake Worth bash claims to be one of the largest in the country. There will be traditional German beer, food and live bands, direct from the Munich Oktoberfest. Be sure to try Hofbrau, the beer that saved Munich. That’s right: During the Thirty Years’ War, 362 buckets of Bockbier from the Hofbrauhaus helped to placate the invading Swedish army, who decided to not destroy Munich after all. Whew!

Celebrate, Home-Brew Style:

The Palm Beach Draughtsmen home brewing club is hosting its 16th Oktoberfest party at Okeeheelee Park on Oct. 24. It’s a mini version of the American German Club’s bash but still a zer gut (very good) time. The Draughtsmen offered eight different styles of home brew to sample at their 2008 event, with plenty of grilled brats and other German fare, along with live music and fun for the kids. This is a small club event and although guests are welcome, walk-ups are not. Tickets must be purchased in advance on the club’s Web site, www.palmbeachdraughtsmen.com. None will be sold on site.

Five-Course Beer Dinner:

You get Beer Guy-style points for attending this one. Chef Ryan Launer of Jupiter’s Tabica Grill is hosting an Ayinger Brewery Beer Dinner on Friday, Oct. 16. Chef Ryan will serve a different Ayinger beer to pair with each of the five courses, which range from braised pork and smoked duck breast to roast lamb. I have attended several of Chef Ryan’s beer dinners and can assure you of a gastronomic adventure you won’t soon forget.

Oktoberfest Beer Dinner, Part II:

It’s Oktoberfest year-round at Little Munich in Lake Worth. You can feast on authentic German beer and food anytime at the Lake Avenue restaurant — well, anytime they’re open. Owners Peter and Gabi Kachler are the real deal. They owned a restaurant in Munich for years before coming to our area. Also the real deal: Little Munich’s selection of German beers on tap, including Spaten Oktoberfest. The Kachlers are flying in a band from Munich near the end of October to ramp up the celebration.

Oktoberfest ‘Staybration’

OK, so I made up the word. It’s something like a “staycation,” only more beer-obsessed. The concept here is to make your own Oktoberfest food at home and pair it with the appropriate Oktoberfest-style beer. If this seems a bit daunting, do not fear. Chef Ryan of Tabica Grill has provided a recipe for bratwurst sliders that is easy and delicious. I sampled these tasty little burgers at a recent beer dinner at his Jupiter restaurant and was so impressed I lobbied him for the recipe. Likewise, Little Munich’s Gabi Kachler agreed to part with her recipe for traditional wiener schnitzel. It’s a schnap!

As for the beers, I sampled six different Oktoberfest styles available in our area with fellow beer lover and home brewer Greg Pope. We paired the beers with a German sausage combo platter from Little Munich, and let me tell you, it made for one of the tastiest “stay-happy hours” I’ve ever had.

Any or all of these options should get you in the Oktoberfest spirit. Of course, I plan to hit them all by the end of the month. That’s just how the Beer Guy rolls. Besides, Oktoberfest comes around just once a year.

OKTOBERFEST 2009 EVENTS

36th Oktoberfest
American German Club of the Palm Beaches
5111 Lantana Road,
Lake Worth
When: Oct. 9-11 and 16-18
Friday: 5 to 11 p.m.
Saturday: Noon to 11 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 8 p.m.
Admission: $7 (children under 12 enter free)
Web: www.americangermanclub.org
—
16th Palm Beach Draughtsmen Octoberfest
Tuskeegee Pavilion, Okeeheelee Park
7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach
When: Oct. 24, Noon to 6 p.m.
Donation: $25 (must be purchased in advance on Web site)
Web: www.palmbeachdraughtsmen.com
—
Oktoberfest 2009 Beer Dinner
Tabica Grill & Ayinger Brewery
901 W. Indiantown Road, Suite 1, Jupiter
When: Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $50 per person
Reservations: (561) 747-0108
The Menu:
First course
Pickled wurst salad with sweet mustard vinaigrette and pretzel crouton
Beer pairing: Ayinger Jarhundert
Second course
Beer-braised pork and onion stew with pumpernickel crouton
Beer pairing: Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel
Third course
Cherry wood-smoked duck breast with plum dumplings and candied carrots
Beer pairing: Ayinger Celebrator Doppel Bock
Fourth course
Slow-roasted lamb with dill cucumber sour cream, parsley potatoes and charred asparagus
Beer pairing: Ayinger Oktober Fest Marzen
Fifth course
Caramelized sweet banana and lemon pudding
Beer pairing: Ayinger Brau Weisse
—
Oktoberfest Year-Round:
Little Munich German Restaurant
806 Lake Ave., Lake Worth
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Phone: (561) 932-0050

Gabi Kachler of Little Munich shares her recipe of traditional Wiener Schnitzel. (Brandon Kruze / The Post)

Traditional Wiener Schnitzel

Gabi Kachler, owner of Little Munich restaurant in Lake Worth, shares her recipe for this German favorite.

2 boneless pork chops, pounded to a thickness of about 1/4 inch
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging
2 eggs, whisked with 1 tbsp. of water
1 cup plain, fine bread crumbs
1 tbsp. sunflower oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Dredge the chops in flour, dip in the egg wash and lightly bread both sides in the crumbs. Heat the oil in a large skillet.

Fry the cutlets in the sunflower oil over medium heat, allowing each side to reach a golden brown.

Plate the schnitzels and, while still bubbling hot, season with salt and pepper.

Serve with German potato salad or french fries.

Serves 2.

Bratwurst Slider with Caramelized Shallots and Grain Mustard

Chef Ryan Launer of Jupiter’s Tabica Grill offers this slider as a twist on Oktoberfest cuisine.

For the slider:
1 link raw bratwurst, casing removed
1 tablespoon raisins
1 slider bun (Chef Launer suggests using pumpernickel rounds for this recipe or, if you can find one, a pretzel bun.)
Grain mustard, to taste
Mix the bratwurst and raisins, and form into two patties.
Grill sliders until they are well done and serve on buns with caramelized shallots* and grain mustard.

* For the caramelized shallots:
12 large shallots, peeled and sliced
Vegetable oil, to coat pan
1/4 cup port wine or red wine
3 tbsps. brown sugar

Heat a large skillet with vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and sauté until soft.

Deglaze pan with wine. Reduce heat and continue sautéing.

Add the sugar, keeping an eye on the pan, as it can burn quickly.

Stir shallot mixture until the sugar dissolves and remove from heat.

Serves 1.

Oktoberfest beers are dark gold to deep orange-red in color with a rich, German malt aroma, initial malt sweetness in flavor with a slightly dry finish. They should be clean, smooth and rich with a complex malt character.

No. 6: Michelob Marzen, Anheuser-Busch Inc., Missouri

I decided to give A-B its shot here and I have to say, Michelob Marzen didn’t do too badly. Both Greg and I tasted some decent malt flavor in this beer, but the aroma and finish are not distinctive. My suspicion is that this is Michelob with a little Munich malt added and nothing more. It did go well with the German sausages, though.
Score: 3.5

No. 5: Left Hand Oktoberfest, Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, Colo.

Let me preface this review by saying the American micro Oktoberfests were all good and very close to each other, stylistically speaking. In our beer taste test, we were looking for malt to be the star, with hops in a supporting role. Left Hand’s brew was darker than the rest with a good dose of malt in the flavor. But we agreed that the finish was a little sharper than the others. There could have been more malt aroma.
Score: 5.5

No. 4: Stoudt’s Oktoberfest, Adamstown, Pa.

We noted a good, malty aroma and nice balance in Stoudt’s fest effort, which has won five medals at past Great American Beer Festivals. As I said, these beers were all very close in quality. If anything, we felt the Stoudt’s brew could have used a touch more malt body.
Score: 6.5

No. 3: Penn Oktoberfest, Pittsburgh

We admit to a bit of controversy on this one. I felt it was second-best of the bunch, mostly because of its very smooth finish. Greg, however, thought it was weak on aroma and body. We did agree on one thing that forced the tie for third place: Penn is a very smooth, drinkable beer.
Score: 6.5

No. 2: Brooklyn Oktoberfest, Brooklyn, New York

Brewer Garrett Oliver, no relation to the Beer Guy, went to the trouble of having the malt for this season’s Oktoberfest brew prepared in Bamberg, Germany. His efforts pushed this contender over the top of the America micros. It has a malty, bready flavor and excellent balance. And it goes very well with the grilled bratwurst and sauerkraut we scarfed down.
Score: 7

No. 1: Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany

Once we sampled this beer, we decided all the others proved to be pretenders to the throne. Then again, I suppose, when you’ve been making this kind of beer for a few hundred years, you ought to know what you’re doing. Hacker-Pschorr certainly does, offering a beer with an incredible malt aroma up front and a nutty sweet malty flavor and smooth, balanced finish. Yes, the competition was tight, but we found this one to be a more elegant beer than the others. Simple as that.
Score: 10

Brewmaster Fran Andrewlevich of Brewzzi in City Place and Boca Raton has done it again, winning a silver medal at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado for his German Altbier “Boca Alt”. This ends a bit of a drought on the medal stand for Brewzzi, which has taken home several awards at the GABF, considered to be the most prestigious professional brewing competition in the U.S.

Cigar City Brewing of Tampa was the only other Florida brewery to medal at this year’s GABF, striking gold with it’s oak barrel aged Humidor Series IPA.

To give you an idea of how difficult it can be to win in Denver, dig some of these stats:

-There are 3,308 beers judged in the competition.
-The average number of competition beers in each category: 42
-Just three states; Colorado, California and Oregon took home 44 percent of the medals.

Andrewlevich and his crew didn’t just stick to the Dowtown Denver area, striking out each day to great beer destinations including Boulder, Fort Collins, Idaho Springs, Longmont, and Lyons. Fran tells me the quality of beer this year at the GABF was incredible.

Treasure of a Festival

The 2nd Treasure Coast Beer Festival went off without a hitch this past Saturday in Fort Pierce. Organizers there told me they believe attendance doubled from last year’s 500 to 1000 fest-goers this time around. There was lots of great beer being poured including a couple of soon to be newcomers to the area, Cigar City of Tampa and Sweetwater Brewery out of Georgia who both also won a medal each at this year’s GABF. Other breweries included Stone, Oskar Blues, Bell’s, Sierra Nevada, Inlet Brewery, makers of Monk in the Trunk, Harpoon, Ayninger, Westmalle, Chimay, Rogue, St. Somewhere, Lagunitas, Terrapin, Left Hand and many more.

The ground floor of the Fort Pierce parking garage kept the brewers and patrons shaded and relatively cool during a pretty warm day. I also love the fact the organizers keep the hours short on this event, which went from 1pm-5pm, giving everyone plenty of time to sample beers and get home before dark if they so desired. Some pics should be available to view soon at the festival website, www.treasurecoastbeerfest.com

Time to warm up your taste buds cause there’s a couple of beer events coming up this week. First up, Tabica Grill is hosting yet another of their very popular beer dinners. Ryan Launer, a homebrewer and chef, always comes up with some wonderful pairings at these events and the “Sam’s and Sliders” dinner looks to be another sure bet. Contact information and menu is listed below. See you there!

Tabica Grill
901 W Indiantown Rd # 1
Jupiter, FL 33458-6811
(561) 747-0108 (Call for reservations)

Sam Adams Brewery
“Sam’s and Sliders” Beer Dinner
Wednesday September 23th, 8:00 pm
$50 per person

1st Course
Sam Adams Blackberry Wit
Lobster and Scallop Cake with Sweet
Mustard zip-zap Arrugala and crumbled bacon

2rd Course
Sam Adams Boston Ale
Kobe Blue Burger with
Radicchio Slaw and Chipotle Mayo

3th Course
Sam Adams Imperial White
Spicy Citrus Chicken Patty
With Smoked Gouda Cheese

4th Course
Sam Adams Imperial Double Bock
Grilled Bratwurst Burger on Pretzel Bun
With Caramelized Shallots and Grain Mustard

5TH Course
Sam Adams Imperial Stout
Dark Chocolate Brownie Stack
With Cappuccino Mousse and Raspberry Drizzle

Treasure Coast Beer Festival
The Treasure Coast Beer Festival will flow forth for the second year this coming Saturday from 1-5pm behind Fort Pierce City Hall in the parking garage. Parking garage, you say? Yes, and before you chortle under your breath, let me tell you how well this venue works. For one, it’s completely shaded, no searing sun to deal with and two, because it’s an open air kind of place, you get a nice breeze and there’s plenty of room to roam and sample your favorite brews.

Speaking of those, there will over 200 beers to try at the fest, twice as many as the inaugural event, including homebrew offerings from the Treasure Coast Brew Masters. Check out the website for directions and ticket information. http://www.treasurecoastbeerfest.com/

Magic Hat #9

Magic Hat brewery has introduced it’s most popular beer, the #9 to the South Florida beer market. It’s available at all of the places listed below and probably a few more at this point.

Time to make my point. The brewers were nice enough to send me a sample all the way from Burlington, Vermont and I brought it over to the Pope’s house for a tasting (his last name is Pope, that’s all I’m revealing here). Ok, so we taste and while #9 is a pleasant tasting, even refreshing beer, there was something tickling my taste buds I couldn’t quite identify. It seemed like fruit. Only thing is, there isn’t one thing mentioned about fruit in any of the promotional material which accompanied the beer. Hmmm. Why am I tasting fruit? Could it be the yeast? Even on Magic Hat’s web site, they’re a bit mysterious about the flavor profile.

“A beer cloaked in secrecy. An ale whose mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers.”

My question was answered days later when I spoke to a fellow beer geek who told me, “oh yeah, #9 is an apricot fruit beer”.

So what Magic Hat is doing is performing a bit of marketing slight of hand for what has become their most popular beer. Fine. I get it, but I’m not going along with the game guys. #9 is a light, fruity apricot ale whether you want all of us to know that or not. And while it’s ok, it most certainly is not the best beer your esteemed brewery makes. I also understand you’re in business to make money first and impress the Beer Guy second…or maybe 10th…but I want to taste your good stuff guys. Anyhow, Magic Hat is a fine brewery and the #9 is a good fruit beer so I encourage you to try at one of the locations listed below.

Guanabanas Restaurant and Island Bar
997 N. Highway A1A
Jupiter, FL 33477

Bar Louie
1500 Gateway Blvd. #100
Boynton Beach, FL 33426

Yard House
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue,
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Roxy’s Pub
309 Clematis St.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Jo Jo’s Raw Bar and Grill
13889 Wellington Trace Suite A-20
Wellington, FL 33414

Monk in the Trunk now in bottles

After two years worth of anticipation, Monk in the Trunk is now available in the bottle. The product of Inlet Brewing Company in Jupiter has been on tap in bars throughout our area but now you can take a sixer home to the wife and kids too. It’s on the shelves at all Total Wine, Whole Foods, Crown Wine and Spirits, Sunshine Liquors in Palm Springs, and Christopher’s Market in Jupiter.

Now I know how Al Gore must have felt.

In a stunning (to me) result, the Swirl Girls narrowly defeated the Barley Boys in Saturday’s Beer vs Wine Challenge at Cooks Inc. of Abacoa. Initial polling reports tell us the voting was very close, but that the wine was the winner in 3 out of the 4 courses. I would like to congratulate the SG’s on a robust and valiant effort in this competition.

But I am not willing to concede just yet.

Let me stress these are preliminary results which must be poured over and closely examined by my team of attorneys, who are at this moment flying in from all parts of the country and will parachute from their planes before setting up our Contest Challenge Crisis Center. There is compelling circumstantial evidence of irregularities in the process indicating something may have been amiss in this contest right from the start.
For example:

1. The event was held in Palm Beach County. Hello!!??
2. A former PBC elections official was allegedly seen at the Post when the ballots were created.
(I KNEW it!)
3. Several senior citizen voters at Cook’s Inc. wrote in “Pat Buchanan” as the winner of all 4 courses.
4. Many beer lovers waited a long time before receiving their samples, while the wines were poured first. Some were never able to cast their votes!
5. The Swirl Girls may have used subtle Jedi mind tricks to influence the voting.

These are just some of the disturbing allegations we’ve received in the days following this momentus contest, and we can make…come up with more in the next couple of days as our investigation intensifies. Let me stress I am not making any specific accusations against ANY of the Swirl Girls at this point in time, (just implying them) and assert the Barley Boys may have good reason to whine about these results.

In fact, according to MY taste buds, the beer was the clear winner in 3 of the 4 delicious courses served, and my taste buds don’t lie my friends. Chef John Carlino of Cooks Inc. and team did a fabulous job explaining and preparing each course, and if you haven’t been to this place yet, make a reservation today. It is seriously good food.

But don’t count us out just yet!

The Beer Guy poses with the winning team.

The first order of business though, as I am The Beer Guy, was to decide which beer would pair best with the spicy, smokey flavor of the ribs. I chose the Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale, which Havana Hideout serves on tap. It’s got an aggressive hop flavor which matches the spiciness of the ribs and some malt sweetness in the body which goes well with the bbq sauces. A match made in Hawaiian Heaven, my friends.

Havana Hideout owner Chrissy Benoit served up some excellent homemade sides as well including mac and cheese, cole slaw, watermelon and a huge cookie.

Ok, without further ado, here are the top three finishers:

1st place-Smokin Gator BBQ-Baby Back Ribs-The baby backs were smoked in a HUGE mobile smoking unit you’d have to see to believe. They came out very tender with that great pink smoked color and terrific flavor. The ribs were served with a touch of sauce on the side but didn’t really need any. My guess is Smokin Gator has got a bunch of trophies on his mantle or will have soon.

2nd place-Jason Fournier-Happy Belly Bar-B-Que-Jason was the defending champion in this event and it was easy to see why. His ribs were perfectly spiced and bursting with flavor. The sauce went extremely well with the meat. Jason came away with the “people’s choice” award, which I was very glad to hear because he was definitely derserving of a prize.

3rd place-Deborah Jean-Ya Gotta Get Messy Ribs-Another strong contender who was particularly impressive considering this was her first rib competition. Deborah prepared the ribs completely on site, using a couple of outdoor grills with charcoal and soaked wood chips. Another great spice and sauce combination here as Deborah ran out of ribs just before the afternoon rain came.

Perhaps there should have been an award for most creatively named ribs. My winner in that department would be Weekend Rubbers-Better than Sex Ribs. They may have been having the most fun of any team and their ribs were very good and popular as well.

So I had a blast and can’t think of any better way to stray from the diet. Much thanks to Chrissy and the staff at Havana Hideout for having me and hosting such a great event. I think you should have another as soon as I come back from the reunion.

Ok, I know this is last minute notice but…

The Society of the Four Arts Beer Tasting PALM BEACH, FL:

The Society of the Four Arts King Library is inviting the public to an evening of tasting beers from around the world, donated by Republic National Distributing Company. Bush Brothers Provision Company, a fifth generation family meat packing company, will provide cold cuts, sausages and other delectables to complement the extensive selection of beers. The event will take place on July 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is $20 with proceeds benefitting The Four Arts King Library restoration project. More than 45 varieties of beer have been donated by Republic National Distributing Company, the second largest distributor of premium wine and spirits in the United States. Selections include: Black Art, Efes Pilsner, Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen, Full Sail, San Miguel lager, Sapporo, Spaten, Lucky Beer (Buddha Beer), Otro Mundo, Murphy’s Irish Stout, Affligem, Moretti Birra, Kingfisher Lager, Unibrew, Augustiner and many others. Food writer Roberta Sabban will be answering questions about the beers, as well as discussing their unique histories and flavor profiles. This is the third tasting that the King Library has held this summer, though the first to feature beer. Proceeds will go toward updating the library’s second floor with more attractive and environmentally friendly lighting and sound systems. Reservations to the event are strongly suggested and can be made by calling 561.655.2766 or e-mailing Kinglibrary@fourarts.org.

July 24th-Dogfish Head Beer Tasting, BX Beer Depot, 6pm-10pm
The first ten people through the door get a free tasting snifter. The lineup includes:
Palo Santo Marron-Unfiltered brown ale aged in Paraguayan wood barrels.
Midas Touch-Recipe from the tomb of King Midas.
Burton Baton-Oak aged English Stong Ale infused with 90 Minute IPA, oh my!
Chicory Stout-Mexican coffee, chicory and licorice infused in the creamy, roasty ale.
Indian Brown-A cross between a Scotch Ale and India Pale Ale, well hopped, yet malty.
Contact BX at 965-9494, http://www.bxbeerdepot.com/

July 25 Beer Trip North-Boca Raton Beer Lovers Meetup Group
This is what we beer nerds fondly refer to as a “pub crawl”. Check out the schedule below.

12:30pm Depart Case & Keg 1501 NW 2nd Ave, Boca Raton

2:00pm Arrive Vine & Barley
1680 SW St Lucie West Blvd
www.vineandbarley.com [masked]
50 beers, 24 on tap Mike Carbone, Owner

Corner Café & Brewery
289 N US 1, Tequesta
microbrewery www.cornercafeandbrewery.com [masked]
Lisa Hill, Owner Matt Webster, Brewer

Yard House
11707 Lake Victoria Garden, PBG
www.yardhouse.com [masked]
150 beers on tap

Funky Buddha
2601 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton
100 beers 10 beers on tap [masked]
Ryan Sentz, Owner

9:30pm Arrive Case & Keg

Time spent at each stop is 1 hour or more. We should be back no later than 9:30.

Bus cost only $30.00 per person. We need 30 people to make this work. Maximum is 40 people.
Pay in advance. Email Jonathan via meetup.com for reservation. Pay cash in advance at Case & Keg.
If we don’t get 30 people then we will refund you money, otherwise no refunds.
This will be pay as you go. You may drink and eat what you want at each stop.
Feel free to bring food with you for the bus ride.
WE’VE ADDED A PICK UP IN WEST PALM BEACH AT THE AIRPORT HILTON!

July 27th-Tryst, Delray Beach Shipyard Brewing Company Beer Dinner-
4 Courses, $40 dollars. The last dinner was really amazing, so don’t miss it if you’re schedule allows. Tickets are limited, so reserve your seat soon.
Via Facebook – Send message via facebook with name, number in party and contact phone number. To Reserve by phone call Tryst 561-921-0201.

August 1st-Western Executives’ First “SALAD DAYS”
A Delicious Experience of Healthy Eating and Celebrating a Greener Planet (and a little homebrewing as well)

The “Western Executives” is a social club for business owners primarily in the Western communities of Palm Beach County.

Troy Webster, the founder of the Western Executives saw an opportunity to help raise money for a local farm worker’s charity by organizing the first “SALAD DAYS” special event, to be held at the International Polo Club in Wellington, on Saturday, August 1st, 2009.

The event starts at 1:00 pm and ends at 6:00 pm. Tickets are $10.00 in advance (available online) or $15.00 at the door. Vendor applications can be emailed to westexec@earthlink.net.

Residents of the Western Communities are being called to participate and come together in order to support this meaningful fundraising event.

Webster says that the International Polo Club is a perfect place to showcase such a feast for the senses, and he feels that people will support the idea of helping farm worker’s kids with school supplies, while enjoying an afternoon of healthy food and entertainment.

Visitors may bring crayons, pencils, backpacks, calculators and other school supplies for chances to win fabulous prizes.

There will be plenty of food sampling, “Best Salad” competition, demonstration by the local home brewers club, business expo/fair, raffle and silent auction.

The Western Executives volunteer their time and do not get compensation as all profit goes directly to the Farmworker Council, a non-profit local charity.

For more information, call Ingrid at (561) 793 5509

On the web: http://www.westernexecutives.net/saladdays.htm

http://www.farmworkercouncil.org

http://www.internationalpoloclub.com

Well, as you can see, we’ve got a busy few weeks ahead of us. Hope to see you at some of these upcoming events. I’m the Beer Guy, Dan Oliver and I’ll see you at the next Watering Hole.

Dan Oliver, The Beer Guy

The reception began with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, long considered the gold standard of American Pale Ales, and a beer which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in November. While it certainly has been overshadowed in the past decade by mega-hopped and hyped IPA’s, Double IPA’s and such, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale remains hugely popular because it is still a terrific beer.

Enough ponificating, Beer Guy. Let’s get to the dinner already! Our host was Chef Ryan Launer of Tabica Grill and Sierra Nevada Rep Andrew Bradley.

1st Course: Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager with Pan Seared Scallop Medallions with Baby Arugula and Citrus Foam.

Summerfest is a real departure for Sierra Nevada and the only lager in their lineup. It matched perfectly with the scallops, which were lightly breaded and pan fried. All at our table agreed this pairing worked extremely well.

2nd Course: Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA with Cajun Seafood Gumbo with Beer Steamed Crawfish.

Now, a bit of history here. It took Sierra Nevada almost three decades to come up with an IPA. The reason? They couldn’t do it using all whole hops in the brewing process, and had to invent a “hop torpedo” that allowed them to do so.

As for the pairing, this one was a called shot home run by Chef Ryan, and it delivered. The gumbo was to die for my friends, and the Torpedo really stood up nicely to the spiciness of the dish.

3rd Course: Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale with Grilled Lamb T-Bone with Mint Cherry Chutney and Horseradish Smashed Redskins.

That’s a mouthfull isn’t it? Several actually. Both the beer and the food were special. The SNSHHFHA is brewed with freshly picked and dried hops from New Zealand, giving it an intensely hoppy bitterness, flavor and aroma. The lamb t-bone was cooked perfectly and was delicious with its accompaniments. The problem is, they did not go perfectly together. IMHO, the beer was too hoppy for the lamb, creating a collision and not a collusion of flavors. Something less hoppy with some caramel or roasted character would have worked better, perhaps Sierra’s ESB or Porter. But don’t get me wrong, I finished the 3rd Course with no problem at all.

4th Course: Sierra Nevada Hefe-Weizen with Individual Apple Meringue Pie with Cinnamon Ice Cream.

Another winner for Tabica. Sierra’s Bavarian style wheat beer, called Kellerweis, is one of the only American Hefes made using open fermentation, an old-school brewing technique. The yeast creates a slight sweetness in the flavor, which many tasters equate with banana, clove or even bubble gum. It was a perfect match with the sweet, tangy meringue and ice cream. Man, I was STUFFED!

Chef Ryan outdid himself once again. Tabica hosts regular beer and wine dinners and I urge you to experiance one for yourself. Go to Tabica’s website, www.tabicagrill.net for more information. (please note, tabicagrill.com is NOT the correct web address)

Cheers,

The Beer Guy

A benefit for our friends at the Palm Beach Zoo

What: Calling all animal lovers! Join us and relax under the starlit sky for a wonderful evening of food, beer & fine music with local musician, DJ Bert for a great organization. 100% of your donation will benefit Palm Beach Zoo, supporting their conservation mission through programs in field research, endangered species propagation, education, health & wellness, and conservation medicine.

Who: The Palm Beach Zoo is a non profit zoological organization located at Dreher Park in West Palm Beach. The Zoo houses over 1,700 animals within 23 acres of lush tropical habitat. Its mission is to provide an open-air classroom of living creatures to foster awareness, appreciation and respect for the natural world.

When: Friday, June 26
6pm to 9pm

Where: The Outdoor Café
Whole Foods Market, Palm Beach Gardens
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Drive
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Cost: $10 donation to the Palm Beach Zoo

For more information please visit our event listing.

Dogfish Head Black & Blue Belgian Ale

I attended a beer and food pairing dinner at Tryst in Delray Beach last night, and boy is my palate tired!

It was, in a word, ffffabulous.

The beers, four of them, were from Dogfish Head Brewery in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The food was prepared by Chef Julian Greaves, who chose to go with Dogfish Head beers because the brewery “pushes the envelope in so many different directions”. Very true.

We started with a little aperitif of Festina Peche, a BerlinerWeisse style beer which is characterized by intense tartness. It’s not for everybody and even this Beer Guy can only take it in small doses. While I would have liked to have seen a small bar bite paired with this, it nonetheless prepared our palates for the adventure to come.

The first course matched a blend of Dogfish Head 60 and 90 Minute IPA’s, dubbed “75″ IPA. The beer is aggressivley hopped, but has a slightly sweet malt body which gives it beautiful balance. It was paired with a spicey beef carpaccio, tarragon crostini, shaved parmesan, crumbled egg, red onion and micro greens with extra virgin olive oil. It was a first pitch home run. The spiciness of the carpaccio and beer blended beautifully. John Hatadis, general manager of BX Beer Depot in Lake Worth couldn’t see how Chef Julian was going to top this…but he did.

Oh, I should mention the other diners at our table, Julissa Caballero, Phuoi Trinh and her husband, Andrew Christie. Hailing from England, Andrew knows and loves his beer. And while Julissa and Phuoi are wine gals, both ended up being very surprised how much they liked the beers in this pairing.

Our second course had the Midas Touch. Dogfish’s Midas Touch ale is a recipe gleaned from 2700 year old drinking vessels from the actual tomb of the famous King. If the Dogfish rendition tastes anything like the original, believe me, it was “good to be the King”. A cross between mead (honey wine), wine and a light ale, this isn’t exactly beer, but is definitely delicious. Paired with local orange blossom honey roasted duck breast, almond wild rice & pomegranate syrup, the combination sings, literally. Yes, a chorus of angels actually belts out a tune with each bite and sip.

The third course left us all Black and Blue. Dogfish Black & Blue is a Belgian Golden Ale fermented with blackberries and blueberries. Chef Julian used some in preparing his house made “pop tart” w/mascarpone quenelle and blackberry port sauce. This time, the flavors contrasted, but in a good way. The beer was tart and refreshing, the pop tart was tart but also sweet and rich.

This is as good as it gets my fellow beer fans, and there will be more. To find out infor on upcoming beer dinners, check out the events page on www.trystdelray.com. You don’t have to wait for the next beer dinner though. Tryst has a great selection of draft and bottled beers and great food to go with them.

Cheers,

The Beer Guy

Here are his first-ever Beer Guy awards.

Best beer selection:
Yard House, Palm Beach Gardens.
No contest here. At 115 taps, Yard House is the Death Star of area beer bars/restaurants. Roxy’s on Clematis Street is a distant second with a more than respectable 64.

Best locally brewed beer:
Brewzzi, West Palm Beach and Boca Raton
Brewmaster Fran Andrewlevich has been perfecting his craft in Palm Beach County since 1994. And Matt Webster of the Corner Café and Brewery in Tequesta is “hopping to it” quite nicely in his first year as a pro mash man.

Best town for a WH Pub Crawl:
Delray Beach
Start at the Mellow Mushroom to sample from 50 draft micros, eat some pizza for a base, and work your way west. Be sure to check out Coffee District and Tryst for eclectic beer selection and Kevro’s Art Bar for something off the beaten path. You could end it at the next Best of WH.

Best ‘Haunt’:
Blue Anchor, Delray Beach.
Owner Lee Harrison told me with a straight face about seeing a woman specter with a white veil hanging out at the authentic British pub … she didn’t pay her tab either.

Best Irish pub:
So many, it’s too tough to call. Let’s break it down.

Best Irish humor:
McCarthy’s Restaurant and Pub, Tequesta
Co-owner Brendan Grace is a professional comedian and a living legend in the Emerald Isle. His career took off after making Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Liza Minnelli laugh till they cried. After that, the rest of us are puddy in his hands.

Best Irish waiter:
Paddy Mac’s, Palm Beach Gardens
The regulars love Ciaran Walsh, the “Lord Mayor” of the dining room. Owner Ken Wade loves all of his staff, some of whom have been with him for over 30 years.

Best Irish Pub to watch the Steelers win the Super Bowl:
Rooney’s Public House, Abacoa
“You actually feel like you’re at the game” said regular “The Robster,” who brought along his trumpet. And the Harp and Guinness match the Steeler’s team colors of black, gold, and white (the head).

Best ‘in the sticks’ English pub:
Queen Mary British Pub, Jupiter Farms
Authentic as they come and worth the effort to get there. Great food from executive Chef Von Anker and fun Beatles and Rod Stewart tribute acts.

Best WH to find your center:
The Soma Center, Lake Worth
Free (donation only) yoga classes followed by organic microbrewed beer may lead you into a state of nirvana.

Best WH to smoke shisha in a hookah:
The Funky Buddha, Boca Raton
Not what you may be thinking — it’s tobacco. This den of zen also has outstanding craft beer on tap and in the bottle.

Best road sign:
Harry’s Banana Farm, Lake Worth
Harry’s is famous for this, and changes the message regularly. As we approached on the day of our video shoot, it read “The Palm Beach Post Beer Guy slept here.” Also coined the popular “Lake Worth, batteries not included” zinger.

Best-humored owners (tie):
Harry MacArthur, Harry and the Natives, Hobe Sound; Harry Seifert Jr., Harry’s Banana Farm, Lake Worth
Both Harrys will make you laugh, but in different ways. MacArthur of the Natives is quirky and self-deprecating, while Seifert Jr. is self-deprecating and wields an acerbic wit.

Best waterfront seafood:
Tiki Waterfront Sea Grill, Riviera Beach
Located dockside at the city marina just across the water from Peanut Island. A scenic spot with inspired seafood creations.

Best western community seafood:
JoJo’s Raw Bar, Wellington
Not a place one might expect to find the freshest bounty of the sea, but it’s all there, along with some really nice micro’s as well.

Best Maryland style crab cakes (tie):
Kirby’s Bar and Grill, Juno Beach, and the Old Key Lime House, Lantana
Look, I don’t want to get in the middle of this thing. These people are very serious about their crab cakes, man! Fanatical even! Criticize at your own risk!

Best-looking bartender:
Jamie Ciscle, Kirby’s Bar and Grill, Juno Beach
Just ask for “Fittle,” but don’t get fresh. She doubles as a bouncer. Christine and Sam at Corners are easy on the eyes as well. Karlee at Swamp Grass Willy’s is fun and can sing too, and … I need to do more research, obviously.

Best wings:
Too close to call
I would have put Chez Porky’s in the top spot, but the Wellington site closed its doors recently. You’ll have to visit the Pompano Beach location. Hurricane Grill and Wings (Royal Palm Beach), Swamp Grass Willy’s (Palm Beach Gardens), Beef O’Brady’s (Royal Palm Beach), The Brass Ring (North Palm Beach) and Bru’s Room (Boynton Beach) serve up very good birds as well.

Best burgers and coldest beer:
The Brass Ring, North Palm Beach and Royal Palm Beach
Yes, there are challengers to the throne, including Roxy’s and the new Grease Burger Bar (for the burgers), but nobody has made them better longer than TBR, IMHO. And you also get a new frosty replacement mug for your beer every few minutes.

Best authentic German beer and food:
Little Munich, Lake Worth
Owners Gabby and Peter Kachler create wunderbar homemade German dishes to go with the Spaten, Warsteiner, Bitburger, und more.

Best sports bar:
Bru’s Room, Boynton Beach
It didn’t win our contest but won our hearts. Pretty much everything you need in a sports pub; good wings, cold beer and lots of big TV monitors in several viewing areas of varying rowdiness.

Best sports bar that’s not really a sports bar:
Bogey’s and Stogey’s, Port St. Lucie
It won our online contest a while back. Sports Goddess Tami Tolley and I had a great time smoking cigars and ignoring the playoff game while getting to know the regulars.

Best live music:
Swamp Grass Willy’s, Palm Beach Gardens
Not a Carolina BBQ joint anymore. They even have a recording studio inside the bar. And the live stage really rocks at night. Sadly, the terrific Bamboo Room in Lake Worth is no more.

WH to blow off steam:
The Brass Monkey, Lake Worth
Feeling some lingering anger? Try an “Irish Car Bomb” shot and then wail away on the “knockout” game. You’ll feel better and it’ll cost you a lot less than the alternative. Just be careful not to hurt your hand like someone I know.

Dan Oliver is a member of the Palm Beach Draughtsmen Home-brewing club. He can be contacted at doliver@pbpost.com.

THIS WEEK: The Beer Guy visits Tappers Oar House in Palm Springs