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Breweries are the one of the main things that me and my partner always research when we travel somewhere new. I’m a lover of citrusy IPAs and sours while he loves hoppy ales and creamy porters, so trust me when I say this guide has something to cover your tastes - because each one had to cover both of ours! My partner is also from the Ft Lauderdale area so we had a head start of some of his old favourites.
Breweries are a friendly and welcoming place wherever you go so I hope this guide helps you out if you’re in the area for some craft beers and maybe some good food too!
Wynwood Brewing Company
Wynwood Brewing Company was one we stopped at for a quick drink after visiting Wynwood Walls. Located on NW 24th St this is a couple of blocks walk from the Walls and it’s a such a lovely, cosy space with people drinking craft beers, coffee or playing boardgames. It’s also very reasonably priced and they had some great happy hour deals Monday-Friday and community events and gatherings. I had their current porter on tap and loved it!
J Wakefield Brewing
J Wakefield Brewing is a lot closer to Wynwood Walls and a little pricier but I loved the atmosphere here with the large front windows and doors open and the outdoor seating at the front. It was very much warehouse chic. They have flagship beers but also a great range of special or seasonal releases, including some great sours. I also loved the Made in Dade glasses and banging beer mats!
Also just down the road is Salty Donut, take my word for it and just head over there for a donut, they are incredible!
M.I.A Beer Company
This is maybe not one for those looking for a small local brewery vibe, I would say M.I.A Beer Company is more of a sports bar brewery vibe but with a huge selection of beers plus they have a tasting room. They have 54 beers on draft making it the biggest in South Florida and the food is awesome, anything from burgers and tacos to giant german pretzels or empanadas.
KUSH - not technically brewery
Okay so this isn’t technically a brewery but KUSH have lots of local beers on tap including ones from the breweries I’ve named above. We were recommended this place by a Miami local and it really is a local hang out, tucked away down a random road. We went for dinner because we were told the burgers were amazing and we were told correctly! The dishes are big and reasonably priced and they have great vegetarian options too plus key lime pie if you’re in the mood!
Funky Buddha
Funky Buddha is a little out of the Ft Lauderdale area up in Oakland Park but it’s worth the trip! This is a huge craft brewery with great food and a massive games area too. This place had a really great atmosphere on a weekend and is obviously very popular with groups as the space is so big. I sampled several sours and IPAs, the staff were super helpful and friendly too.
LauderAle Brewery
Maybe I was just super tired and jetlagged but I absolutely loved LauderAle Brewery! I went straight here from the airport (a tradition of mine and Taylor’s, my partner) and i love the chilled out vibe and location in an industrial area with outdoor seating, a food van, large open doors and garden trellis. There were families there and the staff were so lovely too, definitely a favourite of mine and I know Taylor loves this one too (he even has the t-shirt). I believe I had a sour here or definitely a very citrusy ale (as per my usual choices). They have regular special releases and are really well priced too.
Other breweries I tried and loved in South Florida:
Bone Hook Brewing - Naples
Naples Beach Brewery - Naples
Have you tried any of these? Let me know if you do!
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Flights: I use Expedia to find great flights and the best deals all over the world, they have regular sales and offers so I always check their website. I also check CheapOair to find cheap deals on round trip flights.
Car Rental: I love the customer service I've always gotten and the variety of options with Rental Cars. But for short notice rentals, I've been using Expedia for the last year, they always seem to have great one-day rates or last-minute rates from the main rental companies.
Accommodation: I prefer the flexibility of booking accommodation with Booking.com so I can cancel or change my reservation without a fee or only pay on arrival for most properties. For longer or more unique stays I prefer AirBnB because you can get the long stay discount, you can also find more unique properties and book experiences with talented locals and businesses. For my budget trips, I always stay in hostels and book through Hostelworld because they have great guarantees if anything does go wrong. If you arrive and your booking is not at the property, they refund the full deposit AND give you $50 extra credit.
Tours and organised trips Although I don’t use tours that often, I do like to book local experiences or day trips once I reach my destination. For that I use GetYourGuide because it has the biggest selection and variety of tour and experience options.
Travel Insurance: For all my longer trips and for the entire year I’ve spent in Australia, my partner and I have always used World Nomads. They cover everything I need and I can buy coverage for a year at a time, they also allow you to purchase cover when you’re already outside your home country. Plus my camera gear and equipment is covered and they also have special cover for when I’m scuba diving too.
My camera gear and equipment: I use a Canon 77D with an 18-135mm lens or a 50mm lens. And a DJI Mavic Mini Drone. For all my gear including laptops, tripods and more camera accessories read my travel photography gear guide.
