As part of our latest trip back to the U.S., we spent a couple weeks in Florida, where we stopped one day at Total Wine, a megastore for all varieties of alcohol.
We’re home brewers, and we enjoy trying out craft beers. Total Wine has rows and rows of beer offerings, and you can mix and match brews. We concentrated on Florida beers to spotlight the local scene.
I’d like to highlight my two favorites from the bunch: Diver Down Imperial Red Ale and Funky Buddha Void Shaker Barrel-Aged Stout. The red ale’s flavor profile is rich and creamy and heavy with caramel. The stout, a limited series, is bold with heavy chocolate, coffee and vanilla notes.
I love craft beers with high ABV (alcohol by volume, measured as a percentage), and these two do not disappoint. Diver Down’s Imperial Red Ale weighs in at 8% ABV, and Funky Buddha’s Void Shaker Stout weighs in at 11%. Excellent for sipping as the day comes to a pleasurable close at beer o’clock.
By the way, you’ll notice a French press in the background of the Funky Buddha photo. Click here to read why you should pack one when you travel.
If you’re still looking for holiday gifts, check out products featuring my hand-drawn art here.
ATB 