Today, Sam Calagione tells
New Times, he's especially thankful to be launching his latest endeavor with the opening of the Miami brewpub after more than a year since the globally recognized brand announced it would be taking over the Concrete Beach Brewing space in the heart of Wynwood.
"We began brainstorming our brewing and menu concepts and the area's potential for local partnerships back in 2020," Calagione says. "We did our best to roll with the punches through the pandemic and make lemonade — or beer — out of the lemons — or starfruit — thrown our way."
Calagione's lemons-to-starfruit comparison is a nod to one of his favorite new brews, the Star Pucker, a sour IPA infused with locally grown fruit sourced by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences. The beer, made especially for Miami, is a perfect example of the brewery's growing partnerships with a number of local businesses and other organizations throughout the Miami community. For every pint of Star Pucker sold at the taproom, 25 cents will be donated back to the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agriculture Sciences (up to $5,000) to support their efforts.