GOLD COAST, FLORIDA
Located near the famous Town Center Mall in a freestanding tan building with brick foundation and tropical veranda, Boca Raton’s BREWZZI ITALIAN AMERICAN BISTRO is the original of two same-named brewpubs (visited January ’08). Established around ’99, its exquisite cherry-stained wood interior features barrel-bolted ceiling design (symbolizing the beer kegs), square center bar fronting glass-encased brew tanks, right hand booths, and open hearth.
Had delicious lunchtime Brewers Ranch Salad as wife and high school pal, Jerry Granato (who drank three Beck’s Non-Alcoholic beers in 10 minutes), joined me following short beach-pool stint. Woody grapefruit-soured juniper-embittered American Amber Ale had off-putting skunked waft, cardboard-y center, and corn-oiled finish, but better blueberry-lacquered Tropical Madness had sweetly candied peach-pineapple-mango cache sidling grainy Boca Blonde Lager base.
Best bet: brown chocolate-fronted, cedar-burnt, prune-stewed, cherry-pureed, bourbon-nipped, crème brulee-dabbed Imperial Porter.
