Style File: Beer Joints

WSVN - Oktoberfest may be wrapping up around the world, but beer drinking is just getting started here in the magic city,

Roy Mauder: "Isn't this what America is all about, having a beer in your hand, and having a good time."

At the DRB, which stands for the Democratic Republic of Beer, you'll walk into a world of unique brews.

Sean Gautier: "We don't have customers, we have citizens."

This cozy downtown bar has the largest selection of beers in Miami, and what looks like a beer bible with about 14 pages of suds from more than sixty other nations.

Sean Gautier: "As of right now we're just over 500 beers. Our menu is constantly changing. We reprint it two or three times a week."

Pamela Wilson: "There's nothing like this in South Florida. This place has the most beers that I've seen anywhere. Like here you can get beer from Ethiopia, I mean some crazy places."

But, when we asked how they stored hundreds of beers in such a small space, we were told it's top secret.

Sean Gautier, Manager, The DRB: "It's all behind the mysterious curtain, and that's where it's kept cold. No one goes behind the curtain. It's got a lot to do with smoke and mirrors and ninjas and they're all just running around like crazy."

AJ, Customer: "All I know is it comes to me and that's all that matters."

Something else cool the DRB offers, a passport program, where you can track all of the beers you've tried online and earn rewards.

AJ Alvero: "Every time I come here I try something different, from a new country usually too. I'm having a Sneiderhouse beer, it's from Bulgaria."

There's also a secret hide-away for true beer lovers. Tucked behind an art deco hotel on Harding Avenue in Miami Beach is Lou's Beer Garden.

Lou Ramirez, Owner, Lou's Beer Garden: "It is the only place where you can come and find true American microbrews, from a Mabach to a Belgium-style IPA to a seasonal Pumpkin Ale."

You'll usually find about a dozen seasonal beers on tap and eight to 10 bottled beers. Lou even recruits locals to be part of his tasting panel to help select the beers.

Kevin Murphy: "He's carrying a variety that a lot of bars don't have and we appreciate that. Lou listens to us 'cause we are quite a bit into the beer and he'll try to get different brands that we like."

Roy Mauder: "This is actually a beer from my home town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is Oktoberfest, it's a good taste of home."

There's also a wide variety of beers for the ladies here.

Jennifer Becker: "I'm typically not a beer drinker, but I love the selection they have here. I love the Apricot beer, they have a cider beer."

And just like wine pairings, the grub here is designed to go along with the beer.

Lou: "We offer you serious beer, but we offer serious food. Every time you take a bite of food and sip of beer it should marry together."

The outdoor atmosphere is charming and there's even a pool to enjoy.

Guy in the pool: "I like to have a couple of beers, get something to eat, jump in the pool then walk home."

So all you lovers of suds have some new watering holes, cheers!

The DRB also has a great menu that's set up globally, so you can match your eats with your beer.

FOR MORE INFO:

The DRB
255 Northeast 14th Street
Miami, FL 33132-1620
(305) 372-4161

Lou's Beer Garden
7337 Harding ave
Miami Beach, FL 33141
(305) 704-7879