Craft beer is something worth drinking any day of the week, but more so at an event like VeritageMiami. This culinary undertaking, helmed by the exceptional minds at City National Bank and United Way, is a collection of various events held throughout a week span in efforts to strengthen the community. VeritageMiami has raised more than $11 million for the community, with all proceeds of the event going to support United Way of Miami Dade’s work in education, financial stability and health.
This past Wednesday saw the Craft Beer tasting installment of the much-anticipated week. Hosted at the Wynwood Walls, more than 1000 beer aficionados attended with expectations high and beer glasses ready. The sold-out event allowed everyone to tap into more than 120 craft beers and micro-brews by breweries far and wide. Of course, being in Miami, all of South Florida’s local breweries represented strongly and showcased our ever-growing fascination when it comes to the craft beer industry. Favorites like Wynwood Brewing, Cigar City, MIA, Biscayne Brewing, and Gravity Brewlab stood out as being the most frequented tables, confirming just how far the beer seen in Florida has come in the past few years.
Beer alone does not a party make, so as expected, VeritageMiami was able to gather some of the city’s most regarded culinary talent to accompany the libations with proper bites. Wynwood Kitchen and Bar’s Miguel Aguilar served his popular Chicken Ropa Vieja Empanadas, a succulent and flavorful bite that may be considered the best empanada in Miami; Quality Meats handed out House Cured Slab Bacon with crunchy Peanut Butter and Jalapeno Jelly; and Shake Shack offered each person a full sized Shack Burger. Although everything was just as good as the last and next thing we tried, I would have to put my money on Oak Tavern if being pressed to choose the best dish of the night. It’s hard to compete with a restaurant serving unctuous and fatty bone marrow, plated alongside esquites (corn), queso fresco, and chili. The flavors played off each other harmoniously, with the richness of the bone marrow being restrained by the popping freshness of corn and chili.
Although the culinary aspect of the event was spectacular, we have to take the time and appreciate VeriatgeMiami’s events for what they truly are; an opportunity to raise funds to aid in the betterment of out beloved city. That alone makes VeritageMiami worth going to, although we won’t complain about the spectacular food and drinks it has to offer as well.
