Daily Loaf

Since I’ve been all over Cigar City Brewing’s happenings over the past few weeks, it seemed appropriate to broaden my local beer love and highlight another hometown superstar in the tiny Scottish heritage town of Dunedin.

With almost 13 years of local beer-making under their kilt, Dunedin Brewery consistently crafts award winning gems. In 2003, one of their flagship brews, Pipers Pale Ale, took top honors as the most stylistically perfect brew commercially produced in Florida at the Best Florida Beer Championships. At the 2009 BFBC, brewers Norman Dixon and Trace Caley did their thing, winning awards for the brewery like it was their job. Redhead American Red Ale was named the top beer in its category, with second place nods going to Pipers Pale Ale, Beach Tale Brown Ale, Nitro Stout, Brewmaster’s Reserve Rye Pale Ale, Brewmaster’s Reserve Belgian Tripel, Brewmaster’s Reserve Barleywine, and the seasonal Biere de Café.

Biere de Café is essentially the perennial Beach Tale Brown Ale cold-infused with whole cocoa nibs and coffee, a blend and roast created specifically for Dunedin Brewery by Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company.

The reddish milk chocolate-brown brew supports a healthy looking crown of tan head decorated with tiny black particulate. From the pint glass, this transparent 5.3% ABV beer projects aromas of nutty malt and strong coffee.

Before partaking in Biere de Café, allow the brew to sit for about five minutes and warm a little. Around 60 degrees is ideal; at that temperature, the beer opens up and becomes more assertive, allowing full appreciation of its well balanced complexity. Up front, the flavor is all coffee with a chocolaty sweetness coming out in the finish. An element of caramelized roast is present throughout, balanced by the slightest coffee bitterness — 41 IBU (international bitterness units). Mouthfeel is on the lighter side, but the brew is not thin by any means, since it’s packed with such robust flavor intensity. Biere de Café also mixes with the Nitro Stout like heaven, transforming into a slick and rich, coffee-spiked, adult chocolate milk.

I have always enjoyed this beer. It’s a remarkably flavorful, lighter alternative to the widely available coffee porters and stouts. If this sounds like your cup of drink, you’ll have to make a trip out to Dunedin; Biere de Café is only available at the brewery. Also available among the 12 or so other taps – Redhead Red Ale, Pipers Pale Ale, Beach Tale Brown Ale, Celtic Gold, Lowland Wheat, Apricot Wheat, Razz Wheat, Nitro Stout, Brewmaster’s Reserve Rye Ale, and Summer Buzz, a seasonal, Belgian style brew made with local honey. Current guest beers are Bell’s Expedition Russian Imperial Stout, Harpoon Cider, and Abita Turbo Dog, an English style brown ale.

Since all draught beer is brewed and kegged on site, doors are closed to the public on Mondays. With less than 1,000 barrels per year, this is truly authentic, fresh, local craft beer. Growler sales are coming soon, with to-go fills for quart and gallon sized containers.

In addition to great beer, the brewery’s kitchen serves snacks, sandwiches, wraps, and ridiculously yummy fish tacos until 10 p.m., and there’s live music every night. As if supporting local beer has to have satisfying and entertaining secondary incentives. 937 Douglas Ave, Dunedin 34698

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