A new brew pub, simply named Organic Brewery, has opened its doors in what might be considered a relatively daring and clever location – the oceanfront “Broadwalk” at Hollywood beach. With spectacular views and strong foot traffic, the 2.5 miles of beachfront offers t-shirt and souvenir shopping galore, as well as more than enough bars serving fizzy, yellow macro-brews, but nothing to please the craft beer lover’s palate. This fact alone should be enough to draw some attention to the upstart brewery, but they’ll need to impress patrons with their beer to keep them coming back.
Unfortunately, the four beers that the brewery currently offers (Rice Ale, “Beach” Wheat, Pilsner, and Stout) lack the flavor and originality to attract any seasoned beer lovers. A cursory glance at the menu also reveals the absence of any information about the beer, a definite detraction for brewing enthusiasts. Not only are there no flavor descriptions, there’s no mention of IBU’s, ABV, or even ingredients, with the exception of the “Rice Ale,” which is assumed to contain rice. Asking a server or bartender for the beer stats is futile since it appears that they don't have much much knowledge about the brewing process.
All of the beers at Organic Brewery are dispensed using nitrogen, a perplexing decision since the pouring process becomes achingly drawn-out and irritating to the drinker. Head abounds, but the lack of carbonation makes the lighter beers seem watery and lifeless. Occasional drinkers and tourists who have time to wait for their beer to settle, however, are sure to be pleased with the wheat beer and the pilsner, which both seem to be skillfully brewed. The wheat has a slight citrusy character, like a Belgian Wit, and the Pilsner teases the palate with a hint of noble hops. The Stout, which boasts a nice, smooth roasted character, is sadly not dry enough to be used in a black-and-tan, and actually tastes a bit more like a brown porter than its namesake.
The good news is that there are still four empty taps behind the bar that will hopefully soon be filled with more artful brews to please discerning patrons. For now, Hollywood’s newest brew pub will have to sustain itself on the curiosity of passerby and the allure of its eclectic edible fare, even though availability of menu items seems to be spotty at best. For Boca brewers and craft beer enthusiasts, the drive south may not be justified as of yet, but Hollywood’s Organic Brewery does have potential and deserves a future review when more beers become available.
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