COASTAL KARMA BREWING - BREWERY NUMBER 1
The first brewery that I visited this year is:
COASTAL KARMA BREWING
796 10th Street, Suite 798
Lake Park, FL 33403
561/2491491
January 3, 2023
For my review, and for rankings, the scale is: (1) beer quality (taste) (1-20); (2) beer quantity (number available) (1-10); (3) beer varietals (differing types) (1-10); (4) atmosphere (look, feel and vibe) (1-20); (5) service (self-explanatory - hopefully) (1-20); and (6) miscellaneous (personal preference) (1-20). This will give me a 100 point scale to reference, and I will keep a running ranking of each of the breweries throughout the year.
This is the closest brewery to my house, so I have have frequented it farily often since it opened just prior to the Covid restrictions being implemented in March 2020, and yes, it has still survived. You enter through a normal, everyday front door, but the entire front of the restaurant is a glass window so you can see into the wide open space that is this brewery. A mix of chairs and couches with tables in the front 1/3, with a stage on the left for bands. A long bar awaits on the right, with a wide open space behind it with two swings, and when the swings are not in use, cornhole is set up. Charley the owner is very active, and although he has said that he just wanted to brew beer and not be a venue, he has done a pretty good job in hiring known local bands, running a cornhole league, and even having a trivia night. Here is a look at the inside of the establishment.
For my review, and for rankings, the scale is: (1) beer quality (taste) (1-20); (2) beer quantity (number available) (1-10); (3) beer varietals (differing types) (1-10); (4) atmosphere (look, feel and vibe) (1-20); (5) service (self-explanatory - hopefully) (1-20); and (6) miscellaneous (personal preference) (1-20). This will give me a 100 point scale to reference, and I will keep a running ranking of each of the breweries throughout the year.
Coastal Karma brews a variety of beers, but the problem is whether they have a full assortment for sale on any given evening. I can attest to the several IPAs sold, including a great grapefruit IPA and a double IPA, as well as many varietals of sours. However, on this particular day the options were limited. Coastal Karma did have guest taps to make up for the deficiency, so I was not at a loss for beer, but it just hurts this review for this one occasion. My choices for this evening were Hop Commander, a double IPA from Captain Lawrence Brewing in Elmsford, NY, and a Better Than Never Hazy IPA from Deviant Wolfe Brewing in Sanford, Florida. You can see my thoughts on these two breweries in this previous beer entry.
Service was great - as usual - with Dylan behind the bar as he always is on Tuesday evenings, and Fridays. (At least I think Fridays, it could be Saturdays. It is definitely Tuesday evenings and one weekend night.)
And, if a Miami college anything is on the television, you pay happy hour prices so long as you are wearing Miami gear (Go CANES!)
RATINGS
BEER QUALITY - TASTE (1-20)
I know usually what I expect, so I am going to have to rate it on that, rather than just this visit. I will give it a solid THIRTEEN (13/20).
RATINGS
BEER QUALITY - TASTE (1-20)
I know usually what I expect, so I am going to have to rate it on that, rather than just this visit. I will give it a solid THIRTEEN (13/20).
BEER QUANTITY - NUMBER AVAILABLE (1-10)
Again, this rating is based upon an ordinary evening, as I did go just after New Year's, so I will say FIVE (5/10).
BEER VARIETALS - NUMBER OF TYPES AVAILABLE (1-10)
They do have a number of different types, for sure, even when running at a limited inventory; sours, IPAs, stouts, sessions. Good choices from that perspective EIGHT (8/10).
ATMOSPHERE (1-20)
A great atmosphere, where kids and animals are welcome - including the house cat that lives on property. The swings are something that you don't just see in a regular brewery. You can see the swings hanging from the rafter in the right side of the picture above. I will say EIGHTEEN (18/20).
A great atmosphere, where kids and animals are welcome - including the house cat that lives on property. The swings are something that you don't just see in a regular brewery. You can see the swings hanging from the rafter in the right side of the picture above. I will say EIGHTEEN (18/20).
SERVICE (1-20)
Dylan is great. Always attentive, yet also always converses with all the customers as well. And, if Coastal Karma is out of a beer he believes you might like, he tells you ahead of time, not after you order so you cannot be disappointed with that. He is a great bartender, even though he has a first job in his chosen profession. TWENTY (20/20).
MISCELLANEOUS (1-20)
Trivia has slipped a bit, but not because of the way it is run, just simply because a number of the normal players haven't been playing in a while. Bands are usually really good, and anniversary parties and release parties are always a good time. Charley is a very present owner, who mingles with the crowd and makes sure everyone enjoys themselves. TWENTY (20/20).
OVERALL (100)
Doing simple mathematics, Coastal Karma rates 84 (out of 100). This places it first (to date) in my rankings.
RANKINGS
1. Coastal Karma Brewing - Lake Park, FL - 84
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