Best Beer Selection

There are a handful of places in Broward and Palm Beach counties that offer 100 or more different brews. And there's nothing wrong with that. We'd give them all commendations for bravery in the service of beer if we could. However, one small, independent brewery that's sat in suburbia unnoticed for 10 years deserves the highest honors: Big Bear Brewing Company. The upscale brewpub does not have a large selection. They don't stock rare English imports, indie microbrews, or even Budweiser. What they do have is eight masterfully crafted beers made in-house, in the large silver kettles that decorate the restaurant. Brewmaster Matt Cox is the wizard behind the cauldrons: He imports Belgian malts for Big Bear's award-winning Kodiak Dubbel, sources fresh cascade hops for their Hibernation Pale Ale, and brews seasonal fruit ales, porters, and stouts with adoration and care that more than makes up for the drive to the far reaches of Broward — especially when they have Bourbon Double Barrel IPA on tap, perhaps the best beer ever crafted in Florida.