Ryan F.
Yelp
Checked out Bousa Brewing on Saturday evening. Did not order any food, but utilized Samplers to try out each of the eleven beers they had on tap.
Quality
Bousa Brewing is a newer brewery to the Miami scene, and one that has not garnered enough attention. That is a huge mistake, because they have an impressive selection of tasty beers and a very cool vibe. The day we visited they had on tap a Tripel, IPA, Hazy IPA, American Wheat, Citrus Belgian, Guava Ale, Bitter, Amber, Stout, Marzen Lager, and Quad. Not content with a single style they clearly are playing with them all. My favorite by far was the Bitter, it had a strong taste, but was not as hoppy as I expected. The Stout was also excellent and has me rethinking my aversion to the heavier style. I was also happy with the Guava Ale, which I was worried would be too much on the end of a gose, but it was very well balanced. The only beer I did not care for was the American Wheat, and since I am never big on wheat beers, that was hardly a surprise. Up and down the menu has something for everyone to enjoy, well everyone except folks that enjoy funky names with their beer. Everything is simply the style of beer, which seems to be the idea behind simply good beer.
Quantity
We ordered three Samplers of beer to try each flavor, and ended up with the Stout twice. The flights provide four good sized pours to get a chance to enjoy the different flavors and pick favorites.
Value
The Samplers were $12, which is in line with what I would expect at most breweries. A draft of beer fell between $6 and $9 depending on the selection.
Ambiance
Bousa Brewing is located in North Miami in the Little River area. It is in a warehouse complex near the train tracks. It is not the easiest place to find, but once you get close they do have some signs up. The space is very large with two main rooms for guests. When you enter they have a bar with the different taps right in front of you. A long list of beer is on one wall and two televisions on the other wall. I will say they need a few print out menus because I struggled to follow the beers on the board. In the same room as the bar they had rows of high tops as well as some couches at the back. A television hung on the wall in this area as well as some decorations. The decor is very sleek and modern, almost making you forget it is warehouse space. Next to this they have additional area in the same room as much of the equipment. They had a ping pong table set up, that was in use most of our visit, as well as some other games. This room is bright, white, and warm, probably a bit too warm. This work space slash game room seemed like a good place for large groups to congregate. They had music playing in the background, a mix of classic and modern rock. The vibes were very good.
Crowd
There were a few other small groups hanging out and enjoying some beer. Plenty of board games were available and many people seemed to take advantage. It was a younger crowd and one with plenty of folks from the nearby area. Much like Wynwood you can feel this area rapidly changing.
Service
The bartender was very friendly and was excited to see us trying all the different styles. She was also adamant that we would need to come back soon as they were working on several new flavors. At this one of the brewers mentioned a barley wine he believed would soon be a crowd favorite.
Parking
On the weekend plenty of spaces could be found along a one way road by the warehouse. It is a bit awkward, especially since the road was blocked at the end, but not overly problematic.
Extra
I believe a successful brewery above all else needs a large selection of beers, and Bousa Brewing definitely has that going for it. The fact that they had a bunch more in the works shows the passion they have for the craft. The space is cool and the staff is very friendly. Its a bit disappointing they do not have an outdoor space, but they were dog friendly indoors which is a huge plus, as is the fact they have televisions for sports fans. For beer lovers in South Florida Bousa is a must visit spot.