▼ Café Scaling Down M.I.A. Beer Company ceases Florida distribution; launches new taproom experience. BY NICOLE DANNA M .I.A. Beer Company has a big announcement: Beginning June 1, Miami’s oldest inde- pendent brewery will no lon- ger distribute its products in the state of Florida. In a statement released on behalf of M.I.A. Beer, founder and co-owner Eddie Leon shared the details. “It’s with a heavy heart we inform you we will no longer be distributing M.I.A. beers in the state of Florida effective June 1,” Leon stated. “Unfortunately, the struggle of distrib- uting our beer to you in Florida as a small in- dependent craft brewery is no longer sustainable. Our efforts and resources are better spent here at M.I.A. and hopefully fu- ture taprooms.” Leon opened his Doral taproom in 2015, shortly after he began distributing his first home-brew, Miami Weiss, on draft in 2014. While sales were strong initially, distribution and profits have continued to drop over the past several years. “We’ve come to a conclusion that it no lon- ger makes sense for us to distribute in the state of Florida,” Leon said. While distribution sales have suffered, the taproom has continued to flourish. As a re- sult, Leon says, he and his 24-person team will focus on expanding M.I.A.’s taproom ex- perience. Customers can still purchase M.I.A. beer at the brewery alongside to-go crowlers and cans of brands currently in distribution, in- cluding Mega Mix pale ale, the Tourist Trappe Belgian-style tripel, and Neon IPA. But as of next month, M.I.A. products will no longer be for sale at local retailers or restaurants. “We have always been about fun and ex- perimentation and want to dive even deeper into our liquid art form. The heart of our company has been centered around our tap- room and the crazy amount of taps — 54 to be exact — that we strive to fill with unique beer styles and beverages,” Leon tells New Times. “We’re looking to make it more of a lounge experience. Our goal is to have more options, and we’ll probably be the first brewery to of- fer bottle service.” This year, Leon and his partners will also launch M.I.A. Spirits as part of the brewery’s 10,500-square-foot Doral production facility and 2,300-square-foot taproom. Once opera- tional, the taproom will sell bottles and serve cocktails made with M.I.A. Spirits. “We recently received our distillery license and are now venturing into a whole new chap- ter that will hopefully bring new things for you to be even more excited about,” he adds. “I’ve always been about experimentation. We have our winery license, and adding spirits just opens up a whole new range of what we can produce and provide here at the taproom.” Moving forward, distilling operations will expand to a new location yet to be an- nounced. And though no concrete plans are in place, Leon hopes to expand M.I.A.’s pres- ence with additional taprooms in cities throughout Florida. Photo by Julia Rose The taproom at M.I.A. Beer Company “Through the years, we’ve grown and evolved as a company, and our industry has also evolved. We love to share the experience of drinking our beer and feel so much pride and gratitude when we see our beers on store shelves and restaurant menus. Thanks to all of our retail partners for your many years of dedicated support,” sums up Leon. “We ap- preciate everyone’s understanding and hope to see you soon at an M.I.A. taproom.” M.I.A. Beer Company.10400 NW 33rd St., Ste. 150, Doral; 786-801-1721; mia.beer. In a Pinch After three years, Pincho is still reminding people it’s not a factory. BY LAINE DOSS that their backyard barbecues were so good that they should open a restaurant. So the trio opened a place in Westchester M and named it Pincho Factory. The name was a nod to the kebabs — known as “pinchos” — it served, but it was the insane burger creations that tapped into Miami’s culinary zeitgeist: Burg- ers that used tostones as buns and guava in the ketchup became so popular that the solitary store steadily grew into a South Florida chain ore than a decade ago, Nedal Ahmad and his cousins Otto Oth- man and Nizar Ahmad decided that now boasts ten locations. The restaurant was growing, but there was one problem, according to Othman: “Some peo- ple — especially non-Hispanic people who weren’t aware what a pincho is — thought we were an actual factory. In 2019, less than a decade into their en- deavor, Othman took a gamble with the chain’s hard-won name recognition and shortened the name to “Pincho.” The company had planned a complete re- branding, including changing the signage on all locations. Then the pandemic descended. “When COVID happened, we couldn’t spend $150,000 to change signs, so we kept it,” Othman says. The restaurateur views it as a compliment that loyal fans are true to the original moniker, akin to Miami Dolphins fans persistently referring to the team’s stadium as Joe Robbie. Othman admits it’s hard to change a name “WE HAVE ASPIRATIONS TO EXPAND GLOBALLY, AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE.” but insists it makes sense. “We have aspirations to expand globally, and we need people to un- derstand who we are,” he explains, adding that delaying the signage change has caused confusion. But with plans to open locations in Texas, Orlando, and Tampa, he says, “It’s time people start call- ing us Pincho.” It’s been nearly three years in the mak- ing, but Pincho is now ready to embrace its truncated moniker. Last week, its flagship Westchester location hosted the first leg of its “Drop the Factory” tour, in which each Pincho in turn will celebrate the signage changeover with specials and freebies. Othman says the original sign will be trans- ferred to a prominent place inside the Westches- ter store as a homage to the past. “The Bird Road location is the OG restaurant,” he says. “We have to remember our roots.” In the coming weeks, other Pincho locations will follow suit, changing their signage and host- ing “Drop the Factory” parties. And for those who insist on calling their be- loved, locally grown burger joint Pincho Factory after all these years, Othman’s fine with that. “If you still want to call us Pincho Factory, then you’ve been with us from the beginning and we love you. Thank you for never forgetting who we are.” Pincho. Various locations; pincho.com. [email protected] 11 11 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | miaminewtimes.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | NEW TIMES MIAMI NEW TIMES MAY 26 - JUNE 1, 2022 MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008
