By Jack Smith
The French are known for their cuisine, the Italians for their fashion, the Scottish for frugality, and the Germans, well BEER. They make it, they sell it, they drink it, hell, they even celebrate it. Oktoberfest started a long time ago when some dude married some princess, anyway, it was pretty boring and we’ll skip that part. The festival begins when the mayor of Munich taps the first keg and then all hell breaks loose. Last year alone the people of Munich downed over 6.7 million liters of beer. The beer mugs in the tents don’t carry the brewer’s logo, only stamped “Munich Beer.” For medical treatment of intoxicated tourists, the German Red Cross operates a medical facility on festival grounds. Don’t let the fact that October is still many months off deter you – head to one of our favorite local hotspots and beat the heat with a frosty glass of something liquid.
The Wicked Wheel
10025 Hutchison Boulevard, PCB | (850) 588-7947
thewickedwheel.com
Stop by the Wicked Wheel and wash down some of their award-winning fried chicken with one of their craft beers on tap. You won’t find a two-page list of beers to choose from at the Wheel, but you will find a few of the finest selections from some great local breweries such as Grayton Brewing Co., Idyll Hounds, and Oyster City.
Schooners
5121 Gulf Drive, PCB | (850) 235-3555
schooners.com
The German word ‘Oktoberfest’ translated to English is: ‘It’s time to drink a lot of really good beer!’ Since it’s always a great time to drink a lot of really great beer at Schooners, you can celebrate any time you feel like it! Really good, cold beer and really great food… right on the beach.
Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant
5551 N Lagoon Drive, PCB | (850) 234-2225
captandersons.com
Capt. Anderson’s may be famous for outstanding wines and exclusive champagnes, but you’ll also find 30A Beach Blonde on the menu, along with a range of other frosty favorites!
Boon Docks
14854 Bay View Circle, PCB | (850) 230-0005
boondocksfl.com
Located under the mighty oaks on the Intracoastal Waterway just 5 minutes from the beaches in West Bay, Boon Docks offers you a delicious array of local and regional seafood, which may be prepared in a variety of ways. We use a special blend of spices that gives our grilled items a taste like no other! Our unique breading recipe gives our fried seafood a special and original flavor that will bring you back for more! And we’re always serving ice cold beer.
San Marcos Mexican Grill Pier Park
101 Bluefish Drive, Suite 105, PCB | (850) 708-3097
www.sanmarcosmexicangrillpierpark.com
San Marcos Mexican Grill is a family-owned and -operated Mexican restaurant. The family is committed to serving authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex fare including handmade corn tortillas and homemade, tableside-prepared guacamole! Pair the delicious dishes with a range of margaritas, or a draft or bottled beer. You can even have your furry friends join you on the pet-friendly patio! Any day is a good day to chill at the grill.
Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q
14501 Panama City Beach Pkwy, PCB | (850) 588-1996
rudysbbq.com
Have a cold one with some of the best baby back ribs around! Rudy’s was born out of a small Leon Springs, Texas gas station just north of San Antonio along I-10. It’s the one with “the worst bar-B-Q in Texas” in big block letters on the sign outside. The original location has a special charm, and every location that came after.
