This off-the-beaten-path Coral Gables brewpub is a terrific place to hit after taking a dip in the nearby Venetian Pools.

It doesn't look like much when compared with South Beach's stylin', over-the-top décor--inside finds a wood-finished bar, gleaming copper-sided beer-brewing vats, and televised sports, while the exterior could double as the entrance to a small town Lion’s Club. That said, this pub has a downright local appeal altogether absent from most SoBe spots.

Indeed, this brewpub has a lot to offer, especially if you’re looking to escape the South Beach scene for a day (or night). Its University of Miami-area location translates into a younger, more down-to-earth crowd than SoBe tends to get; plus, its all-around, out-of-the-way address means you’re likely to meet some bonafide Miami locals.

Never mind that one bite of this joint's Essential Burger will have you singing this low-key pub's praises, too.

The burger in question is consistently voted Miami's best, and arrives at the table fat, juicy, and perfectly cooked--I tried it with a slice of jalapeño jack cheese for extra zing. One bite into it, and I was ready to do Miami one better by proclaiming it the best burger I'd ever had in my life, period.

I washed it down with a pint of one of the pub's six award-winning homebrews (Captain Smith's Rye Ale, to be precise, which is made with malted rye for a 6% alcohol content) and started thinking of spending the rest of the afternoon.

Though I did wind up skedaddling, there was plenty worth sticking around for, like the Titanic Porthole Sampler--six 5-oz. glasses filled with a sample of each beer on tap, which is a sweet deal, at $4.50. Plus, come nightfall, you can catch a live rock, Latin, or reggae act (Thurs-Sat; free). At prices like that, it’s worth the trek.

You can get a sneak preview of their home-brewed beers and upcoming live acts by checking their website: Titanic.com