Florida Keys Brewing Co: Creating Awesome Craft Beers in Islamorada
27 Apr 2018
Disclosure: Our visit was covered by Florida Keys Brewing Co and The Florida Keys. All opinions are my own.
Florida Keys Brewing Co.
I am by no means a beer connoisseur, but I do love a nice cold one every now and then. Having moved on from the typical big brand beers a few years ago, I now look for something with great taste than “it’s cold, it’s refreshing, it’s good”.
I’m not going to say I have become a beer snob, but since I have reduced my consumption, I can afford to splurge on unique brands I find in my travels.
While visiting Islamorada in the Florida Keys, we visited the Florida Keys Brewing Co for a tour and tasting. Located in the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District, Florida Keys Brewing Co is the Upper Keys first microbrewery.
While on the tour, I got to chatting with Craig McBay, Co-Owner and Head Brewer of Florida Keys Brewing Co. He mentioned how he moved to the Florida Keys 13 years ago. When I asked where from, I was surprised to hear him say “Burlington, Ontario, Canada.” He pretty much grew up a few blocks from where I currently live.
You can see that Canadian heritage come through in the logo Cheryl McBay, Craig’s wife and co-owner, created for Florida Keys Brewing Co. The Maple Leaf (symbolizing Craig’s Canadian background) and the Conch (symbolizing Cheryl’s Florida Keys background), over the Florida Keys’ Islands (at the bottom of the logo).
A transplant from Canada, Craig’s infatuation with home brewing began years ago with a home brew kit that was gifted to him. His “hobby” soon outgrew the apartment him and his wife Cheryl lived in, and their lives. As a result, the Florida Keys Brewing Co was born.
The Tasting Room
The tasting room at Florida Keys Brewing Co is fairly new. The old tasting room was in the existing brewery. The new tasting room is on the main road, with a small shop and a backyard where you can sit and enjoy live music while drinking your favourite pint.
While in the tasting room, you can enjoy a flight of FKBC beers, or just have a pint or growler of your favourite. Either way, you are sure to enjoy the ambiance or the room, and the flavours of beers available.
Decorated by Craig’s wife Cheryl, the tasting room is decked out in beautiful painted murals, and mosaics of beer caps from breweries all over North America and Europe. There are many art installations from local artists who wanted to add their touch to this local brewery.
The Brewery
Every drop of Florida Keys Brewing Co beer is brewed at the brewery in Islamorada. Since the doors opened in 2015, Craig and his team of small team of brewers have been brewing beer on a 1.5 bbl pilot system with 3 bbl fermentors. In August of 2016, they began using a 20 bbl brewhouse with 40 bbl fermentors.
With this amazing setup, Craig and team have been able to make their beers available from Key Largo to Key West. They have plans to sell their beer outside of the Florida Keys in the future.
The Beers
The Florida Keys Brewing Co has many beers available at their microbrewery and tasting room. Here is their beer menu:
The Lighter Side
Iguana Bait – 5.2%, 20.4 IBU
A honey hibiscus kolsch made with local Keys honey and hibiscus. A light, refreshing, keezy breezy beer with sweetness from the honey and a slight tart fruitiness from the hibiscus.
Honey Bottomed Blonde – 5.8%, 26.1 IBU
Made with local Keys honey, every batch is unique as the bees gather pollen from seasonal flowering plants to make their honey.
Flakeys – 5.1%, 19.8 IBU
Flakeys (short for Florida Keys and named after our mascot mermaid) is a Belgian wit bier brewed with the traditional orange zest and coriander, alongside local Key limes to give it a keezy flare.
Weed Line Wheat – 5.1 %, 24.5 IBU
An American wheat beer with moderate hop bitterness. This is a perfect light boat beer.
Queen of the South – 5.1%, 18.7 IBU
A vanilla cream ale with a smooth, sweet, sassy finish.
Hoppy Beers
Sunsessional – 5.1%, 42.1 IBU
A full flavored, low alcohol IPA with a citrus hop character. It has a wheat base to give it an added smooth mouthfeel.
Bale Beach – 6.4% 44.7 IBU
An American pale ale with a heavy dose of classic c-hops.
Kritter – 7.4%, 67.4 IBU
A traditional American IPA with a big, hoppy flavor.
Reds, Ambers and Browns
Spearfish – 5.4%, 29.6 IBU
A well-balanced American amber, with a sneaky hop backbone.
Hurricane Hole – 5.3%, 24.9 IBU
This Irish red ale has a deep copper red color, with low bitterness and a sweet, smooth finish.
Run Aground – 5.4%, 23.6 IBU
A medium bodied, malt-forward brown ale brewed with oatmeal. It features a silky mouthfeel and hints of chocolate and vanilla.
The Dark Side
Smuggler’s Moon – 6.0%, 35.9 IBU
It’s called the Smuggler’s moon because the night is pitch black, just like this yummy oatmeal stout.
Porter’s Stout – 5.8%, 44.4 IBU
A full bodied American Stout with rich, roasty coffee and chocolate notes.
Rum Smuggler – 6.0%, 35.9 IBU
This creamy Smugglers Moon oatmeal stout is aged in rum barrels from the Key West Distillery.
Small Batch and Seasonal
Reef Crawl – 5.1%, 24.5 IBU
A mango wheat beer that is brewed once a year when the local mangoes are ripe and the Reef Crawl takes place.
Great Pumpkins Demise – 6.7%, 17.5 IBU
This beer has been an Islamorada favorite for years, but be careful as it’s smooth and delicious with a unexpectedly high ABV.
Smelly Butt – 7.4%, 67.4 IBU
FKBC’s Kritter IPA is brewed with ripe pineapples. How do you pick out a ripe pineapple? You smell its butt, of course. Hence the name smelly butt.
Rye’s of the World – 7.2%, 91 IBU
Brewed in honor of Jerry Garcia, this West Coast Rye IPA has a full bodied aroma, and strong citrus hop bitterness.
Rum Aground – 5.4%, 23.6 IBU
This oatmeal brown has been aged for 2 months in rum barrels from Key West Distillery. Smooth and malty with a wonderful rum finish.
“Cold” Front – 5.3%, 18.2 IBU
A spiced winter ale with nutmeg, cinnamon, all-spice and orange peel.
Mooseknuckle – 6.0% 33.8 IBU
Maple Bacon Porter! It has bacon flavor and real maple syrup from the Great White North.
Beach Bum – 5.6%, 28.7 IBU
A brown ale brewed with beachwood smoked malts to give a smokey flavor to this malty, smooth beer.
Starvin Marvin Dunkelweizen – 5.0%, 14.1 IBU
This is a dark and murky dunkel with moderate banana and clove notes and a medium body.
Tripel Tail – 9.0%, 31.5 IBU
A Belgian Tripel with a sweet finish to cover up the high gravity.
Snipes Stout – 10.5%
An imperial double stout that has been aged in Tennessee’s finest whiskey barrels.
Location and Hours
Florida Keys Brewing Co. is located at:
200 Morada Way
Islamorada, Florida 33036
Phone: (305) 916-5206
Open Everyday, Noon to 10:00pm
Get Social with Florida Keys Brewing Co
You can follow Florida Keys Brewing Co. on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Cheers,
Big Daddy
If you would like me to review your product, service, restaurant, or travel destination, please send me an email at craig@bigdaddykreativ.ca or tweet me at @BigDaddyKreativ
Craig Silva
Craig is a passionate and seasoned travel, food, and lifestyle writer, whose words paint vivid pictures of the world's most captivating destinations. His work not only inspires others to embark on their own adventures but also fosters a deep appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our world. He captures the essence of each locale, offering readers a glimpse into the cultures, landscapes, cuisine, and experiences that make travel so enriching. Craig is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Travel Writers Alliance (ITWA). If you are a PR agency or brand and would like Craig to review a travel destination, vehicle, restaurant, product or service, please send him an email.
