If you’ve been following along, you already know I recently found myself eating my way through Islamorada. But before heading back to Miami, there was another stop that deserved some attention. And that was The Florida Keys Brewing Co.
Located in the colorful Morada Way Arts and Cultural District, FKBC is the Upper Keys’ first microbrewery, and unlike some breweries that feel more like industrial warehouses with a few barstools thrown in, this place is quintessentially Keys. It’s colorful. It’s quirky. As I noted in the video it is Cheech & Chong vibes. It’s outdoorsy. And most importantly, the beer is actually brewed right here in the Florida Keys.
There are flights. There are pints. There are koozies. Olee and Matt taught me what that even meant and now I am obsessed. I refuse to own one but they can be cool - for someome else. There’s excellent live music. There are games. It’ a casual beer garden. And there is absolutely no reason to be in a hurry. Families are welcome - so, we welcome you to Islamorada.
The Scene: This is exactly what you want a brewery in the Florida Keys to look and feel like. The tasting room spills out into a tropical, colorful beer garden where you can grab a chair (colorful wooden picnic tables), listen to live music, play giant Jenga or corn hole, and basically forget whatever time it is. They have palm trees, sand & signs on squirrels. It’s also both kid and pet friendly, so pretty much everyone is invited to the party.
What to Eat and Drink: Obviously, I was there for the beer because Morada Bay sent me into a Cyclospora fear web. I will not go there to spare anyones business….but FKBC allegedly always has a selection of its own brews on tap, from year round favorites to rotating seasonal and barrel aged limited releases. If you’re indecisive, get a flight and make a tasting out of it. Before I ordered the Iguana Bait beer (made with Hibiscus), I sampled quite a few drafts on tap. With honey and hibiscus notes, it’s light, refreshing and VERY easy to drink. As for food, this is a brewery rather than a restaurant, but they have you covered with food trucks: Jalisco Tacos operates Monday through Saturday, while A Movable Feast takes over on Sundays.
Don’t Miss: IGUANA BAIT! Grab this brew on tap, and head outside and settle in like we did. Also, take a look at the brewery operation itself. FKBC brews on a 20 barrel brewhouse with an additional pilot system and fermentation tanks dedicated to everything from its main production to specialty beers.
Perfect For: An escape from most of the rotten restaurants in Islamorada. Accidentally it was a pit stop after another spot. If you love live music with friends, a casual date, or killing a few hours before dinner - or chilling with the family, it’s also one of those places where you intend to have one beer and suddenly realize you’ve been sitting in the beer garden for two hours. Or two divine drinks and a koozie or tye dye tee later.
Pro Tip: Remember the Iguana Bait I raved about at Square Grouper? This is where it comes from. So if you tried it there and loved it, come straight to the source. And if you really love something, FKBC offers growler fills and four packs of cans to take home. I took 12 cans home!
Expect to Pay: For two beers, its the best $14 I ever spent. To-go, it was $30 approximately for 12 cans for my casa. #leftovers
How’s the Parking: Easy. And in the Florida Keys, where parking can sometimes become an unexpected part of the adventure, we appreciate easy. But we walked! Islamorada is sneaker chic, so take advantage.
@floridakeysbrewingco // 81611 Old Highway, Islamorada.