Brewfest

September 5, 2018

 

 

Brewfest

This year marked the ninth year that the Key West Rotary Club hosted the annual signature event of the Key West Brewfest celebration on the beach at the Southernmost Resort. Founded by Rotarian and GM of the Southernmost Resort and now known affectionately as “The Father of Brewfest”, our friend Matt Babich, the Brewfest tasting event has grown in size and prestige each year. It also raises a ton of money for local charities sponsored by the Rotary Club.

 

Bethany and Richard

This year over 200 unique beers from breweries large and small from throughout Florida and across the nation were featured at the tasting event, which draws a massive crowd to the beach each Labor Day weekend. The festival isn’t the largest, doesn’t have the rarest beers but there is something about it that makes it one of our favorite events of the year.

Deb and Matt 

Brian and Ammie

Tom, Greta, Cale, Effie and Heather 

The location is fantastic as it is held right on the same beach where Kathy and I were married, which a really beautiful spot. The event also attracts a lot of some of the most fun bunch of locals around. Unlike many bars on lower Duval Street, the crowd is not there just to get as drunk as possible but to enjoy the vast variety of the craft beers available. 

 

Kathy

We once again, signed up for the VIP option that allows early entry into the festival, a full two hours earlier than the general population. This year it seemed like the VIP crowd was larger than ever, but you still had every opportunity to get around to all the breweries without any long lines. Food is also served during the VIP portion of the event and it seemed this year that the food was more plentiful than ever and quite yummy as well.

 

 

There are always some strange, yet wonderful beers available and this year was no exception as we really enjoyed a number of excellent selections ranging from habenero beer to lemon ginger beer to all manner of ales, kolschs, ipas, porters and more. Some of my favorite Florida Breweries were on hand including Wynwood, Cigar City, Funky Budda, Swamphead, Coppertail and Due South Brewery.

Kathy, Heather, Greta and Michael

 

Ammie

There were also a few new additions to the festival which are always fun to experience and the Florida Keys were well represented as well with Florida Keys Brewery, Islamorada Brewing, the Waterfront Brewery, First Flight and of course the wonderful Home Brew Club as well. ­­

Cale, Effie and Alexandria 

Alonda and Rich

As in the past few years, it was a pretty hot afternoon, it always seems to be sizzling at Brewfest. Kathy and I have a plan to combat the heat, we spend the first two VIP hours at the festival, then venture across the street to the Pineapple Pool at the Southernmost Resort to relax in the pool where we recover and regroup before heading back over for the final hour or so of Brewfest.

Deb 

It works out great and we are around for the annual second line march that closes the festival, going from the Southernmost Café Beach to the Green Parrot where the truly hardy continue the fun. We have never made it there, opting to bike home just after the parade goes by. It was another fun and successful event and it is always great to see so many friends out enjoying life.