Florida Keys Brewing Co. Celebrates 11th Anniversary in Islamorada's Arts District

Florida Keys Brewing Co. celebrated its 11th anniversary in Islamorada’s Morada Way Arts and Cultural District on Feb. 15 with live music, anniversary beer releases, food, family-friendly activities and an amusing lizard race that raised money for the Upper Keys Humane Society. The event was hosted by brewery owners Cheryl and Craig McBay and drew a crowd documented in a photo-rich recap.

Brewery co-owner Cheryl McBay described the scene, saying “the day saw quite the turnout.” She added, “The vibe was amazing, everyone was having a great time and everyone was really happy.” Keys Weekly captured those moments in a gallery published on Feb. 19 under the headline IN PICTURES: FLORIDA KEYS BREWING CO. CELEBRATES 11 YEARS OF COLD, LOCAL DRINKS, credited to The Weekly Staff.

The anniversary programming combined brewery staples with family offerings: live music on site, releases of anniversary beers, on-site food vendors and activities geared to children and families. Keys Weekly characterized the lizard race as an amusing activity; proceeds from that race were directed to the Upper Keys Humane Society, providing a charitable component to the anniversary celebration.

Florida Keys Brewing Co. occupies a storefront in the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District and is operated by Cheryl and Craig McBay. The brewery “offers a selection of beers, as well as rotating seasonal and barrel-aged drinks, on draft,” and maintains a calendar of community events - hosting music festivals, bingo nights, game nights and other special events throughout the year.

The Keys Weekly photo feature that covered the Feb. 15 event included multiple images of the crowd and on-site activities, alongside other Islamorada coverage on the same page. Among the visual and ancillary items on that page was a caption noting a group of young men playing a game of basketball, reflecting the broader community presence in the arts district during the celebration.

As Florida Keys Brewing Co. moves beyond its 11th year, the McBays’ mix of regular programming and special releases keeps the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District active. The brewery’s anniversary combined product launches and community fundraising in a single day of music, food and family fun that drew visible turnout and local media photo coverage.