When requested what number of hours every week he and his spouse put into their beloved Florida Keys Brewing Co. (FKBC), Craig McBay was fast to reply.
“All of them,” he mentioned with fun. “Whenever you personal a small enterprise, you’re by no means off.”
“Even once we’re not right here, we’re nonetheless right here,” added his spouse and enterprise accomplice, Cheryl McBay.
In 10 brief years, the house owners of the Florida Keys Brewing Co. have managed to show a ardour for beer right into a hotspot for beer fans, vacationers and locals alike. At any given time, FKBC gives 40 to 50 totally different brews and a few of them are additionally distributed throughout the state.
“Iguana Bait kills it,” mentioned Cheryl of their best-selling beer. “It’s just about at each bar and restaurant down right here, and in the event that they don’t have it, they’re lacking out,” she mentioned.
All of FKBC’s beer is brewed and canned regionally, proper within the coronary heart of the Morada Approach Arts District in Islamorada.
On the day of this interview, a brand new canning line machine made in Nebraska was being delivered. This machine is able to filling 50 cans of beer a minute, versus the sometimes-unreliable prior one that would produce 32 cans a minute.
“It’s a giant improve and it’s not going to interrupt down as a result of it’s new – cross your fingers,” Cheryl mentioned.
Colourful cans of Spiny Hopster made their method down the canning line and onto a pallet for distribution.
“It’s slightly play on phrases and it’s truly our second-best promoting beer. It’s only a actually good IPA; folks find it irresistible,” mentioned Cheryl.
The brewery pumps out some 3,200 barrels of beer a yr, roughly 5,000 cans a month. About 70% of the product goes out for distribution throughout the state with the rest being offered within the FKBC taproom.
Each McBays are 100% hands-on.
“Craig nonetheless does brew days, which implies he will get right here at 3 o’clock within the morning,” Cheryl mentioned. “A brew day often goes from 3 o’clock within the morning till about 6 o’clock within the night; he’s right here at the least two or three days every week at the moment.”
Whereas Craig is the one making the beer style so good, Cheryl fills the inventive position, designing the cans, T-shirts and different merchandise.
During the last decade, Florida Keys Brewing Co. has additionally distinguished itself as a sizzling venue for stay music, providing all kinds of genres seven days every week, typically twice a day.
“We knew we needed to make a extremely good stay venue for music,” mentioned Cheryl.
To know the McBays’ success, it helps to know their again tales.
Cheryl is a self-described Conch, born and raised in Islamorada. Craig is a Canadian, who occurred to satisfy Cheryl throughout a trip to the Keys.
“We met at Hog Heaven, late night time,” Craig mentioned.
“One of many only a few good issues to return out of there,” joked Cheryl.
Who knew that probability encounter between a Conch and a Canadian would result in a affluent enterprise that has turn out to be a pillar of the group?
“Cheryl’s mother obtained me a house brew equipment for my birthday proper earlier than we obtained married. On the time she was like, ‘Properly, he’s consuming a number of beer, perhaps he desires to make some beer too,” recalled Craig.
McBay’s mother-in-law, Linda Barrett, nonetheless works within the beer backyard. She’s answerable for the vegetation, arranging the orchids and creating the enchanting island vibe.
Craig McBay’s background is in engineering. He went to highschool for fireplace safety engineering again in Canada, designing fireplace sprinkler methods.
“In order that type of technical aspect of issues has helped me alongside,” he mentioned.
Cheryl’s background is in hospitality. She at all times suspected there was an actual thirst for regionally brewed beer.
Earlier than they opened the Florida Keys Brewing Firm in 2015, Craig started crafting his concoctions of their storage and giving out samples to family and friends. After rave critiques, the couple determined to go all in.
“Inside a yr, we purchased a home, stop our jobs, had twins, signed a lease right here and cashed in our retirements,” recalled Craig.
“We each don’t bear in mind the primary two years of enterprise as a result of it was simply loopy,” added Cheryl.
These twins, a boy and a woman, are actually 10 years outdated and fifth graders at Plantation Key Faculty.
“These two will 100 hundred % run this place someday, I’ve little doubt in my thoughts,” mentioned Cheryl.
With success comes social accountability. The McBays have embraced giving again to the group.
“Now we have a saying so far as what we sponsor all through the Florida Keys: something that has seas or fleas,” mentioned Cheryl.
“Something to do with the ocean we’ll sponsor and we’ll gladly assist out, and something to do with animals,” she continued.
As for what the following 10 years will maintain, who is aware of? However one factor is for certain, the McBays and their Florida Keys Brewing Firm are right here to remain.
“We’ve at all times mentioned we by no means need to take over the world, we’re looking for that proper measurement,” mentioned Craig.
“We need to preserve making our beer right here,” he mentioned. “We’re a Keys brewery so we need to make our beer within the Keys.”