Labor Day weekend will be a busy one in Key West, where fans of the late Jimmy Buffett — and beer — will find plenty to celebrate while honoring the late singer/songwriter who brought the Margaritaville myth of life in Key West.
The annual Brewfest Aug. 29-Sept. 2 will feature several events, with its signature tasting event on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Southernmost Beach Resort. Beer drinkers can sample more than 150 varieties under a giant tent on the beach.
The same weekend brings the Just a Few Friends celebration to honor the life, songs and stories of Buffett, who died of skin cancer the same weekend last year.
BrewFest is scheduled Thursday through Monday, Aug. 29-Sept. 2. Activities include beer-focused dinners, pool parties, live music and the beachfront Key West BrewFest Signature Tasting Event.
Brewfest, presented by the Key West Sunrise Rotary Club of the Conch Republic and hosted by the Southernmost Beach Resort, raises money for local Rotary scholarships and charitable initiatives.
Featured beers range from offerings such as Fat Tire Ale and Cat 5 Key Lime Lager to local favorites from Florida Keys Brewing Co., Waterfront Brewery, Cayo Hueso Brewing and Islamorada Beer Co. among others.
The 2024 BrewFest also features new events including the Brews & Bites Bash at First Flight Island Restaurant and Brewery, 301 Whitehead St.; and the Jimmy Buffett Tribute Concert and Cheeseburger Beach Battle at the Southernmost Beach Resort, 1319 Duval St., featuring the national touring tribute band Buffett’s Margaritaville. Both events are set for Friday, Aug. 30, with ticket prices of $65 per person and $20-$30 per person, respectively.
The festival highlight is the BrewFest Signature Tasting Event. Featuring more than 150 beers from leading, boutique and small-batch breweries, the tasting extravaganza is set for Saturday, Aug. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m. on the beach at the Southernmost Beach Resort.
While enjoying the evening beside the Atlantic Ocean, attendees can stroll from booth to booth, savoring live music and unlimited samples of beers, lagers and ales.
General admission is $50 per person. Also available are VIP tickets for $100 per person that include admission to a VIP tasting from 3 to 5 p.m. with passed appetizers from the Southernmost Beach Café.
Fans of brews and on-the-water adventures can participate in a sandbar trip with Beach Weekend Key West on Sunday, Sept. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The trip is limited to 28 people and includes complimentary beer. Tickets are $30 per person, available by calling Beach Weekend at 305-296-0364.
Other festival events include brewery dining experiences, a “Biergarten” and a tap takeover. Activities conclude Monday, Sept. 2, with a bingo gathering at Key West’s iconic Green Parrot Bar, 601 Whitehead St.
For more information about Brewfest, visit keywestbrewfest.com. Learn more about the Buffett weekend events at justafewfriendskeywest.com.
