#Events: Wine and beer fest comes to Marathon

#Events: Wine and beer fest comes to Marathon - Logo

The Florida Keys Beer and Bubbly Fest capitalizes on a couple of great things — a packed house during high season and the public’s growing fascination with small-batch brews and food truck fare. The event is set for Saturday, Dec. 27 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Marathon Community Park.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Daniel Samess, CEO of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce. He said he approached the Fishermen’s Hospital Foundation to co-host the event and they quickly agreed.

The event is beverage oriented. So far, organizers have arranged for 25 craft beers and about half that many vinters who are bring the wine and champagne. In addition, there will be eight food trucks offering a variety of food ranging from cheeseburgers to tacos to vegetarian food. There will also be a kids’ area and vendor booths. The music entertainment includes Myles Mancuso, John Bartus & Storm Watch, the Eric Stone Band and Adrienne & InJade.

Samess said there are plenty of tourists in town over that weekend, looking for something to do. Plus, most locals have a little leisure time on their hands.

“It’s a busy time of year,” he said, adding guests are projected to be a few thousand.

The event features a limited amount of VIP tickets. Those entitle holders to free food and free draft beer, wine and champagne while they lounge on couches and chairs in front of the stage. The $60 ticket also comes with four beer tickets to be used outside the VIP area and a commemorative beer mug.

Proceeds from the event will be split between the chamber and the hospital foundation. The chamber’s portion will go toward student scholarships and the foundation’s portion will help fund the local hospital’s needs.

For more information, visit keysbeerandbubblyfest.com.

Volunteers are needed to cover three shifts: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 1 to 4 p.m.; and 4 to 7 p.m. Volunteers will receive a free drink ticket and T-shirt. For more information, call Rhonda at 305-743-5417.

The beer:

  • Stiegl Radler
  • Magic Hat #9
  • Ace Ciders – Apple Hard Cider
  • Monk in the Trunk
  • Cigar City Florida Cracker
  • Due South Cat 3 IPA
  • Due South Caramel Cream Ale
  • Native Lager*
  • Funky Buddha Floridian
  • Funky Buddha Hop Gun
  • Redhook Seasonal Winterhook:
  • Widmer Gluten Free Omission Lager:
  • Shock Top Honey Bourbon Cask Wheat
  • Sandbar Sunday
  • Channel Marker IPA:
  • Islamorada Ale
  • Kona Castaway
  • Florida Avenue Ale
  • Florida Avenue India Pale Ale
  • Magners Pear Cider
  • Woodchuck Amber Hard Cider
  • • Narragansett Lager
  • Scuplin IPA
  • Big Eye IPA
  • Ballast Point Pale Ale

The food trucks:

  • Cheeseburger Baby
  • Crazydilla
  • Arepas Las Gorditas
  • The Original Greek
  • Palate Party
  • Parabas Grill
  • Tacos Veracruz
  • Veggie Xpress
Sara Matthis thinks community journalism is important, but not serious; likes weird and wonderful children (she has two); and occasionally tortures herself with sprint-distance triathlons, but only if she has a good chance of beating her sister.