Cervecería La Tropical, which established the Cuban beer industry in 1888, opened a new and permanent home in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District in February 2021, after being seized by the Cuban government in 1960. While the craft brewery and gardens, recently named the Best New Brewery in Miami by Miami New Times, has become a must go destination for both locals and tourist alike, the history behind La Tropical is what truly sets this craft brewery apart. La Tropical’s 133 years of heritage coupled with a new and fun vibe is what guests love about La Tropical, a craft brewery and beer with a Cuban soul and a Miami lifestyle of sun, fun and rhythm.
Since its opening day, the brewery has been a gathering place and cultural community center for Cuban-Americans and their families to share memories and pass down stories about the original La Tropical in Cuba.
“My favorite type of customer since our opening has been the multigenerational families who come because they have memories and personal experiences with La Tropical in Cuba and they want to share those with younger generations who may have not,” says Manny Portuondo, CEO of Cervecería La Tropical and fifth-generation descendant of the original land owners where La Tropical was located in Cuba. “Those types of customers remind me of why I embarked on the mission to bring this iconic brand back to life.”
Photo Credit: Aura Groupe
To celebrate the La Tropical Familia all over the world, Cervecería La Tropical will be hosting its first La Tropical Familia Reunion on Thursday, September 16 at 6PM at the brewery (42 NE 25th Street). The Portuondo and Blanco-Herrera families along with the La Tropical team invite all families who were affiliated with La Tropical in anyway, and helped get the brand to where it is today, to celebrate 133 years of heritage. Guests are encouraged to come out and share stories past to present, bring photos and memorabilia to put up on a big photo and memory board and best of all, meet their extended La Tropical family. Great craft beer, including La Original, whose recipe dates back to 1888, and delicious tapas by Chef Cindy Hutson will be available. Live music by MannySwagg, whose family was also tied to La Tropical, will begin at 6:30pm to get everyone dancing to La Tropical reunion vibes. Limited edition Familia Reunion t-shirts will be available for purchase.
For the special event, the brewery has partnered with The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba with 100% of ticket sales and 10% of brewery sales that day benefitting the foundation. Tickets for the event are priced at $10 per person and include a complimentary beer. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite HERE or at the door the day of the event.
In addition to the Familia Reunion festivities, Cuban artist Rigo Leon, who has his own personal ties to the brand as well, will be unveiling a mural outside of the brewery, with the support of La Tropical, on the same day. Leon worked on the mural with four other artists – Antony Hernandez, Rei Ramirez, Ivan Roque and Amir Santiago – in an effort to bring awareness to human rights and injustices in Cuba through visual arts.
Cervecería La Tropical is located at 42 NE 25th Street in Wynwood. For real time updates, follow along on Instagram at @latropicalbeer. www.cervecerialatropical.com.
Terry Bunch
