July 21, 1888. The Blanco-Herrera family establishes Cervecería La Tropical on lands once owned by Federico Kohly. Cuba’s Oldest Brewery grows and grows, and by 1958 La Tropical accounts for over 60% of all beer production in Cuba, making the brand world-renowned. La Tropical stands alongside cigars, rum and music as the pride of Cuba.
Florida’s First Brewery is founded in Ybor City/Tampa, Florida, by Cuban cigar industrialist family: Martinez-Ybor. In 1897 La Tropical beer is produced and distributed in Florida. The Florida La Tropical brand has an affiliation with the La Tropical brand from Cuba. In the early 1900’s La Tropical in Ybor City produced 80,000 barrels of beer at its’ peak. The Cuban embargo and new Florida competition from Anheuser Busch and Schlitz forced the shutdown of the brewery in 1961. Dale Swope, a Tampa attorney, acquires the old La Tropical brewery in Ybor City in 1999 and embarks on a historical preservation project to save the building after years of neglect.
The La Tropical beer gardens are opened, near the banks of the Almendares River, and quickly become a must-go destination for cold cerveza, fun, music and dance. Designed by Cuban architect Ramón Magriñá, the gardens were inspired by the Spanish gardens of Gaudí. Los Jardines de La Tropical included a botanical Tropical garden with a multitude of concrete structures designed in a modernist and organic style, as well as a replica castle of the Alhambra de Granada in Spain.
The arrival of the revolution in Cuba begins and La Tropical’s assets are seized. The Cuban exodus begins and over one million Cubans flee the island, including the now impoverished Blanco-Herrera and Kohly families. Miami welcomes them with open arms.
Inside Cuba, La Tropical is now run by the revolution. La Tropical is eventually lost, but never forgotten.
Manny Portuondo, great-great grandson of Federico Kohly makes it his passion project in life to bring La Tropical back. At the age of 32, after a successful career with Anheuser-Busch and the Brahma Brewery of Brazil, he mortgages his home and raises capital from the prominent Cuban American community in Miami, including Ramon Blanco-Herrera.Three Palms Holdings is formed and for two decades Manny Portuondo fights to secure control of the La Tropical brand in key markets throughout the world.
La Tropical hosts a teaser beer launch in the heart of Miami under license with the Boston Beer Company. The launch is a great success with customers lining up for hours to taste the original recipe of La Tropical’s award-winning La Original Ambar Lager at a local Wynwood brewery. Very quickly, La Tropical becomes a best seller. La Tropical generates local and international attention that leads to interest from many of the world’s largest brewers.
After two decades of fighting to save La Tropical, Three Palms Holdings completes the majority sale of La Tropical brand to Heineken NV. With no physical brewery, Heineken makes a significant investment to build a Miami home for Cervecería La Tropical. Scouting begins for the perfect site. A ¾ acre site in the Wynwood Arts District is acquired and construction begins in 2019 to include a 32 thousand hectoliter per year brewery, tap room, restaurant and beer garden. A true destination brewery for beverage consumers everywhere.
Cervecería La Tropical has a new Miami home, a testament to perseverance, passion, hard work and the belief that all is possible if you dare to make your dreams come true. Over a century in the making, and inspired by the tropics, Cuba’s Oldest Brewery is now one of Miami’s Youngest.
July 21, 1888. The Blanco-Herrera family establishes Cervecería La Tropical on lands once owned by Federico Kohly. Cuba’s Oldest Brewery grows and grows, and by 1958 La Tropical accounts for over 60% of all beer production in Cuba, making the brand world-renowned. La Tropical stands alongside cigars, rum and music as the pride of Cuba.
Florida’s First Brewery is founded in Ybor City/Tampa, Florida, by Cuban cigar industrialist family: Martinez-Ybor. In 1897 La Tropical beer is produced and distributed in Florida. The Florida La Tropical brand has an affiliation with the La Tropical brand from Cuba. In the early 1900’s La Tropical in Ybor City produced 80,000 barrels of beer at its’ peak. The Cuban embargo and new Florida competition from Anheuser Busch and Schlitz forced the shutdown of the brewery in 1961. Dale Swope, a Tampa attorney, acquires the old La Tropical brewery in Ybor City in 1999 and embarks on a historical preservation project to save the building after years of neglect.
The La Tropical beer gardens are opened, near the banks of the Almendares River, and quickly become a must-go destination for cold cerveza, fun, music and dance. Designed by Cuban architect Ramón Magriñá, the gardens were inspired by the Spanish gardens of Gaudí. Los Jardines de La Tropical included a botanical Tropical garden with a multitude of concrete structures designed in a modernist and organic style, as well as a replica castle of the Alhambra de Granada in Spain.
The arrival of the revolution in Cuba begins and La Tropical’s assets are seized. The Cuban exodus begins and over one million Cubans flee the island, including the now impoverished Blanco-Herrera and Kohly families. Miami welcomes them with open arms.
Inside Cuba, La Tropical is now run by the revolution. La Tropical is eventually lost, but never forgotten.
Manny Portuondo, great-great grandson of Federico Kohly makes it his passion project in life to bring La Tropical back. At the age of 32, after a successful career with Anheuser-Busch and the Brahma Brewery of Brazil, he mortgages his home and raises capital from the prominent Cuban American community in Miami, including Ramon Blanco-Herrera.Three Palms Holdings is formed and for two decades Manny Portuondo fights to secure control of the La Tropical brand in key markets throughout the world.
La Tropical hosts a teaser beer launch in the heart of Miami under license with the Boston Beer Company. The launch is a great success with customers lining up for hours to taste the original recipe of La Tropical’s award-winning La Original Ambar Lager at a local Wynwood brewery. Very quickly, La Tropical becomes a best seller. La Tropical generates local and international attention that leads to interest from many of the world’s largest brewers.
After two decades of fighting to save La Tropical, Three Palms Holdings completes the majority sale of La Tropical brand to Heineken NV. With no physical brewery, Heineken makes a significant investment to build a Miami home for Cervecería La Tropical. Scouting begins for the perfect site. A ¾ acre site in the Wynwood Arts District is acquired and construction begins in 2019 to include a 32 thousand hectoliter per year brewery, tap room, restaurant and beer garden. A true destination brewery for beverage consumers everywhere.
Cervecería La Tropical has a new Miami home, a testament to perseverance, passion, hard work and the belief that all is possible if you dare to make your dreams come true. Over a century in the making, and inspired by the tropics, Cuba’s Oldest Brewery is now one of Miami’s Youngest.
