Ybor City’s original beer is back after over 60 years. La Tropical beer, originally brewed in Cuba and then Ybor, will make its triumphant return to the Tampa Bay area this Thursday with a celebration at the former La Tropical brewery in Ybor. The beer can also be found at Cervecería La Tropical in Miami and soon will be distributed at restaurants and stores all across the Florida West Coast. Let’s learn more about this classic Ybor beer and why it has been gone for so long.
The story of La Tropical
Cervecería La Tropical was a Cuban brewery built in 1888, and by 1958, La Tropical beer accounted for 60% of the beer produced in Cuba. It became world renown and soon would reach the shores of American via Ybor City. In 1896, the Martinez-Ybor family created Florida’s first brewery and distributed the famous Cuban beer. In the early 1900s, Ybor City produced 80,000 barrels of beer at its peak.
Then came the Cuban embargo, which prevented the exports of La Tropical. This, combined with competition from Anheuser Busch, forced the entire brewery to shut down.
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From 1961 to 2020, the Cuban government ran La Tropical and the beer remained only inside the country.
Among the one million Cubans who left Cuba during the revolution were Blanco-Herrera and Kohly families — the two families who once worked together to create La Tropical. They eventually settled in Miami and one of their descendants, Manny Portuondo, made it his passion project in life to bring La Tropical back. His dream became a reality in 2020, when Cervecería La Tropical opened in Miami.
And now it’s Ybor’s turn.
La Tropical in Ybor
In 1999, Dale Swope, a Tampa attorney, acquired the former Ybor City La Tropical brewery. He made it his mission to historically preservation the building after years of neglect. Now that the building is ready, it’s going to distribute La Tropical again.
“I’m very excited about the relaunch of La Tropical, at our former brewery in Ybor City, founded by my family. The brewery building has been beautifully restored and the relaunch of La Tropical reminds us all of the contributions of Cubans and other immigrants to the history of Florida and especially Ybor City. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than being here today to celebrate La Tropical.”
Ignacio Martinez-Ybor
La Tropical will celebrate its Ybor relaunch on October 20 at the former brewery in Ybor City. The event will include Cuban BBQ, music, Cuban cigars and, of course, cold Cerveza La Tropical will flow.
JJ Taylor Distributing will eventually distribute La Tropical in cans and on draft at local restaurants, bars, and supermarkets throughout the Florida West Coast.
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