ST CROIX — 
When Leatherback Brewing Company started, they could have never guessed their journey to produce authentic Virgin Islands craft beer with uniquely Caribbean-grown ingredients would be the rollercoaster ride it has been. The company & brand has come a long way over the last five years. What started out with a couple beers has grown into 4 flagship beers, limited release brews, tasting room locations on St. Croix and St. Thomas and budding partnerships and collaborations designed to expand the reach of this locally brewed beer. As their 5-year anniversary approaches, the team has looked back on their many accomplishments since they tapped the first keg at their tasting room in William Roebuck Industrial Park near the St. Croix airport.
Retail & Marketing Manager Ivy Hunter shared how much the company has grown in the past five years. “When we opened the doors of the brewery and tasting room in 2018, we operated two fermenters to produce the flagship brews, Reef Life and Island Life,” said Hunter. Today, they currently have thirteen fermenters going with two more on the way. “We’ve also increased the number of beers we offer by adding two more to our year-round brews, Beach Life and Bush Life.” The St. Thomas location opened in late 2020 and is where the innovation brewing takes place. “There we get to play around with different flavors and recipes to see what our patrons like.” Hunter pointed out that these innovation brews are only served in the tasting rooms. Based on the response, they determine if it’ll make its way into a can often as a limited release brew. Additionally, Leatherback Brewing opened a small kiosk in St. Thomas airport in early 2023 with grab-and-go cans in the arrivals area. Their beers are available throughout the USVI, BVI, Puerto Rico and South Florida and is distributed locally by West Indies Company.
Leatherback Brewing Company’s 5th Anniversary party will take place on Saturday, May 20th from 2pm to 7:30pm with live music and a DJ plus face painting and games for kids. Food trucks will be on site serving up delicious bites and St. Croix Animal Welfare Center will bring some of their furry friends along to have fun with the public while encouraging people to adopt a pup or two. For more information about the company, visit their website at leatherback-brewing.com or visit their Facebook page for the anniversary event details at www.facebook.com/LeatherbackBrewing.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com
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