Brewery Running Series Laces Up for First-Ever Florida Event in Fort Lauderdale

A fun-run that starts and ends at a brewery... and there is free beer involved? Cheers to that.

With successful operations in nine other states — including beer havens like Colorado and Oregon — the Brewery Running Series has arrived in the Sunshine State. The first-ever run kicks off at LauderAle Brewery on Saturday, January 5 at 11 a.m.

“This really is an event for all skill levels, with a goal of getting people to try all kinds of craft beer,” says Kacy Irby, founder of the Florida Brewery Running Series.

An avid runner, Irby flew out to a Brewery Running Series event in Texas with a friend, who was a running novice, earlier this year. They both had a blast, so Kacy proceeded to research what it would entail to set up shop in Florida and ultimately made it happen.

Unlike fancy-schmancy, mega races, the Brewery Running Series are true fun-runs on an open course. There are volunteers along the way helping to guide folks through the approximately 5K route. At the end, you'll receive a free beer, some branded swag (koozies, pint glasses, or coasters) and mingle with your fellow runners amid live tunes, raffles, and food trucks.

There are 200 spots open for the first event and, as with all Florida Brewery Running Series races, ten percent of proceeds will go to a local nonprofit. The nonprofit selection for Saturday's race is still being finalized.

In addition to the LauderAle event, Irby’s team has events planned for January 26 at Tarpon River Brewing, February 9 at Hollywood Brewing, and February 23 at Barrel of Monks Brewing. Irby says he’s also exploring other nooks of the state from Miami’s Wynwood to Jacksonville for future events. He’s hoping to make Florida a true destination on the Brewery Running Series map.

As for a key tip to successfully making it through the first event of the series? Save the beer for after the race. You need to earn it.

“That will make things a lot easier on your stomach, for sure,” laughs Irby.

Brewery Running Series. 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 5 at LauderAle Brewery, 3305 SE 14th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; breweryrunningseries.com/florida. Registration costs $30 to $100.