Fort Myers Brewing Company Returns with Grouperfest 2026
Three weekends of original beers, live music, and Southwest Florida flavor
[FORT MYERS, Fla., May 26, 2026] – Fort Myers Brewing Company, Southwest Florida’s first and largest craft brewery, is bringing back its annual Grouper Fest for three consecutive weekends from Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 28. The festival transforms the brewery into a full-scale summer celebration with exclusive beer releases, live music, food trucks, games, contests, and limited-edition merchandise.
The festival officially kicks off with the “First Pour” at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 12, debuting the 2026 Grouper lineup of six festival-exclusive beers brewed specifically for Grouper Fest, including the highly anticipated new Lil’ Grouper, a Session Hazy IPA.
“Grouper Fest has become one of our favorite traditions because it’s everything Fort Myers Brewing is about: incredible beer, live music, community, and not taking yourself too seriously,” said co-founder Jen Whyte. “Every weekend has its own personality this year, from exclusive merch drops and specialty beer rotations to some fun games and contests that people are going to be talking about long after the festival ends.”
This year’s festival also introduces new interactive experiences, including the Grouper Fest Pint Glass Challenge, a drinking game where participants catch a grouper by targeting their sips to score points and win prizes, and a beer-filled hula hoop competition during the Grand Finale Weekend.
The 2026 Grouper Beer Lineup (available exclusively during Grouper Fest)
- Mosaic Grouper (Hazy IPA): Bold aromas of mango and melon
- Red Grouper (Red IPA): Caramel malt and piney hops, West Coast-style
- Black Grouper (Black IPA): Roasted malt balanced with Simcoe and Mosaic hops
- Goliath Grouper (Double IPA): Passionfruit, white grape, and strawberry
- Crispy Grouper (Rice Lager): Crisp and refreshing with Jasmine rice
- Lil’ Grouper (NEW) (Session Hazy IPA): Low ABV, hop-forward, with peach, passionfruit, and citrus
Each weekend features its own theme: First Pour Weekend (June 12-14) with the opening merch and koozie release, Father’s Day Weekend (June 19-21) with a second merch drop, and the Grand Finale Weekend (June 26-28) with specialty beers rotating every two hours on Saturday, the final merch release, and the festival’s signature hula hoop challenge.
Grouper Fest consistently draws thousands of guests from across Southwest Florida and has become one of the region’s signature summer events. A full weekend-by-weekend schedule with food trucks, live music, and event times is available upon request.
About Fort Myers Brewing Company
Established in March 2013, Fort Myers Brewing Company became the first microbrewery to open in Lee County and has since grown into one of the largest craft breweries in Florida. Founded by husband-and-wife team Rob and Jen Whyte, the brewery operates from a 22,000-square-foot facility with a four-vessel, 30-barrel system producing 15,000 barrels of beer annually. Fort Myers Brewing distributes to more than 1,600 bars, restaurants, and retail locations across the state.
The taproom, located at 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, Fort Myers, FL 33913, is open seven days a week and features food trucks daily, live music, and family- and pet-friendly events year-round. For more information, visit FMBrew.com or follow @FMBrew on social media.