Miami said goodbye Wednesday evening to one of the pioneers of the craft beer movement in the city and did it the way he would have liked it: by gathering at his beloved brewery and raising a pint (or two) in his name.
Piero Rodriguez, one of the founding brewers at MIA Beer Company , passed away last weekend in a car accident. Brewers from around South Florida and beyond have been posting their condolences online.
The TBBC family is saddened by the loss of a craft beer community member, Piero Rodriguez, founding brewer of MIA... https://t.co/bP6gdJESUZ
— Tampa Bay Brewing Co (@TBBCo) June 20, 2016
Our condolences to his family & the family at MIA Beer for their loss. #Respecthttps://t.co/GLiEdtFoeN
— Churchill's Pub (@churchillspub) June 20, 2016
Sad news in the craft beer world today- MIA Beer Company co- founder Piero Rodriguez killed in car accident https://t.co/9nhnhN7MRa
— Great Beer Now (@GreatBeerNow) June 20, 2016
What was Rodriguez to the craft beer scene? Carlos Frias, food and dining editor of the Miami Herald, shared a few points on the life of a man who loved creating beer and entertaining people.
"Piero was among one of those groups of original home brewer guys who were just making beer at home and getting together in the clubs, who then grew into what we know is the craft beer scene, " Frias said. "There's this whole movement of folks brewing their own beer at a large scale commercially for the South Florida market, and that all started with guys like Piero."
Piero's friends started a GoFundMe campaign for his 9 year-old son Rebel. They've actually already surpassed the $10,000 goal that they wanted as a minimum but still hope to gather more contributions.
Piero Rodriguez memorial at MIA Beer Company, 10400 NW 33rd St. #150, Miami, 5 PM.
