This is a story about Jeff & Cathy Douglas, their eldest son Scott and their love of craft beer.
Jeff grew up in Michigan just around the corner from Dark Horse Brewing and Bell’s Brewery. He fell in love with beer while stationed in Germany in the Army. He brewed his first batch of Hefeweizen in 2006 and became hooked. Cathy is from the great State of Kentucky, home of Bourbon and Thoroughbreds and also ex-Army (she outranked Jeff then and still does today). They met in the early 90s while attending college in Lexington, KY and married soon after. During college they bartended, waited tables and worked in the kitchen at Logan’s Roadhouse, Applebee’s and Macaroni Grill. They moved to Sarasota in 1996.
Jeff is a software nerd by trade and has owned a number of successful technology ventures. Cathy is a retired dental hygienist turned special needs, medical foster parent. They have been actively involved in the community as foster and adoptive parents since 1999. They have fostered 97 children and adopted 3 with special needs. Cathy was President of the Sarasota County Foster / Adoptive Parent Association for 5 years when their association was recognized as the “Best Foster Parent Association” in the state of Florida in 2011. Besides Scott, they have 2 other biological children, both of which are in the Army. Brittany, the youngest, is a Patriot Launching Operator stationed in the Middle East while Tyler is a Arabic speaking, Special Operations Staff Sergeant stationed “somewhere”.
Brewery
We are a small nano brewery with a 4 bbl brewhouse and 20 bbls of fermentation. Our 20 gallon pilot system allow us to experiment with fun, new recipes. We release 2-3 new beers a week cause we can. We only sell our beer in house so we can brew whatever we want, whenever we want. We don’t have to brew to fill a distributor’s contract.
Fresh, local, awesome beer is our number one priority. Come enjoy a beer in the brewery while we brew. How knows… perhaps we’ll even ask you to mashout.
Eatery
We think great food is a natural compliment to awesome beer! Unlike most breweries that feed their hungry beer-drinkers with local food trucks, we wanted to be different. We started 3 Keys to focus on both beer and food that appeals to everyone.
We’re not a sports bar or a restaurant with table service and we don’t serve fried foods, but our eatery has lots of great food you won’t find anywhere else. From soups to salads and burgers to “half-pint” kids items, you’ll find something that everyone enjoys. Plus, we have beer.
EVERY HOUR IS HAPPY HOUR CAUSE WE SERVE BEER!