From the historic Palma Real to the craft brewery movement, the evolution of beer in Puerto Rico has transformed local culture and opened up new food and drink experiences. Here's how it happened.
From homebrewing to breweries opening in shopping malls, craft beer has diversified how people connect across hundreds of Puerto Rican businesses.
The third edition of Puerto Rico Beer Week aims to celebrate this evolution, over the past two decades, as reflected in this profitable niche of the brewing industry.
From Palma Real to the craft boom
Puerto Rico's first brewery, Palma Real, was established in 1911 and operated successfully until Prohibition took effect in 1918. Prohibition was repealed in 1934, and in 1938 Cervecera de Puerto Rico came to dominate the market with its Cerveza India. Forty years later, the company launched Medalla Light, the first locally made light beer.
A 2022 study found that beer is the most purchased alcoholic beverage in supermarkets. Craft beer does not sell at the level of commercial brands, but notable interest in it is reflected in its wide presence on menus at restaurants, bars and other establishments.
"Despite the boom in Puerto Rico, the percentage of craft beer consumption is still much lower than commercial beer, even though craft beer is a local product," said Carlos Ayala, co-founder of Reina Mora brewery, in a conversation with Platea.
The opening of Ocean Lab Brewing's second tap room, at Plaza San Patricio, and Takabru's third, at Plaza Las Américas, planned for 2025, show how the industry is integrating into key retail locations.
Since Old Harbor Brewery opened in 1996, the number of craft breweries in Puerto Rico has grown to 23, up from just a handful that existed between 2000 and 2010, according to the portal Craft Beer Generation.
If contract breweries, companies that produce their beer off the island and import it, are included, there are more than 30 craft breweries.
Map of craft breweries in Puerto Rico. The map includes more than one tap room for some brands, and the production locations of breweries that do not have tap rooms. Source: Craft Beer Generation.
The homebrewer movement, enthusiasts who make beer at home, has also been key. As educational initiatives grew, so did the desire to consume and produce local, unique and new beers.
Events like Bairoa Homebrewers Bash celebrate this craft and build a sense of community among brewers. Many homebrewers have used them to share the recipes they later turn into successful businesses, such as Pura Vida Brewery.
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Creativity in every sip
Homebrewing brought with it workshops, tastings and an interest in recognizing innovation among local breweries. Among them, Reina Mora experiments with recipes that highlight local biodiversity, including IPAs made with guanábana.
A boost for local and food tourism
As a tourism driver, Puerto Rico Beer & Pizza Fest and PR Beer Week draw thousands of people to discover beer culture and have new food and drink experiences. That translates into domestic tourism when breweries open in municipalities outside the metropolitan area, stimulating economic activity in other businesses and industries.
On the question of the future, Ayala believes that although growth is notable, there are still "opportunities to keep educating the public" about the value of craft beer.
"The opportunity is there, in growth and in innovation, mixing those two things. Our innovation, as brewers and new breweries, to create different products with a local touch," said the engineer by profession.
Puerto Rico Beer Week 2024: what to expect
Puerto Rico Beer Week 2024 is shaping up to be a lively celebration of the Island's growing local brewing industry.
Throughout the week, there will be releases and tastings, highlighted by the launch of MANTECA Barleywine on Dec. 12 at Beerbox, Aguadilla. On Dec. 14, the Tour Cervecero will take participants through the south and west of the Island, visiting breweries in Mayagüez, Sabana Grande, Ponce and Cabo Rojo.
You can find the full Puerto Rico Beer Week schedule here.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
