Caribbean Beers that I should try

I enjoyed Strong Back Stout in the Bahamas.

 

Wadadli is a beer brewed on Antigua. There is a regular version and a Premium Gold version. They're both just AALs, so nothing fancy. Premium Gold was better as I found it maltier and definitely more flavorful. I don't know what the availability outside of Antigua is.

 

Absolutely. I never found any local beer worth drinking in the south Caribbean (to set a perspective the least bland beer was Heineken which is like water with the taste taken out) in that part of the world.But enjoy what they're good at, rum.

 

If you can find a Dragon Stout from Jamaica you're golden. One of my favourites.

 

I like drinking "what the locals drink". Jamaica = Red Stripe. Antigua = Wadadli. St Lucia = Piton. Don Republic = Presidente (and mamajuana). Costa Rica = Imperial. Mexico = Victoria (among others)

After that, I say the hell with it, and drink hard liquor. Mostly rum.

 

Belikin stout is good (I liked the lager too) but the rums and tequilas are what you should be looking for, also keep an eye out for Guaro (nice local moonshine)

 

Kalik (Bahamas) and Kalik Gold
Dragon Stout (Jamaica)
Mackeson XXX stout (Trinidad & Tobago)

 

Don't drink the water

 

Red Stripe is far and away the leader of the "Carribean Lager" pack, IMHO.

 

I love foreign export stouts so I really looked forward to drinking beer in the Caribbean! Actually Guiness FES was kind of a gateway craft beer for me long time ago.

 

Yeah, Guinness FES is probably the best you find at almost all islands. Beyond that, it seems each island has their own adjust lager they seem to sell boatloads of.

Bahamas = Kalik
Cayman Islands = Caybrew
Aruba = Balashi
Curacao = Amstel Bright (ugghhhh)
Trinidad Tobago = Carib
Jamaica = Red Stripe
Dominican = Presidente

Those are the ones I have been to. I am sure there are others.

The only decent local brew I have found was the St. Johns Brewery. Outstanding for an island beer, ok compared to our US beer.

 

Presidente. no matter where you are.

Polar is OK. nothing to write home about but super cheap.

 

Totally forgot about the Belize Stout, had it a few years ago, decent stuff.

 

The problem with caribbean beers is that almost all of them use a clear or green bottle. Makes a lot of sense in a part of the world where it's almost always sunny, right? At least Red Stripe uses a brown bottle.

I wonder if a lot of that stuff is available on draft down there?

 

All of the great FES use brown bottles.

 

I drank a ton of Piton while in St. Lucia on my honeymoon, but focused a lot more on the rum which tends to be more interesting. Often you can find spirits, generally rum, that are made locally and rarely if ever shipped off the island(s) you're on, so that to me is worth paying more attention to.

 

I had this there also. Way better than Red stripe........if that's saying anything.

 

I started my Caribbean cruise in Florida so I brought some Cigar City beers along, but I did think that Sands was a pretty good thirst quencher.

 

Not too many choices in Belize - Beliken was the only brewery in the country when I was there, although it looks like there is one called Island Time now. You can get Guinness export stout. Enjoy the beers for what they are. I drank a lot of Beliken Premium and Stout when my wife and I were there 4 years ago. Enjoy - it's a beautiful country and there are some cool Mayan ruins.