Balashi Brewery - Aruba

Discussion in 'Rest of the World' started by BrianNY, Nov 30, 2013.

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  1. BrianNY

    BrianNY Initiate (0) May 25, 2013 New York

    Hi all,

    Has anyone ever gone to the Balashi Brewery in Aruba? I will be going this February and wanted to know everyones thoughts. I will be there for 4 days. Is it worth my time?

    Thanks!
     
    #1 BrianNY, Nov 30, 2013
  2. mcrago

    mcrago Pundit (839) Oct 6, 2012 Indiana

    #2 mcrago, Nov 30, 2013
  3. bluemooncanyon

    bluemooncanyon Aspirant (211) Jan 31, 2010 Maryland

    I would take some good beer with you, because they do not have any craft beer in Aruba. My wife and I would take a duffle bag full of craft beer in cans.
     
    #3 bluemooncanyon, Nov 30, 2013
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  4. DrewSnyc667

    DrewSnyc667 Initiate (0) Jul 25, 2011 Massachusetts

    Balashi is just a simple pale lager that is refreshing in 90 degree sun but the brewery tour won't be anything worth while. And while I love crafts I can't imagine drinking a lot of them in the daytime heat there. Although a snappy pilsner would be good.
     
    #4 DrewSnyc667, Nov 30, 2013
  5. windboyz

    windboyz Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2005 Pennsylvania

    If you just want a brewery tour I've heard it's OK. The beer is not great but drinkable in a light lager kind of way. Most places we went to eat or drink didn't have any craft beers. BUT (the big but). Aruba is a former Dutch colony. We shopped in a supermarket and found many very drinkable European labels there.
     
    #5 windboyz, Nov 30, 2013
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  6. BrianNY

    BrianNY Initiate (0) May 25, 2013 New York

    I have had the beer before and it is mediocre. Definitely better when you are in the heat and just need something watery! Wasn't really planning on going to the brewery for the beer itself, more for the tour experience. Sounds like nobody invested any time there thus far. To go or not to go... that is the question...
     
    #6 BrianNY, Nov 30, 2013
  7. HopsintheSack

    HopsintheSack Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2012 California

    There is not much else to do in Aruba anyways, might as well go. I enjoyed Balashi more than any other beer on the island.
     
    #7 HopsintheSack, Nov 30, 2013
  8. TTague

    TTague Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2012 Illinois

    You should check it out. They have nice beer garden. It's been a few years since I was there. When we went it was happy hour. A lot of the brewery workers were hanging out. Also met one of the owners. Everyone kept buying our beers too, which was an added bonus. Enjoy!
     
    #8 TTague, Nov 30, 2013
  9. MVP09

    MVP09 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2012 Massachusetts

    My wife and I honeymooned there at the Rui 5 years ago there was place called Taste of Belgium stumbing distance to hotel. They had Paavel Kwak and Chimay plus they sold to go bottles
     
    #9 MVP09, Nov 30, 2013
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  10. BrianNY

    BrianNY Initiate (0) May 25, 2013 New York

    thanks @MVP09 for the other recommendation. Has anyone else come across any other good beer spots to check out while in Aruba?
     
    #10 BrianNY, Dec 1, 2013
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