Status Update – Craft Beer in Peru

Things are seriously brewing down here in Peru, as the craft beer world continues to explode in this vibrant South American nation.  Yes, Peru — the home to Machu Picchu and llamas– is making some crazy good beer.  And as part of our series, here’s an update of what’s been cracking down here lately.

Festivals

First, at the end of 2015, there was Capfest — the biggest craft beer festival to hit the nation — organized by the Peruvian Association of Craft Brewers.  Capfest hosted 25 craft breweries, alongside 10 pretty yummy food trucks with the famous Peruvian grub to satiate (and protect the liver of) this reporter.  They ranged from months old microbreweries to the most well-known craft brewers in Peru. 

, Status Update – Craft Beer in Peru

The stars of the show included newcomers Tio Luque, with their Citra Pale ale; the oldest brewery in Peru, 7 Vidas, with some of the newest styles like a double IPA that are trending and “vendiendose  como tamal” (an expression that means selling as fast as the popular Peruvian fast food, tamals*); and our good old Teach brewery, with its always solid and drinkable ales including a Black IPA and the “Old Friends Ale.”

, Status Update – Craft Beer in PeruFebruary brought Summer Brewfest: an event organized by Juan Mayorga, long-time brewer, plant lover and co-owner of Valle Sagrado Brewery. The purpose of the event:  getting the brewers to present one classic brew, and then one special beer for the summer, brewed just for the festival.

The Brewfest included some of the 12 most popular breweries and it was a clear show of how serious the beer scene has gotten here, as all the breweries impressed their audience with their special brews. 

“Special Attention” Beers that I had to make note of (before I was unable to) —Barranco Beer Companies´ Pepino Punch (cucumber!), a beer that was as smooth as a gin and tonic and perfect for a hot day; a classic farmhouse ale Mi Yunta from Sierra Andina; and fruity and sour Lions Tears Gose from Valle Sagrado Brewery.

Bars

In between the great festivals, the first true craft beer bars in Lima how now opened to quench your thirst.

In tourist center Miraflores, Nuevo Mundo Brewery now has its own spot where you can get any of their 8 more Belgian style beers plus 4 rotating taps.  In Bohemian Barranco there is a new 12 tap stop, 1824, usually pouring beers from over 8 breweries at a time with few repeats. And finally, Barbarian Brewery has just opened up its own spot — Bar Barian — with 23 local taps! 

, Status Update – Craft Beer in Peru

Beer Competitions 

If you want to get more competitive with your drinking, no worries!  Peru just hosted its first ever beer competition this year, in which judges from 8 nations tried over 300 submissions. This promises to be a great yearly event.  

It’s clear things are getting serious; this reporter has even observed beer groupies – a sign things are “getting real” down here.

ACB will continue to support on this growing craft beer scene in this South American nation — stay tuned.

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*A traditional Mesoamerican dish made of masa or corn meal steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf. 

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