dizzy1975 Posted March 24, 2014 #1 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I'm trying to figure out what beers to try on our cruise next month. We're going to Columbia, Aruba, St Maarten, St Thomas, and Curacao. Are there local beers that are really outstanding? I'm from the beer capital of the northwest (Central Oregon) and also homebrew. I don't care for lagers but if it's 90 degrees plus with high humidity, I suppose I could choke one down. What would your choices be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzy1975 Posted March 25, 2014 Author #2 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I found a list of recommended beers on a travel website. The list includes Balashi, Hairoun, Carib, Medalla Light, Kalik and Kubuli. The Hairoun is not being made anymore. All sound rather dismal according to beeradvocate except for Carib and possibly Kubuli which sound drinkable but not great. Input anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dajbman22 Posted March 26, 2014 #3 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I'm trying to figure out what beers to try on our cruise next month. We're going to Columbia, Aruba, St Maarten, St Thomas, and Curacao. Are there local beers that are really outstanding?I'm from the beer capital of the northwest (Central Oregon) and also homebrew. I don't care for lagers but if it's 90 degrees plus with high humidity, I suppose I could choke one down. What would your choices be? If you're used to big beers with lots of forward hop flavor, you won't find much in the Caribbean. It's mostly western pale ales and pilsners. That being said, I just go with whatever is local to the island. It may not be the most complex or crafted beer, but it is usually quirky enough to be quite refreshing and different. Just look for people roaming the beach hawking "loca bea". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Honeymooners Posted March 31, 2014 #4 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Piton beer which is local to St. Lucia was one of the best beach beers I've ever had. Might have been a result of them being free flowing on our tour... If you find it available at any of the locations you mentioned give it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterd21 Posted March 31, 2014 #5 Share Posted March 31, 2014 the best beer i've tried was in georgetown, grand caymans. it was called "pirates gold", it was a lager pilsner brew. it had an pretty good flavor for being a domestic beer to the caymans. reminded me of a full bodied version of a michelob amber ultra. the best part of it i must admit was that it was ice cold on a rather warm day on seven mile beach :D:D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capncarp Posted April 1, 2014 #6 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Sorry, while it may seem plebian and commercial-quality to those with finer-honed tastebuds than I, but I have a fond spot in my heart for Red Stripe.:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CntPAcruiser Posted April 2, 2014 #7 Share Posted April 2, 2014 (edited) As others have mentioned, there is not generally a great variety. It's mostly lager, with the odd pilsner style or other lighter beer occasionally available. I can't recall if I've seen a dark beer there ala Negro Modelo or another Mexican dark beer. But on those hot days on the beach, a Carib does go down pretty well. Many islands do not have their own breweries and import from others that do. What you do find, and this is off-topic, are sodas that you don't see every day. On St. Kitts, in additional to locally brewed Carib, we enjoyed Ting, a grapefruit soda, and a pear-flavored soda the name of which I do not recall. Edited April 2, 2014 by CntPAcruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith75 Posted April 3, 2014 #8 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Kalik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dajbman22 Posted April 4, 2014 #9 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Sorry, while it may seem plebian and commercial-quality to those with finer-honed tastebuds than I, but I have a fond spot in my heart for Red Stripe.:o I usually only drink it when on cruises, but nothing says "sail away" to me like a cold Red Stripe. I can be a bit of a beer snob sometimes, but even I like a simple, crisp pale ale or pilsner (even as simple as PBR or Narragansett). On a similar note, did anybody else notice on the RCI promos for the pub on the Quantum class, they list PBR and 'Gansett as "micro-brews"? I may not be above knocking them back, but they certainly aren't micro or even craft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterd21 Posted April 5, 2014 #10 Share Posted April 5, 2014 I usually only drink it when on cruises, but nothing says "sail away" to me like a cold Red Stripe. I can be a bit of a beer snob sometimes, but even I like a simple, crisp pale ale or pilsner (even as simple as PBR or Narragansett). On a similar note, did anybody else notice on the RCI promos for the pub on the Quantum class, they list PBR and 'Gansett as "micro-brews"? I may not be above knocking them back, but they certainly aren't micro or even craft. LMAO.... PBR(as in post brewing recycling) considered a micro brew on RCCI's pub sheet??? PBR barely qualifies as a "beer" let alone micro brewery status. that's the "brew it for three days, flash pasturize it to kill the yeast, and bottle it en masse" poster child.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dajbman22 Posted April 8, 2014 #11 Share Posted April 8, 2014 LMAO.... PBR(as in post brewing recycling) considered a micro brew on RCCI's pub sheet??? PBR barely qualifies as a "beer" let alone micro brewery status. that's the "brew it for three days, flash pasturize it to kill the yeast, and bottle it en masse" poster child.... http://www.royalcaribbean.com/quantumoftheseas/dining/restaurants/michaels-genuine-pub/ Click on the beer menu, and see the "Craft Beer" list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasR&H Posted May 13, 2014 #12 Share Posted May 13, 2014 LMAO.... PBR(as in post brewing recycling) considered a micro brew on RCCI's pub sheet??? PBR barely qualifies as a "beer" let alone micro brewery status. that's the "brew it for three days, flash pasturize it to kill the yeast, and bottle it en masse" poster child.... Either RCCI is attempting to charge more by calling PBR a micro brew or those darn hipsters (LOL) actually make it a cult beer. There's a place in the Dallas area that sells PBR by the can and they serve the can in a paper bag. Greatness! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzy1975 Posted May 14, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted May 14, 2014 I agree, PBR barely qualifies as a beer. Kinda like Boone's Farm barely qualifies as wine. It's what I drank when in the Navy because I was too poor to buy anything worth drinking.... During the 11 days we were on vacation, sadly I only had one single little beer. While doing some shopping in Curacao, a shop owner offered me a Heineken. It was really hot out, the beer was cold (and free) so I drank it. I'd rather not drink any beer unless it tastes good. The Heineken was mediocre at best. The pub idea aboard the Quantum of the seas is an interesting idea. A couple of the brews look good. Flying Dog, Stone and Founders make some respectable beers. Suprisingly, not a single IPA on their line-up. I'd be more willing to drink an IPA or IIPA on a warm weather cruise than a Great Divide Stout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisha115 Posted May 17, 2014 #14 Share Posted May 17, 2014 While in Aruba and/or Curacao, try to hunt down Amstel Bright. IMHO it's better than the wide-spread Amstel Light imported into US. They also have regular Amstel, which is definitely worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dajbman22 Posted June 2, 2014 #15 Share Posted June 2, 2014 I agree, PBR barely qualifies as a beer. Kinda like Boone's Farm barely qualifies as wine. It's what I drank when in the Navy because I was too poor to buy anything worth drinking....During the 11 days we were on vacation, sadly I only had one single little beer. While doing some shopping in Curacao, a shop owner offered me a Heineken. It was really hot out, the beer was cold (and free) so I drank it. I'd rather not drink any beer unless it tastes good. The Heineken was mediocre at best. The pub idea aboard the Quantum of the seas is an interesting idea. A couple of the brews look good. Flying Dog, Stone and Founders make some respectable beers. Suprisingly, not a single IPA on their line-up. I'd be more willing to drink an IPA or IIPA on a warm weather cruise than a Great Divide Stout. I am convinced someone high up in the RCI Food & Beverage corporate team just has a personal vendetta against IPA's. They carry a number of decent beers of various styles in their British pubs (and the new gastropub idea), but never have I seen a true IPA on a Royal Caribbean menu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisee<3 Posted July 28, 2014 #16 Share Posted July 28, 2014 While in Aruba and/or Curacao, try to hunt down Amstel Bright. IMHO it's better than the wide-spread Amstel Light imported into US. They also have regular Amstel, which is definitely worth a try. I definitely enjoyed my amstel bright SO much better than amstel light .. not sure why but it was so fresh and crisp on a hot caribbean dayy :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceMuzz Posted July 28, 2014 #17 Share Posted July 28, 2014 There are many good reasons why great beers - and great wines - are not produced in the tropics. Much of it has to do with climate and terroir. Much of also has to do with local economies and tastes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capncarp Posted July 28, 2014 #18 Share Posted July 28, 2014 There are many good reasons why great beers - and great wines - are not produced in the tropics. Much of it has to do with climate and terroir. Much of also has to do with local economies and tastes. True, BruceMuzz: but the Almighty has provided for this sad lack with the soul of the sugar cane--RUM! (and ginger beer):D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whataboutport Posted August 4, 2014 #19 Share Posted August 4, 2014 (edited) Belikin on Goff's Caye was the best I've had so far. It was just the sum of all the parts. Cold dark beer, grilled Caribbean lobster, new friends, just came back from snorkeling, perfect. Edited August 4, 2014 by whataboutport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMSACE6 Posted August 4, 2014 #20 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I like Bank's beer of Barbados, also Red Stripe, Kalik, and Sol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetwater Posted August 7, 2014 #21 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Dare I ask...is there any dark or flavoured beers in the carribean? We are going to Grand Cayman and would like something more than a weak lager/beer type thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Zqueeze1 Posted September 18, 2014 #22 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Post #2 mentions Medalla Light from Puerto Rico and (Thank you, God!!!) available in south Florida. If you can get one, cool it down to just above freezing and then enjouy its cold, crisp flavor!! Damn, I'm going to have to go home and get me one. Z and TB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capncarp Posted September 20, 2014 #23 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Anyone have any input on Grand Turk's native product, Turk's Head? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLangley Posted September 27, 2014 #24 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Sands in the Bahamas was pretty good..... Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amflor Posted September 27, 2014 #25 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Medalla In PR, Or Kalik in the Bahamas -- Both have unique taste, which reminds I have to drink the Kalik I brought home from my last cruise:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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