Balashi Beer: Us Availability And Where To Buy

Balashi is a beer from Aruba that has gained a lot of interest in the United States. It is a light, refreshing pilsner-style lager that has been brewed since 1932 and is considered a national treasure of Aruba. While it does not seem to be widely available in the US, some specialty beer shops and Caribbean restaurants in places like Florida and New York may occasionally offer it. However, for most craft beer lovers in the US, the only way to sample this beer is to enjoy it fresh in Aruba.

Where can you buy Balashi beer in the US?

Balashi beer is a light and refreshing pilsner-style lager from Aruba, which has developed a cult following worldwide. However, it is not widely available in the United States due to strict alcohol import laws and distribution challenges.

If you're in the US and craving a taste of this Aruban brew, your best bet is to look for specialty beer shops or Caribbean restaurants and bars in cities with sizeable Caribbean communities, such as Miami and New York. These establishments may occasionally offer Balashi, but it's not a guarantee. You may have to settle for a similar beer, such as Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, or Pacifico, which offer a comparable sun-soaked refreshment.

Another option is to purchase Balashi online from obscure beer sites that offer international shipping. However, this can be costly and time-consuming.

For most Americans, the only sure way to get their hands on Balashi is to travel to Aruba itself, where the beer is widely available. You can even take up to 5 litres back home with you.

While Balashi has a growing fanbase in the US, it looks like, for now, only the most devoted beer hunters will be able to track it down.

Is it available in US supermarkets?

While it may be challenging to find Balashi beer in the United States, it is not impossible. Balashi is a light and refreshing pilsner-style lager that has become the national beer of Aruba, an island in the Caribbean. It is brewed using a traditional pilsner approach, with water from natural springs, barley malt, rice, corn grits, and noble hops from Europe.

In the United States, Balashi beer is not widely distributed or sold in supermarkets. However, some specialty beer shops and Caribbean restaurants in places like Florida and New York may occasionally offer it. These shops likely have direct connections with importers or travellers. For example, a bar owner in Binghamton, New York, commented that they tried to get some Balashi beer to sell but couldn't find a wholesaler.

The limited availability of Balashi beer in the United States is due to several factors, including strict alcohol distribution laws, limited production volumes, regulatory hurdles, high distribution costs, stiff competition, and lack of brand awareness outside the Caribbean.

If you're unable to find Balashi beer in US supermarkets, your best bet is to look for niche Caribbean restaurants and bars that are comfortable with importing foreign beer. Additionally, some online beer sites offer international shipping of Balashi, but with hefty costs and long delivery times.

So, while it may be a challenge, it is possible to find Balashi beer in the United States, particularly in areas with a significant Caribbean community, such as Miami and New York.

Can you buy it online?

While it is possible to buy Balashi beer online, it is challenging to find. A few obscure online beer sites offer international shipping of Balashi, but with high costs and long delivery times. Mainstream services like Drizly or direct brewery shipping do not offer the brand. Given the limited supply, online retail for American consumers remains extremely challenging.

In the United States, the best places to find Balashi are in Caribbean restaurants and bars that import foreign beer. These accounts are happy to special order a case or keg for events or to add to their menus. However, this remains an extremely localised and inconsistent source.

If you live in the United States and are desperate to try Balashi, your best option is to travel to Aruba and buy it there. Airlines allow travellers to take up to 5 litres of alcohol back home.

Can you drink it in bars and restaurants?

While it is possible to find Balashi beer in some bars and restaurants in the US, it is not easy. The beer is not exported to the US by the Balashi Brewery, and strict US alcohol distribution laws make it difficult for importers to bring it into the country.

Some sources suggest that your best chance of finding Balashi in the US is in Caribbean restaurants and bars that are willing to import foreign beer. These are likely to be in areas with large Caribbean communities, such as Miami and New York. However, even in these areas, supplies are inconsistent and tend to sell out fast.

One bar owner in the US tried to get some Balashi to sell but couldn't find a wholesaler anywhere. They concluded that Balashi doesn't have an agreement to sell in the US, and that it can only be sold in bars if it's brought into the country by individuals. This is supported by another source, which states that the only way to sample Balashi in the US is to buy it in Aruba and bring it home in your suitcase.

If you do manage to find Balashi in a bar or restaurant in the US, it's likely to be a special order for an event or to be added to a menu.

So, while it is possible to drink Balashi in bars and restaurants in the US, it is not common, and you may have to put in some effort to find it.

Why is it so hard to find in the US?

Balashi Beer is the national beer of Aruba, a Caribbean island nation. It has been brewed since 1929 and is considered a national treasure of the country. While it is widely available in Aruba, it is not easy to find in the United States.

The Balashi Brewery itself does not export to the US, and importers face challenges due to strict alcohol distribution laws. Some specialty beer shops and Caribbean restaurants in places like Florida and New York may occasionally offer it, but it is not widely distributed or sold in most American markets.

The main obstacle to finding Balashi Beer in the US is the strict regulations on importing commercial alcohol. The licensing, permits, distribution laws, and customs rules vary across 50 states, making it difficult for a small foreign brand like Balashi to navigate.

Another factor is limited production volume. Balashi Brewery only brews 1.5-2 million cases annually, and with high distribution costs due to Aruba's remote island location, it is expensive to ship. There is also stiff competition from thousands of craft beers vying for shelf space.

For these reasons, it is challenging for Balashi Beer to achieve widespread availability in the United States. However, there is a growing international demand for the beer, and with improvements in export processes, there may be hope for expanded distribution in the future.

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