Jamaican Beer: What's Brewing In The Island's Beer Scene?

Jamaica's drinking culture reflects a blend of tradition, celebration, and local flavours. While the island is famous for its rum, there are plenty of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to try.

The most famous beer in Jamaica is Red Stripe, an amber lager with a fresh and clean taste. However, stouts and darker ales are also growing in popularity.

- Dragon Stout

- Lion Heart Stout

- Razz Hard Jamaican Ginger Beer

- Real Rock Premium Red Lager

- Carib Lager

- Guinness Foreign Extra Stout

- Gong 71st

- Jamaica Stout

- Dragon Gold

Red Stripe: a light-bodied lager that goes with any meal

Red Stripe is a light-bodied lager that goes with any meal. It is the quintessential crisp lager and the most famous and popular beer in Jamaica. It is an amber lager with a fresh and clean taste. Red Stripe is the everyday lager of choice on the island and can be found almost everywhere, from bars and restaurants to popular tour stops and vendors.

Red Stripe is produced by Desnoes and Geddes (D&G), the oldest brewery in Jamaica, which was established around 1918. It is a Jamaican beer brand, although some report it as having been originally brewed in Galena, Illinois, and production was moved to Pennsylvania in 2011.

There are several variations of Red Stripe, including Red Stripe Light, Red Stripe Lemon, Red Stripe Sorrel, Red Stripe Lime, Red Stripe Light Apple, and Red Stripe Light Ginger. The beer has notes of cornbread and almonds, with aromas of apples, grains, and hoppy malts.

The lager is the most popular style of beer in Jamaica, as its light crispness matches the hot tropical climate. However, the popularity of stouts and darker ales is growing on the island.

Dragon Stout: a dark stout with a distinctive smokey taste

Dragon Stout is a Jamaican exclusive. This dark stout has a distinctive smokey taste and is made using a blend of caramel, roasted malts, brown sugar, and other ingredients. It boasts a rich and smooth texture, making it a popular choice for those seeking a full-bodied beer experience.

With an alcohol content of around 7.5%, Dragon Stout packs a stronger punch than its counterpart, Red Stripe. While Red Stripe is more widely recognised and consumed, Dragon Stout has garnered a dedicated following among those who appreciate its unique flavour profile. It is readily available across Jamaica, allowing visitors and locals alike to savour its bold and robust character.

Dragon Stout is crafted by Desnoes & Geddes (D&G), the oldest brewery in Jamaica. Operating since 1918, D&G has become a prominent force in the Jamaican beer industry, also producing the well-known Red Stripe lager. The brewery's expertise and longstanding tradition contribute to the consistent quality of Dragon Stout.

The stout's aroma profile is a delightful interplay of roasted malt, with subtle hints of coffee and chocolate lingering in the background. This complex blend of flavours and aromas makes Dragon Stout a favourite among beer enthusiasts seeking a departure from typical lager options.

When pairing Dragon Stout with food, consider its robust flavour and how it can complement or contrast your dish. While it goes well with lighter seafood salads, its full-bodied nature also makes it an excellent choice for richer dishes such as jerk chicken, pork, or seafood prepared with the famous Jamaican jerk spice blend.

For those who enjoy a stout, Dragon Stout offers a unique Jamaican drinking experience that showcases the country's brewing heritage and cultural flavours. Its availability and distinct taste make it a must-try beverage when visiting the island, providing a memorable drinking experience that reflects the essence of Jamaica.

Ginger beer: a non-alcoholic, spice-infused soft drink

Ginger beer is a popular drink in Jamaica and is renowned for being the best in the world. It is a non-alcoholic, spice-infused soft drink with a strong ginger taste. It is made with sugar cane, honey, sugar, and lime juice, and sometimes includes additional spices such as cloves and cinnamon.

Jamaican ginger beer is not carbonated, unlike its store-bought counterparts. It is traditionally made without fermentation, though some Jamaicans do carry out this process and add alcohol, usually in the form of rum, to give it a kick.

Jamaican ginger beer is a refreshing drink, perfect for the hot climate, and can be enjoyed by all ages. It is a great holiday drink and is often served with ice.

Guinness: a popular stout, sometimes used in punches

Guinness is a popular stout in Jamaica, where it is sometimes used to make a creamy punch. The punch is made with Guinness, vodka, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and ground nutmeg. It has a strong and delicious finish, with the signature bitterness of Guinness infused with a bit of sweetness from the condensed milk.

Guinness is brewed in the Irish style by Desnoes & Geddes (D&G), the oldest brewery in Jamaica. It has aromas of dark chocolate, coffee, and liquorice, a mild carbonation, and the characteristic oily texture.

While stouts and darker ales are growing in popularity in Jamaica, lager is still the most popular beer style on the island. The hot tropical climate suits the light crispness of lagers like the iconic Red Stripe, which is considered the most famous and popular Jamaican beer. However, Jamaicans also love stout, and Guinness is a top choice alongside local options like Dragon Stout and Lion Heart Stout.

Local rum: often mixed with Ting, a Jamaican grapefruit soda

Jamaica's drinking culture reflects a blend of tradition, celebration, and local flavours. Rum, often referred to as the "spirit of Jamaica", holds a special place in the country's identity. However, Jamaica has far more to offer beyond rum. One popular drink is a mixture of local rum and Ting, a Jamaican grapefruit soda.

Ting is a carbonated beverage that is popular in the Caribbean. It is flavoured with Jamaican grapefruit juice (from concentrate) and has a tart and sweet taste. It comes in a green glass bottle, green plastic bottle, or a green and yellow can. The beverage contains a small amount of sediment consisting of grapefruit juice pulp. It is produced in the United Kingdom under license by Refresco Beverages, and it is distributed throughout the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada. Outside of these regions, it is not commonly available, although it is also produced in the UK using Jamaican grapefruits.

Ting was first produced in 1976 by Desnoes & Geddes Limited, which was acquired by Guinness in 1993. With Desnoes and Geddes moving to focus on beer alone, its soft drink facility in Jamaica was acquired in 1999 by PepsiCo affiliate Pepsi-Cola Jamaica, located in Kingston, Jamaica. Ting has a variety of uses as a mixer in cocktails, such as the "Wray and Ting" or "rum ting", made with Wray & Nephew Overproof White Rum and Ting. It can also be mixed with citrus vodka to create Ving, an alcoholic version of the drink.

Ting is a versatile mixer that adds a refreshing new dimension to cocktails. It pairs well with spirits such as rum and vodka, enhancing their flavour and providing a lively blend of sparkling water and the subtle sweetness of grapefruit.

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