The Best Beers To Drink In Cuba

Cuba is famous for its rum and cigars, but its beer scene is growing in popularity. The drinking scene in Cuba is awash in rum and beer, and drinks are cheap compared to Western prices. The two most popular beers in Cuba are Cristal and Bucanero, which are widely available across the island. Cristal is a light lager with a lower alcohol content, while Bucanero is a stronger lager. Other popular beers include Cacique, Mayabe, and Cerveja Bruja Clásica. Regional beers are also available, which tend to be cheaper and less palatable.

Popular Cuban beers

Cuba is more famous for its rum and cigars than its beer, but the local beer culture is growing. Most of the larger cities in Cuba have their own local breweries, although the beer produced is often only sold in the city it's made.

Cristal

The most common and popular beer in Cuba, Cristal is a light lager with a low alcohol content of 4.9%. It has a distinctive green label featuring a palm tree and is available all over the island. It's a standard lager that doesn't have a strong taste, but it's refreshing in the Cuban heat.

Bucanero

The second most popular beer in Cuba, Bucanero, is also a lager, but with a stronger taste and higher alcohol content of 5.4%. It comes in a red and black can. You can find it all over Cuba, although it's more popular with visitors than Cristal.

Mayabe

Mayabe is a clear and light-tasting Cuban beer with a low alcohol content of 4%. It's cheaper than Cristal or Bucanero, so it's more popular with locals, and you'll find it in state-run restaurants and bars. It has a malty aroma and a sweet, malty taste with little bitterness.

Cacique

Cacique is a local Cuban beer that's slightly stronger than Mayabe, with an alcohol content of 4.5%. It has a light taste and is served on tap in the provinces. It's also available in silver cans at state-run businesses.

Cerveja Bruja Clásica

This is a local beer that's cheaper than Cristal and Bucanero, and it's aimed at locals rather than tourists. It's a generic lager with a bitter, bready finish.

Tinima Cerveza Clara

Tinima is another local beer, sold mainly to Cubans and found mostly in local pubs. It's a pale lager with an alcohol content of 5.3%. It has a bitter taste with some sweetness and medium carbonation.

Local craft beer breweries

Cuba may be famous for its rum, but that doesn't mean it's lacking in local breweries. In fact, in recent years, Havana has seen the opening of several new craft beer breweries.

One of the most well-known craft breweries in Havana is Cerveceria Antiguo Almacen de la Madera y El Tabaco, located in a former wood and tobacco warehouse on the southern end of Havana Vieja, along the waterfront. This massive, hangar-like space has a large bar, a stage for live music, and a food stand. They brew three Austrian-style beers: Blond, Marron, and Negra, served in individual glasses or large towers. The brewery is also well-positioned to experiment with ageing beers in rum barrels, given Cuba's renowned rum industry.

Another popular craft brewery in Havana is Cerveceria Fabrica Plaza Vieja, situated on Plaza Vieja, a large town square in the southern part of Havana Vieja. This brewery offers a lively atmosphere with a spacious patio and live music. Like Cerveceria Antiguo Almacen de la Madera y El Tabaco, they brew three types of beer: Clara, Oscura, and Negra.

While the craft beer scene in Cuba may be in its early stages, with most beers being comparable to standard lager styles, it is growing. As relations between the United States and Cuba improve and more people gain access to brewing equipment and knowledge, we can expect to see more creative beers emerging from these local breweries.

Beer prices in Cuba

Cuba has a vibrant drinking scene, with beer and rum being widely consumed across the island. The drinking culture in Cuba is unique, with stories of locals and tourists alike enjoying a few cold ones every evening. The best part? The drinks are all cheap, especially when compared to prices in Western countries.

The most popular beers among tourists are Cristal and Bucanero, which typically cost 1 CUC (equivalent to 1 USD). These beers are priced in CUC currency and are considered the most expensive Cuban beers. They are widely available in bars, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets in tourist areas. Sometimes, there may be a small markup at certain restaurants or fancy hotel bars, but you can usually find them at the government rate of 1 CUC. Cristal has an alcohol content of 4.9%, while Bucanero has a slightly higher alcohol content of 5.4% and a stronger taste.

For those looking for more affordable options, there are local beers such as Cacique and Mayabe, which are extremely popular with the locals due to their great taste and lower prices. Mayabe has an alcohol content of 4% and costs 18 pesos (MN), which is approximately 75 cents USD. Cacique has a slightly higher alcohol content of 4.5% and is sold for 20 pesos (MN), or about 83 cents USD.

If you're looking for even cheaper options, you can explore regional brewers such as Tinima and Bruja, which cost around 10 pesos (MN) per bottle, or about 42 cents USD. These beers are less fizzy and have a flatter taste, so they may not appeal to everyone. However, they are worth trying, especially if you're on a tight budget.

Overall, Cuba offers a range of beer options to suit different tastes and price points. Whether you're looking for a standard lager, a stronger brew, or a cheap drink to enjoy with friends, you can find it all in Cuba. So, the next time you're in Havana, be sure to explore the different beers the country has to offer and cheers to a memorable Cuban experience!

Beer strengths and flavours

Cuba has a rapidly growing local beer culture, with two craft breweries in Havana, and most larger cities brewing their own beer. However, these locally brewed beers are often only sold in the cities in which they are produced.

The two most common beers in Cuba are Cristal and Bucanero. Cristal is a light lager with a 4.9% alcohol content, and is the most popular beer in Cuba. It is a refreshing, easy-to-drink beer with a sweet grainy taste and a slightly bitter, hoppy, grassy feel. It is available everywhere in Cuba and is priced at 1 CUC (equivalent to 1 USD).

Bucanero is the second most popular beer in Cuba and has a stronger taste and higher alcohol content (5.4%) than Cristal. It has a moderately sweet taste with low bitterness and a low dry finish. It is also sold in cans and 0.33l bottles and is usually priced at 1 CUC.

Other local beers include Cerveja Bruja Clásica, Tinima Cerveza Clara, Cacique, and Mayabe Cerveza Clara. These beers are less widely available and are mostly sold in local pubs and state-run restaurants and bars, rather than in tourist areas. They are also cheaper than Cristal and Bucanero.

Regional beers are also available in Cuba, which tend to be cheaper but less palatable. Some examples include Polars, Tropicale, and Hatuey.

Where to buy beer in Cuba

Cuba has a thriving drinking scene, with beer and rum being widely consumed and very affordable. The most popular beers among tourists are Cristal and Bucanero, which are available at most bars, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets in tourist areas. These beers are priced in Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) and typically cost 1 CUC (equivalent to 1 USD) each. Cristal, with its distinctive green label, is a light and crisp lager with an alcohol content of 4.9%. Bucanero, on the other hand, has a red and black packaging and a stronger taste with a 5.4% alcohol content. Both beers are produced by the same company at their brewery in Holguin.

If you're looking for a more authentic local experience, you should try Cacique and Mayabe, which are extremely popular among Cubans due to their great taste and lower prices, usually quoted in Moneda Nacional (MN). These beers can be found at state-run restaurants and bars, as well as outdoor stores called Venta Libre stands. Mayabe, with its mild taste and low alcohol content of 4%, can be purchased for 18 pesos (MN) or approximately 75 cents USD. Cacique, with a slightly higher alcohol content of 4.5%, costs 20 pesos (MN) or about 83 cents USD.

For those seeking even cheaper options, small regional brewers offer beers such as Tinima and Bruja, which are significantly flatter in taste and cost around 10 pesos (MN) or 42 cents USD per bottle. These can be found at bars and restaurants off the beaten track. Additionally, keep an eye out for microbreweries and boutique beers, such as Factoria in Havana's Old Town, which offers light, dark, and black beer options.

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