cerveza cubana

[Guest]

I am heading to Cuba for my third trip this December. On my first trip I was in Havana and surrounding provinces. I wasn't familiar with the Cuban beers so I just ordered what I saw. I quickly took a liking to the Cristal cervesa. On my second trip I was in the eastern provinces and was frequently served a darker Cuban beer and can't remember that brand name. In my mind it didn't compare to the Cristal. On the way home I wasn't getting duty-free on my flight so I bought as many cans of Cristals I could fit into my duffle bag. I cherished those cans and one night I had a gathering of fellow Cuban travellers at my house and the next morning they were all gone. *:'( I think the Cubans do a great job with their beer and that's coming from a Canadian!

[Guest]

it certainly was "bucaneer"; it tastes sweeter than "crital".

[Guest]

Maybe you'll recognize it from these labels.

http://lat.www.citycat.ru/beer/16_03/1cuba_buka.jpglabel van bucanero.
"Bucanero fuerte" - 5,4% ob. - 0,35 l. Tinima Brewery, Camaguey, Cuba.


http://lat.www.citycat.ru/beer/16_03/1cuba_hatu.jpglabel van hatuey
"Hatuey calida superior" - 4,8% ob. - 0,35 l. Mayabe Brewery, Holguin, Cuba.

Enjoy,

Tjello

[Guest]

I am constantly amazed as to how people find such things! Gracias Tjello! I am sending those images to my fellow Cuban travellors in Vancouver. I'm sure it'll bring a tear to their eyes as well. ;)

[Guest]

Well, if your friend get tears in their eyes when they see BEER-labels, they will surely start mouth-watering when looking at these.... LOL

http://www.rum.cz/ascii/galery/cam/cu/index.htm#start

http://www.rum.cz/galery/cam/cu/cubaron/

http://www.rum.cz/ascii/galery/cam/cu/alzola/

Cheers,

Tjello

[suenoazur]

Bucanero is considered as a strong one, by cuban standards.
Crystal always remembers me of english beer : light and not much taste. It is the most common among tourists.
Hatuey was smouther but has been discontinued, since the Bacardy family pursued Cuba saying that the brand name was theirs.


Maybe you'll recognize it from these labels.

http://lat.www.citycat.ru/beer/16_03/1cuba_buka.jpglabel van bucanero.
"Bucanero fuerte" - 5,4% ob. - 0,35 l. Tinima Brewery, Camaguey, Cuba.


http://lat.www.citycat.ru/beer/16_03/1cuba_hatu.jpglabel van hatuey
"Hatuey calida superior" - 4,8% ob. - 0,35 l. Mayabe Brewery, Holguin, Cuba.

Enjoy,

Tjello

[carlito]

Well, one more time i enter with my poor :-/ english, to talk about beers this time, please correct me, thank. :)

I think that for talking about cuban beers people should test *:PTinima, the best cuban beer.
It is made in Camaguey, and on my opinion it is the best one. :P

Anyway other are good too, but like Tinima, i don't think so.

Thanks.

[cbob]

I dunno; Cristal seems like a "lite" beer to me. Guess it apeals to folks who like "Blue" or "Canadian". I had trouble finding any other brands on my last trip. Cristal seems to be the only beer on tap at most locations. Our resort said they had Buccanero, but I got the last can they had on my first day, and that was it. Ditto for restaurants in Havana, including the very nice bar at the Parc Central. My favorite in times past was La Garto, but nobody even seems to have heard of it now, even when it is on a menu! It's Cristal or nothing, so I'm drinkin' rum.

[suenoazur]

I forgot the Mayabe, lighter than Buccanero, but in my opinion better than the Crystal. Comes in two versions - strong and light - as the Buccanero too.
They also re-did the Hatuey but it really tastes awful now.

[cubado]

:-X :-X
YUCK,YUCKY & YUCKIER!
i am not a big cerveza fan!
and in cuba ::) ::)
i like none!
and they give you the worst hangover!
especially Crystal in my opinion!! :-/ ::) :(]
myself..i stick to the RON!! 8) 8) :P ;)

(WORST HANGOVER....any one know of HEFFENREFFER THE "GREEN DEATH"!?)

no more...CRYSTAL TAKES TITLE OF THE "GREEN DEATH!!

[Gillian]

My friends and I only encountered the Crystal and Mayabe beers while there (I'm afraid we didn't range too far). My preference was the Mayabe - it was a bit stronger. I too found the Crystal to almost taste like a light beer. I regularly drink Ex, which has a strong taste.

Cheers all!

[Rick]

ALRIGHT!!! That's enough complaining about mi cerveza cristal! Do you people realize this thread was started by me almost six months ago? Since then I've been back to Cuba two more times and am still sticking by my assertion that Cristal is good stuff. Even when I've brought it back home and drank it sans palm trees, beaches and amigos I still liked it! That's coming from a Canadian. If you don't like... GREAT! More for me! ;D

[suenoazur]

Hi Rick,
you have to consider that north-american beer are very light.
My canadian favorite (when I lived there 20 years ago was Labatt Blue, but it did not taste so good last time I went to Montreal).
We have a great variety of light to strong beer in Europe, white, black, mixed. We have some kind of 'special edition' during the year like Christmas beer (like the Beaujolais nouveau's day).
There are many places in Paris (named 'beer bars') where you can choose among around one hundred. If you can try the french canadian 'La Maudite' (The Damned one) - I think the brand is 'Unibroue' - you'll get an idea.

Whatever it is : Havana Club (anejo) is the best drink (then french cognac and scottish whisky).

[suenoazur]

PS
You will laugh : I like to go in one of this bar sometimes, lazying with some book or newspaper. I always take a 'Club sandwhich' with my beer.
Usually, you eat 'mussels and chips' in these places (I'm not sure of my american about 'mussels' - mosclas en espanol).

[Rick]

Sueno, Canadian beer has changed a lot in twenty years! There are lots of breweries here now so everyone can find one that suits them best. I guess I am not a fan of the dark malty beers.
When I was in England two years ago everyone tried to show me their pub with the "best" beer in the world! Personally, I prefer Cristal over all the various beers I tried in England, too. However, I have received Emails from my fellow Cuba fans who are lurking on this board saying that they also think that Cristal is not very good, too!
So, to all of you I say... #%@!#!!!! I like my Cristal! ;D

[ric_v]

attention: RickL....... ;D...look at this,with lots of help,which is most appreciated i can participate on this board,rather than just read all the good stuff !!
BUT...i have to stand up for real canadian beer drinkers,are you sure crystal is not "Coors Lite" ? only in a different colored can ????
i will trade one for one,Buccanero "Blanco",in a silver tin,or better yet,how about cold bottles of polar in shackies bar in downtown Guantanamo... 8) 8)

[Rick]

Hola ric,
Yes, I noticed this post yesterday but wanted some time to think about my reply! I am well aware of your opinion on cerveza Cristal, amigo. I would gladly buy you a Buccanero or any beer of choice in Guantanamo BUT ONLY when you cough up that address to that casa particulare in Guantanamo you've been promising for the last couple of months! Until then... I will only spring for a Cristal! ;D

Por cierto, the ice cream parlor downtown is still closed for renovations! >:(

[Charo]

Just a point of interest,, Cristal is a combined effort between Cuba and labatt canada,,maybe this is why so many of us canadians like it so much!!! :P

[greslogo]

I've sort of taken to Hatuey the last few trips. It's different. Probably because it's been off the market for so long, and only recently available, although hard to find.

[cbob]

Nice to see from Greslogo's post that Hatuey is back. Despite Rick's protests, I'd take it over Cristal anyday. *8)
I wonder if it is still brewed in Cuba?
Reason I ask : I found that the great little pizza place at Prado Y Neptuno in Old Havana was again serving La Garto beer, which (see my previous post) I really liked and drank a lot of prior to its disappearance in 1999. Imagine my surprise to see that it is brewed in Holland!! * :o
Well no wonder I liked it!
But I'm sure I would have noticed if it had not been a local brew when I enjoyed it previously. Sure looked at enough cans. * :P :P
It used to be priced as a local beer too, and you could get it at the neighborhood Caricol store, but now it'd priced as an import (which it is). Go figure. * * ???

[Rick]

I give up!!! Obviously, I am the only Canadian who can appreciate the subtle qualities of mi cerveza favorita! I need a beer! If Cristal is so bad, why is it the only Cuban beer now on sale here in Canada? 8)

[greslogo]

Well, Labatt's is intimitely involved with the production of Cristal in Cuba. Since they sell Labatt's beer in Cuba, the deal was probably in exchange for selling Cristal in Canada.

Much like Havana Club being the most popular rum in Cuba, Cristal is the same for beer. Is it the best ? I don't think so but that's my opinion.

Matusalem "was" the best rum in Cuba and that was never exported.

[Charo]

Buenos dias , It's amazing how many responses there are to a beer question,(lol) it's great reading at 3:00 am. in the morning!!! ::)

[jeffg]

I hate beer, especially Cuban beer!!!!! :P :-X :P :-X :P