Cuba is a province and is located where the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico meet. It is South of the Bahamas and Florida. Cuba is known for many things such as its food, but it should also be known for its beer!
The local beer culture is very prevalent in Cuba, there are local craft breweries in Havana even. Compared to prices in other countries, the beer is quite cheap. Despite the low average income, locals can afford to drink during the evening without spending too much.
Here is a quick breakdown of our favorite watch brands and their defining features.
- Cristal– Best Overall Brand
- Bucanero Fuerte– Best Popular Brand
- Cerveja Bruja Clásica– Best Hard to Find Brand
- Tinima Cerveza Clara– Best Local Brand
- Cacique– Best Canned Beer
- Mayabe Cerveza Clara– Best Affordable Beer
These are our top picks for Cuban beer brands. There are a lot of details to cover here, so we put together this article on the top Cuban beer brands. We will cover flavorful and affordable beers, as well as some beers preferred by the locals.
Top Cuban Beer Brands
1.Cristal– Best Overall Brand
Cristal is a pale lager with an alcohol content of 4.9%. It is sold in a green can or bottle with a label that has a palm tree on it. It is one of the more expensive beers priced at about $1. You can find it all over Cuba, and foreigners drink it often.
It has a sweet grainy taste with a somewhat bitter hoppy flavor. It is easy to drink and refreshing. It is often found in hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets.
Pros
- Widely available
- 4.9% alcohol
- Refreshing
Cons
- Pricey
2.Bucanero Fuerte– Best Popular Brand
Bucanero Fuerte is a pale lager with 5.4% alcohol content. It comes in a red and black can as well as bottles. If Cristal isn’t available, there is always Bucanero.
It is a dark gold color with a small white head, that vanishes quickly. It smells of sweet malt and corn. The taste is sweet and low bitter. It is a good-tasting beer and favored by tourists.
Pros
- Widely available
- 5.4% alcohol
- Refreshing
Cons
- Pricey
3.Cerveja Bruja Clásica– Best Hard to Find Brand
It is a pale lager with 4.5% alcohol. It is sold only in bottles some of which are green and others are brown. It isn’t sold in tourist areas which makes this beer harder to find. It’s cheaper than Cristal and Bucanero.
It pours clear gold with no head. It smells like grain. The taste is generic with a bitter finish. Its lack of fizz won’t be for everyone. However, it’s a good beer for someone on a budget.
Pros
- Budget-Friendly
- 4.5% alcohol
- Sold in bottles
Cons
- Lack of fizz
4.Tinima Cerveza Clara– Best Local Brand
It is a pale lager with 5.3% alcohol. It is sold mainly to local Cubans and not tourists. It is only found in local pubs.
It pours clear yellow and has a medium head. It tastes somewhat bitter with some sweet. It has medium carbonation and a metallic smell. It tastes somewhat similar to Mayabe and Cacique. It averages $0.50.
Pros
- Local favorite
- 5.3% alcohol
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Unique taste
5.Cacique– Best Canned Beer
It is a pale lager with 4.5% alcohol. It is sold only in cans and is geared more at local Cubans than tourists. The cans are silver. It pours golden and has a small head. It smells of malt and yeast with notes of hops. It is a bitter hoppy flavor.
It is great to drink in the warm Cuban sun. It is slightly stronger than Mayabe but has a similar light taste.
Pros
- Local favorite
- 4.5% alcohol
- Great taste
Cons
- Harder to find
6.Mayabe Cerveza Clara– Best Affordable Beer
It is a pale lager with 4% alcohol. It is sold only in cans and is more for the local Cuban population than tourists. This is a beer that is extremely popular with the locals and is very cheap. It pours golden with a head that disappears quickly.
It has a malty smell of sweet grain. The taste is sweet and malt with a bit of bitterness. It is great for drinking in the hot sun on a warm Cuban day. It is named after an Indian legend of Eastern Cuba.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Local favorite
- 4% alcohol
Cons
- Only sold in cans
Tips for Buying Cuban Beer
- Consider your budget. How much are you looking to spend? While they are all affordable some Cuban beer is cheaper than others.
- Drink like a local. You may want to try some local favorites.
- Taste can be an issue. The local tastes may not be what you are looking for, with the lack of fizz.
- Experience can be different. Do you want to pick up some cans at the supermarket or enjoy a nice evening at the local pub?
- Alcohol content. How interesting of an afternoon are you looking to have?
- Drinkability. You might want to cool off in the heat of the day with something easy to drink.
Conclusion
You may find that drinking like a Cuban local suits your taste. Often, travelers want to experience what the locals experience. Cuban beer has the potential to create a lot of lovers. It has a sweet refreshing taste and there is a reason it is so popular. Take the chance on a new beverage, experience the taste, and enjoy the aroma. It can feel amazing.