Chile’s expanding craft beer scene is still going strong, particularly in Valparaiso where a handful of small breweries are thriving.
Cervecera del Puerto: Valparaiso’s most successful microbrewery produces 25,000 liters monthly and have recently opened their brewery doors to beer geeks. They are best known for their Barba Roja (Redbeard) and Barba Negra (Blackbeard) labels (Valpo was a notorious port for pirate attacks), though they also have a dunkel, a Scottish Amber Ale, and a particularly strong blond.
Restaurant Café Vinilo: A few years ago this ultra cool Valparaiso restaurant began brewing their own beer, Cerro Alegre, which is now better known than the restaurant. They offer an Oatmeal Stout, Brown Ale, a Belgian style Blond, and a few reserves. Tours of the brewery and a beer pairing menu are available.
Kobold: North of Valparaiso, this new in 2010 hilltop brewery with sweeping views of the Chilean countryside has captured a significant amount of hype in 2011 as the owning family has invested heavily in the production and promotion of their Barley Wine, Porter, Helles, Bock, and Scottish ales.
Kross: TheKross brewery sits in the town of Curacaví, in the Casablanca Valley (between Santiago and Valparaiso) where Chile’s best whites are produced comes this award winning brewery that produces a Strong Ale, Maibock, and three others. Now partially owned by Concha y Toro, Kross is on its way to becoming the craft beer rival to Valdivia’s Kuntsmann. They are keen on food pairings at top Santiago restaurants.
Writer and photographer Nicholas Gill is the editor/publisher of New World Review. He lives in Lima, Peru and Brooklyn, New York. His work has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CondeNast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Afar, and Penthouse. Visit his personal website (nicholas-gill.com) for more information.
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