Latin beers are known for their crisp, refreshing taste and strong cultural traditions across the region.
From iconic lagers in Mexico to beloved national brews in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, every country has a beer that locals proudly call their favorite.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best Latin American beers by country, highlighting the most popular brews and the unique beer culture behind them. 🍺
Here are the best beers of each Latin American country:
- Argentina: Quilmes
- Bolivia: Cordillera
- Brazil: Brahma
- Chile: Kross 5
- Colombia: Chapinero Porter
- Costa Rica: Imperial
- Cuba: Cristal
- Dominican Republic: Presidente
- Ecuador: Pilsener
- El Salvador: Pilsener
- Guatemala: Gallo
- Honduras: Salva Vida
- Mexico: Corona
- Nicaragua: Toña
- Panama: Cerveza Panama
- Paraguay: Pilsen
- Peru: Cusqueña
- Puerto Rico: Medalla Light
- Uruguay: Davok American IPA
- Venezuela: Polar
Keep reading to learn more.
1. Argentina: Quilmes
Argentina is a beautiful Latin American country that is well known for its excellent food, music, and love of dance.
Despite creating fantastic wines, Argentina has a particular beer that locals favor above the rest.
The country is known for its Quilmes beer.
Quilmes is an old tradition in Argentina.
It has been around for over 130 years, and was named after a city known for its supreme water quality.
That premium water quality translates into the beer’s flavor too, as it’s incredibly crisp, slightly tangy, and undeniably flavorful.
Definitely, one of Argentina’s beloved drinks.
2. Bolivia: Cordillera
This beautiful country is known for the Andes mountains, which is the highest mountain range outside of the Asian continent.
Besides the beautiful landscape and plethora of llamas, Bolivia is another country that enjoys its beer.
Named for the country’s famous mountains, Cordillera is one of the most widely sold beers in Bolivia.
It’s a pale ale and has a rich, barley flavor, which gives it a warm and savory taste.
This beer is made with no chemical additives and is a favorite among locals.
Pair this beer with the popular Bolivian dish of salteñas and you’ll be ready to apply for citizenship.
3. Brazil: Brahma
Brazil is famous for more than its popular carnival festival and the Amazon forest.
It’s also known for iconic soccer players, and of course, its beautiful beaches and waterfalls.
Brazil is a great place to have a beer as well.
Brahma is a very well-known brand from Brazil.
It has been around since 1888 and is sold internationally, making it one of the most popular non-domestic brews available.
Paired with a traditional Brazilian churrasco and you’ll be in heaven.
4. Chile: Kross 5
Known for its mysterious Easter Island and the tallest building in Latin America, Chile is called the “country of poets.”
Not only has Chile produced two Nobel Prize winners, the country has also created a famous beer.
Chile’s brand, Kross 5, is a strong ale that locals prefer to have with any meal.
The brand distinguishes itself as the first Chilean beer to be matured in oak, which gives it a rich, spicy, and warm taste.
5. Colombia: Chapinero Porter
Colombia is known for many things, including its rich heritage and culture, which holds the arts in high regard.
The country has friendly locals and gorgeous landscapes.
Colombia is also famous for a few beverages, including coffee and beer.
Bogota Beer Company or BBC is one of the most popular beer brands in Colombia.
BBC pubs are all over the country and a favorite spot for Colombians and tourists alike to enjoy the company and a beer.
The BBC has a line of several beer varieties to suit anyone’s taste in brews, but many indicate that their favorite beer from this brand is the Chapinero Porter.
6. Costa Rica: Imperial
Famous for its Salsa Lizano, this country is called one of the happiest places in the world with its rich wildlife and beautiful national parks.
Costa Rica also has its own contribution to famous beers around the world.
Imperial is the most popular and well-known beer in Costa Rica.
This brand has been around for almost 100 years and is a deliciously flavored pale lager.
It’s described as having a silky taste, with subtle hints of bitterness, and pairs well with salty foods.
What’s more – the brand is eco-friendly and prides itself on offering high-quality beer that is created using less water than others made from traditional brewing methods.
7. Cuba: Cristal
Cuba hasn’t only kept up with classic cars from the 1950’s, they also have some of the most interesting architecture in the world.
Known for its rum, cigars and delicious dishes, Cuba also has a fine beer to keep you refreshed on its scenic beaches.
Coming in a very pale gold color, Cristal beer is famous in Cuba.
For a foamy beer, this light lager has a fresh, malty aroma.
It has a fruity aftertaste as well, giving this beer a hint of delightful sweetness.
8. Dominican Republic: Presidente
The Dominican Republic is home to the oldest colonial settlement in the Americas, and is a popular tourist destination.
When relaxing on the iconic white sand beaches and in the resorts, you may want to know what local beer is best to pair with your Dominican food.
Presidente is a lager-style beer that hit the market in the Dominican Republic in 1935.
It offers a refreshing blend of sweetness and bitterness, making it easy to enjoy on sweltering days.
It’s crisp, smooth, and goes nicely with La Bandera, the country’s national dish or your favorite picadera!
9. Ecuador: Pilsner
This is the place known for the historical Galapagos Islands, its biodiversity and some incredibly tasty dishes.
Ecuador is actually named after the geographical element: the equator.
It offers some of the best features in South America, from its stunning landscapes to its historical sites.
The most popular beer in Ecuador is also the world’s first pale lager, Pilsner.
This beer was first produced in 1842 by a Bavarian brewer and is now a common beverage at most bars and restaurants.
Pilsner has a floral, grassy taste and is quite light-bodied.
10. El Salvador: Pilsener
El Salvador is called the “land of volcanoes,” which is no surprise due to its many earthquakes as well as volcanic activity.
The country is literally packed with volcanoes, having over 20, and also being the smallest country in Central America.
El Salvador is another country that values its own Pilsener.
The Pilsener of El Salvador was created in 1906 and is a bit different from Pilsner.
It is a light-bodied beer that won the Silver Medal 2014 World Beer Cup. It has a very smooth finish with a wheat and malt flavor.
Pair it with some savory Salvadoran food, such as pupusas or elote loco, and you’ll feel incredibly satisfied!
11. Guatemala: Gallo
This country is known for its mountains, volcanoes, and its historical Mayan sites.
Guatemala is also famous for producing quality chocolate and coffee.
The country has its own tasty beer as well: Gallo.
Famosa Gallo is the number one beer in Guatemala.
This lager has a full-bodied flavor and a slightly bitter finish.
It has a pleasant smell, and tastes great when paired with traditional Guatemalan dishes that have a little spice to them, such as tamales.
If you can’t find tamales to enjoy with this beer, you can easily make your own at home using these tamale wraps, and by following our simple recipe.
12. Honduras: Salva Vida
Honduras produces many natural resources, including minerals, sugar cane, and tropical fruit.
Featuring the world’s largest barrier reef, Honduras is a beautiful country both on and off the land.
Such a great destination has to be paired with an outstanding beer.
The most popular beer in Honduras is the Salva Vida.
This has been the favorite for both locals and visitors in the country since 1916, and is usually found at large events, such as soccer matches.
It’s a pale lager with a lighter taste, so it can be enjoyed at any time and with any number of delicious Honduran dishes.
13. Mexico: Corona
Mexico is full of canyons and forests, while on the coast, you can see some of the most stunning beaches in the world.
The country is known for its Mariachi bands, Cinco de Mayo, Dia de Los Muertos, and of course, Corona beer.
Corona is such a well-known beer that it’s also Mexico’s national beer.
This brand has taken over the world and is one of the most popular non-domestic beers in multiple countries.
Corona is a light lager that has a crisp, sweet flavor with a hint of hops.
Pairing a nice cold Corona with some traditional Mexican food and its fiesta time!
14. Nicaragua: Toña
Nicaragua is known for having the two largest freshwater lakes in Central America, which are Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua.
It has the second-largest rainforest in all of the Americas, as well as the oldest city in Central America.
The contribution Nicaragua makes to the world of Latin American beers is Toña.
Toña is a light-bodied premium lager with flavors of barley and malt.
It’s smooth and offers a balanced taste.
It pairs perfectly with any number of Nicaraguan foods due to the country’s hot and humid climate, providing locals with their much-needed refreshment on a warm day.
15. Panama: Cerveza Panama
The Panama Canal usually comes to mind when someone mentions the country of Panama.
This is Central America’s most southern country, and people are drawn here for its vibrant, natural beauty.
And, rightfully so, as the country contains over ten thousand different plant species.
Panama’s best beer is the Cerveza Panama, which is a pale lager with a very mild taste.
It has sour citrus notes with a bit of a bitter finish.
People find this beer very easy to drink, so it’s no wonder it’s a favorite in Panama.
Cerveza Panama was first brewed in 1959 in the same place that first produced Cristal, Cuba’s favorite beer.
16. Paraguay: Pilsen
Paraguay is a fascinating country that actually has two official languages, Spanish and Guarani.
Most Paraguayans speak a combination of Spanish and Guarani.
Paraguay is also called the “heart of South America” and is known for its cheeses and cold teas.
The country has its own favorite beer, which is Pilsen.
Pilsen is an authentic local brand of beer and a source of national pride.
The beer has a corn aroma and flavor as well as hints of breadiness.
The color is a pale golden yellow, and the carbonation is mild.
It pairs perfectly with a traditional Paraguayan dish of Soyo.
17. Peru: Cusqueña
Machu Picchu is the most famous attraction in Peru.
The Incas made Peru their home for many years and built the stunning site.
They were also the first to farm potatoes and introduce them as a food source.
And when a visitor or a local chooses a beer from Peru, they almost always select Cusqueña.
Cusqueña is a malt lager that uses a minimal amount of hops.
This beer is medium-bodied and offers no bitter aftertaste.
The hints of caramel and cream always have consumers coming back for more time and time again.
Perfect to add to your favorite Peruvian dish.
18. Puerto Rico: Medalla Light
Puerto Rico is fascinating for many reasons, one of the few being that it actually has its own uninhabited islands.
Some of these islands are among the 36 nature reserves that are protected in Puerto Rico.
There are 19 state forests in Puerto Rico. One of the biggest draws to Puerto Rico is its bioluminescent bays, where the water seems to glow.
Puerto Ricans not only love their traditional dishes but also have their own favorite beer, Medalla Light.
Brewed by Cervecera de Puerto Rico in Mayagüez, the Puerto Rican national beer is available on the island, in the United States, and throughout the Caribbean.
Medalla Light is a golden color, light lager with a clean aroma and full flavored beer.
19. Uruguay: Davok American IPA
This country is known for more than hosting the first-ever World Cup and winning two of them since.
The most popular beer in Uruguay is the Davok American IPA.
Davok American IPA is a mild IPA that’s a golden orange color.
This beer has a bit of sweetness as well as an aroma of fruit, caramel, and pine.
It is refreshing and pairs nicely with a savory chivito, or Uruguayan sandwich.
20. Venezuela: Polar
The famous Los Roques National Park is located in Venezuela, which protects the vital and endangered marine ecosystem situated just off the coast.
Wildlife also thrives near and in the Orinoco River.
However, that’s not all Venezuela is known for, as the country’s most popular beer is the Polar beer.
Polar beer’s distinctive polar bear logo matches a beer with a unique flavor and aroma.
The smell is much more robust than you’d expect, with heavy citrus notes.
You can also pick up hints of the grains through the rich aroma.
The flavor is powerful and tastes more like fruit than beer.
Enjoy it with one of these 10 Venezuelan Foods and you’ll be living like a local!
Read: 17 Best Latin Drinks for Fiesta Time!
Sources
- Puerto La Boca: Quilmes and Other Popular Beers in Argentina
- Latin America for Less: Drinking Beer in South America
- Imperial Beer: Home
- The Culture Trip: 11 Surprising Things You Probably Never Knew Guatemala Gave the World
- Beer Menus: Beers: Famosa Gallo Beer
- Drizly: Beer: Central Beer Famosa
- Drizly: Salva Vida Price & Reviews
- Adventure Life: Panama: Panama Overview
- Living in Panama: Beer in Panama: 3 Most Popular Ones
- We Leaf: 15 Facts About Paraguay
- Discover Puerto Rico: 100 Things to Love About Puerto Rico
- Nomadic Boys: 15 Interesting facts about Uruguay
- Trip101: Top 10 Things Venezuela Is Famous For – Updated 2021
- One World Nations Online: Nicaragua
- Prezi: What makes Honduras unique?
- Total Wine & More: Pilsener
- Beer Advocate: Presidente
- Untappd: Cordillera
- English Radio: Underground Tour Pilsner
- Med Munch: What Does Barley Taste Like?
- Rate Beer: Toña
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Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.