Costa Rica microbrewery earns international recognition

The fledgling Costa Rica’s Craft Brewing Co. has picked up its first international award. The Cartago-based microbrewery won a silver medal at the Copa Cervezas de América (American Beer Cup) in Chile this month.

“It’s a really nice statement for Costa Rican beers,” said company co-founder Peter Gilman. “All these people [at the competition] were saying, ‘What is this beer from Central America with such fun themes and a very nice taste?’”

The Copa Cervezas was also in its first year of existence, but Costa Rica’s Craft Brewing faced stout competition from 21 other Latin American nations and several U.S. and European breweries for a total of 280 different beers.

The brewery’s signature beer, Segua Red Ale, earned a silver medal in the Patagonian and American Ale category. No beer was awarded a gold in that group.

The microbrewery’s design features a Hispanic folk-art style that attracts attention. The beer’s taste, too, stood out with judges. Segua has a more robust and hoppy finish for those more experienced in the world of craft beers, the company described in a news release. The brewery also entered in the competition its other beer, Libertas Tropical Golden Ale, which did not place.

Costa Rica’s Craft Brewing Co. was the only brewery from Central America in the competition, which was sponspored by ProChile, a company that exports beer from South America.

Costa Rica’s Craft Brewing began operations in January. It is the only microbrewery in Central America to market its product in restaurants and bars, and the list of places that carry Segua and Libertas is expanding. Visit the brewery’s Facebook page to see where its beers are available.

See the list of contest winners here.