Lima Craftbrew: Barranco Beer Company

 On a recent trip to Lima, I ventured on two occasions, accompanied by Liz and my cousins, to a spot that I had wanted checked out even before I arrived in Peru: the Barranco Beer Company.

Located in downtown Barranco, a half a block from the plaza and the "boulevard" containing the bulk of dance clubs, the Barranco Beer Company was started by the members of a family "with a passion for beer".

They raised the capital and put in a set of  stainless steel conical fermenters which are visible to visitors at the back of the establishment through  a plate glass divider.  They look to be mostly 60-bl tanks.   The brew kettles are visible behind the bar itself.

The Barranco Beer Company is, as far as I can tell, the second brew-on-premised beer pub in Lima - after the Cerverceria De Tomas (aka Mi Cebi-Chela) in San Borja.

From L to R: Fifti Lager, Bulls Ay, Weiss Presidente

Their bill does lack a heftier, toastier beer like a porter or stout, and they do do some odd stuff - like combining beer with soda- which, I guess, is somewhat traditional in Britain, where this cocktail is known as a "shandy".   Personally, I think it unfortunate because their beer is actually quite good on its own merits, with the "Weiss Presidente" and the "Bulls Ay" being perhaps their best offerings. The Weiss has a nice body and plenty of the stone fruit and banana aromas that one expects in the style.

Even with the beer being relatively expensive compared to what a similar serving of the mass-produced beers cost, the place is a hit and did not lack for business either night that we were there.

A pitcher of Weiss Presidente

Barranco Beer Company
Avenida Grau 308 Barranco - Lima - Peru
www.facebook.com/BarrancoBeerCompany

Peruvian Craft Beer Revolution

There have always remained a few local or regional breweries that clung on in the face of the market take-over by the big beer companies.   On example is Perkas Ale, which I sampled in Cusco.

There have also been some new regional breweries that have managed to get started and hang on.  I've heard, for example, of Cerveza Andes in Huaraz and Cerveza Iquitena from Iquitos.

And there is, of course, the case of Ayacucho's Añaños family, who have expanded their nationwide soft drink empire into beer production with Tres Cruces beer.

However,  with sole exception of the pioneering Cerveceria de Tomas, there seemed to be a dearth of craft beers and craft beer pubs in Lima itself.   That, fortunately, is changing.

Last year I became aware of Cerverias Aldon's beers from Pachacamac, and in the past year it appears that at least three craft breweries have opened in Lima, and that at least one has a tap room.

Heretic Brewing Company

Today, due to its hosting the AHA Members' Rally, I got to look around the new Heretic brewery in Fairfield, where Jamil Zainasheff and his partners have set up shop after moving out of E. J. Phair's brewery in Pittsburg.

The smaller tanks at back are the ones brought over from the days at E. J. Phair, and the ones in the foreground are newer 120-barrell tanks.

Evil Twin ale

The blow-off tube furiously in action from one of the 120-barrel fermenters

The fermenter from which the staff filled our carboys and buckets.

An ale with pommergranate.

120-barrel fermenter

The tap room

AHA Members' Rally

The Brewing Network kicks off its broadcast of the event

Mike McDole interviewed

Gary Glass, AHA President, addresses the attendees

Gary Glass, AHA President, conducting the raffle

Volunteers filling containers for the Wort Giveaway

2014 Bay Area Craft Beer Festival