There is something to be said about arriving in a foreign destination,  what with all the  sounds and smells of a new country, coping with the heat impact, dodging the local taxi drivers and the like, there is that king of thoughts surfacing somewhere between jetlag and new arrival excitement  that you just can’t put your finger on.  Then it comes to you in a flash and you almost want to slap yourself in public for even slightly forgetting it’s importance on your personal Richter scale of travel essentials…That one question burning a hole in your brain which is…'What’s the local brewski like!'... How could it ever have slipped your mind..?

Well thanks to years of practice ‘The Taste Testing Team’ here at The Real DR, have compiled a short review of what you can expect from the local Dominican breweries.  All personally sampled and drank by our erstwhile staff, here is YOUR list of Top Beers made (plus a couple of sneaky imports) in the Dominican Republic. Ultimately the DR now has its world famous beer which some would say PRESIDENTE Beer is not just the beer of your destination – it is the Gateway to a beer drinkers’ heaven!! 

Anyway we’ll let you be the judge of that when you get yourselves over here to our fine Caribbean Island. By the way, Robert Redford swears by Presidente and won’t drink any other beer!

AMBAR beer is a relatively new beer to the Dominican Republic shores and thirsty mouths, introduced just five years ago it is proving to be a popular drink as it is one of the only dark beers made on the island.  Composition is water, spicy malted barley, refined corn, sugar, and hops with its unique feature defining low temperature active yeast.  With a taste, colour and aroma difference to other Dominican beers it also stands out as it yields a higher alcohol content than most beers around with 5.3% on the label.  Ambar beer can be bought in 12 oz. bottles.

BOHEMIA beer has been a firm favourite with many on the island since its first appearance in 1983 to the Dominican Republic.  (Bohemia beer itself been produced for over 110 years in Mexico, its production plays an important role in Mexican economy). Now as part of the Dominican National Brewery Company this Pilsner based beer is right up there as a top seller.  Composition is water, malted barley, refined corn and hops.  Not as gassy as Presidente beer and easier on the budget too, it is a well sold beer through out the Dominican Republic.  Taste Team experts at The Real DR describe the beer as full bodied with a slightly fruity flavour. Bohemia beer is best as with all beers served cold, experts would say around minus 2C and stands at an alcohol content of 5% volume. Bohemia Beer comes in 12 and 22 oz bottles.

BRAHMA beer is an imported beer from Brazil and of an outstanding age, in 2008 it will be 120 years old! Brahma have conducted massive advertising in the Dominican Republic to really try and break through the Presidente Beer strong hold and like Bohemia is cheaper in price.  Brahma Beer describes the taste themselves as an embodiment of the rhythms of Brasil, meanwhile our Taste Team experts said the embodiment was quote “OK and Alright” (experts you see). Made of water, malted barley, refined corn and hops.  A light pale beer with an alcohol content of 5%. You can buy this beer in 12 and 22 oz bottles and 12 oz cans.

HEINEKEN Beer is made here in the Dominican Republic under strict licensing by the same company that makes Presidente Beer, the Dominican National Brewery Company.   Heineken has been on the market in the DR since 1986 and is made using the original recipe of water, malted barley, hops and the secret Heineken exclusive ‘A’ type yeast.  Beer drinkers of the world will be familiar with the Heineken taste but just to remind you it possesses a fresh fruity aroma with a slightly bitter twang.  Alcohol content is no more than 6% and can be bought in 12 oz bottles and cans.

MALTA MORENA is a non alcoholic drink made from water, malted barley, sugar, hops and corn semolina. It is a carbonated malt beverage meaning it is brewed from barley and hops similar to beer and looks cunningly like a small brown beer bottle however that is where the beer resemblance ends! Its taste is refreshing and also nutritional (high in B vitamins) with a taste of molasses, it pours out a nice caramel colour. This drink is popular with younger people so much so that the famous ice cream producers of the Dominican Republic, Bon Ice Cream, introduced it as one of their best selling flavours. A lot of Dominicans will also drink Malta Morena mixed with condensed or evaporated milk.

PRESIDENTE BEER is THE national treasure of the Dominican Republic.  Sold absolutely everywhere and drank by the President himself this is the beer associated with the Dominican Republic.  An icon of the island, a dream in green, Presidente beer has been the number one top seller since its birth in 1935.  The Dominican National Brewery Company or The Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana only uses top grade ‘A’ ingredients and is made with water, malted barley, refined corn, sugar and hops.  A Presidente beer MUST be served extremely cold to fully appreciate its Pilsner type taste and fullness.  Presidente beer has now become so popular it is available in the United States and in parts of Canada too.  Exported through out the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands as a popular beer preference to even Bahamian produced beers.  This is the beer you will be given when you ask for a cerveza or beer in any establishment through out the Dominican Republic.  From 5 star hotels to small colmados in the countryside (small local store) Presidente beer is a MUST try during your stay here in the Dominican Republic.  5% volume and sold in 7,12 and 22oz bottles and cans everywhere!

PRESIDENTE LIGHT beer is the first light beer ever made in the Dominican Republic.  With the same outstanding qualities, Light has a slightly “lighter taste”.  Alcohol content is 4.3% by volume.

QUISQUEYA beer is made by the Cerveceria Vegana S.A. Company in the Dominican Republic with the name of the beer coming from the Taino word meaning “Mother Earth.”  You will also hear a lot of Dominicans describing the island as “quisqueya”.  A Pilsner type beer with a very bubbly body the Taste Team although heartily drinking the larger didn’t give it their 100% stamp of approval. 6% in volume and available through out the Dominican Republic in 12 oz bottles. Tip, this is the beer you will be given in your free mini bars at the Rui Hotels on the north coast and also in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

SOBERANA beer also made by the Cerveceria Vegana S.A. Company is another beer that has been around in the Dominican Republic for quite some time.  Nice for a change of taste but definitely needs to be served extremely cold or otherwise tastes quite bad. Featuring a mild aroma and 6% volume Soberana is a tried and tested beer.  New comers maybe put off by the name, would you drink a beer with the name SOBER in its main title? Always good for a laugh though when you get it out of your fridge for first timers to the island.