It’s hard to believe that Costa Rica’s microbrew movement is just getting started. It seems like only a couple years ago that I was desperately crying out for an alternative to Imperial and Pilsen. Oh wait… that was only a couple of years ago!

Today, Costa Rica’s beer aficionados are singing a much different tune.

The local “beer scene” is growing quickly. Craft Brewing Company, a production microbrewery located in Cartago, started producing and distributing their Libertas and Segua beers which are now available in many parts of the country. Volcano Brewing Company opened our microbrewery last year. We have been selling as much Witch’s Rock Pale Ale and Gato Malo dark ale as we can produce, with beer lovers from all over coming to our hotel in Lake Arenal to enjoy our frosty beverages.

In San Jose, Jose Chema Mora opened La Bodega de Chema in San Pedro, specializing in microbrew and related products that they will mail to you wherever you live in Costa Rica. Luis Arce opened TicoBirra in Pavas, an awesome store that sells homebrew kits and supplies as well as teaches classes on how to brew beer at home. Besides these emerging companies, there are also many talented homebrewers quickly gaining experience and starting to produce some quality beers here in Costa Rica.

As more and more people join Costa Rica’s microbrew movement, it became obvious that it was time to organize ourselves. On Sunday, July 22nd 2011, the Constitution Act was signed by the aforementioned companies as well as other local homebrewers and Costa Rica’s “Asociación de Cerveceros Artesenales de Costa Rica” was formed.

It was very exciting to attend the first ever Association meeting. Here we were, the first 16 people in Costa Rica’s budding microbrew industry, sitting in TicoBirra for 5 hours on a Sunday afternoon talking about our plans and voting on who would join the Board for the next 2 years. I was very excited to be one of the few chosen for the Board, and I look forward to contributing to the positive growth of Costa Rica’s microbrew industry in the future.

So what do we have planned for the “Asociación de Cerveceros Artesenales de Costa Rica”?

Well, initially we are working on an official website and facebook page so we can network and grow our local community of craft beer drinkers. You’ll also be able to buy your annual membership to the Association (you’ll get a cool t-shirt and sticker when you join!). And, since last year’s 1st ever microbrewery festival in Costa Rica sold out and left hundreds of people standing at the door, we have a much bigger festival planned for 2013. Thats gonna be awesome!

So… I guess this makes it official. There is a microbrew movement happening in Costa Rica. Better late than never.

Source: Volcano Brewing Company