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USA TODAY SPECIAL EDITION
CARIBBEAN | CRAFT BEERS
Island Ales Craft beers stay true to the Caribbean vibe By Kae Lani Palmisano
T
HE CRAFT BEER BOOM isn’t just happening in the United
States. Caribbean brewmasters have also been perfecting their beers, opening small breweries throughout the islands. Here are some excellent craft breweries that prove now is the best time for Caribbean beers:
CAYMAN ISLANDS BREWERY Grand Cayman Several of the brews crafted by Cayman Islands Brewery have won awards internationally. Among them are the Ironshore Bock, a medium-bodied malty beer with hints of brown sugar and caramel that give it a sweet finish, and the Caybrew, a lighter beer with a spicy herbaceousness. ▶ cib.ky
TERRI BROWN
FRENCHTOWN BREWING St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Currently, Frenchtown Brewing is the only production brewery on the island of St. Thomas. Its bestseller is the Hop Alley IPA, but beer lovers should also try the Frenchie Farmhouse Saison, a Belgian-style ale with a hint of spice, making it the perfect warm-weather beer. ▶ frenchtownbrewing.com
WEST INDIES BEER COMPANY Grenada No matter what time of year you visit, there are specialty small-batch brews to try. In addition to a rotating menu of seasonal and experimental beers, there are 16 different varieties on tap year-round. The flagship beer is the Windward IPA brewed with citrus hops. ▶ westindiesbeer.com/index.html
CAYMAN ISLANDS BREWERY
FIRESON BREWING Aruba Fireson Brewing is Aruba’s first craft beer brewery and bar. It features a rotating lineup of ales, IPAs and stouts, in addition to its Belgium Saison and Kolsch. ▶ firesonbrewing.com
