You might think that Argentina is all about Malbec wine. Let’s get real, the craft beer craze is taking over the country. It is true that you are more likely to find Quilmes, the emblematic Argentina beer. Today, you will notice several micro-brews and craft beers burgeoning across the country.
On our quest for authentic food in Argentina, we could not help but notice the popularity of Argentina beer. If your travels take you to Argentina, be sure to sample the many beers, national, regional and artisanal, the country has to offer.
Let’s take a tour of the Argentina beer landscape!
Table of contents
Quilmes – The National Argentina Beer
Quilmes brewery was founded in 1888 by a German immigrant, Otto Bemberg. It took its name from Quilmes, a small city in the province of Buenos Aires known for having high quality water.
The beer grew to become the most popular beer in Buenos Aires and then in all of Argentina. Today, it is like a national symbol and it represents 67% of the Argentina beer market.
You will find this beer everywhere, and if you have never tried it, give it a go. Personally, I found this lager beer to be very light with a bland taste.
Quilmes Regional Varieties
As you leave Buenos Aires and travel through the different regions of Argentina, you will find different beers that are also made by Quilmes. They do not have the Quilmes label on them, and instead they go by their regional names.
In Mendoza, you will find the Andes beer that is made by Quilmes. Like the Quilmes it is a light lager.
In the north of Argentina, in the provinces of Salta and Jujuy Norte is the local beer that is produced by Quilmes. It tastes almost identical to Quilmes.
In Patagonia, in the South of Argentina, you will find Patagonia beer, named after the famous wild region. It is the craft beer version from Quilmes. It is a premium beer and one that is made right. You will find Patagonia beer offered in three different styles: Wheat, Amber and Stout.
The Number 2 Beer Player in Argentina
CCU Argentina, is the second beer producer in Argentina after Quilmes. They make Imperial beer which is very popular and predominant in Buenos aires. It is a premium Lager.
Easy to drink with light flavors, Imperial beers are definitively a step above Quilmes. Imperial also comes as a: Weissbier, Red Lager, Strong Ale and Stout.
The most popular beer from CCU Argentina is Schneider. This Pale Lager was born in 1912 in Santa Fe, a city in the Northeast of Argentina. Santa Fe is located at the junction of the Parana and Salado rivers, which provide great water for the production of this regional beer.
The beer is named after the brewmaster Otto Schneider a German immigrant who created the brewery with locals from Santa Fe. It comes in three styles: Pale Ale, Red Ale, and Stout.
In Salta province of Argentina, you will find Salta beer. The brewery was founded in 1958 in Salta, and is today owned by CCU Argentina. Salta beer comes in two primary styles: Lager and Stout. One of my favorites, this beer is a great drink to pair with empanadas Salteñas.
3 Craft Beers Making It Big in Argentina
#1 Antares is the leader of craft beers in Argentina. They started the first Argentinian microbrewery in 1994 in Mar del Plata, a city on the Atlantic coast.
The first Antares brewpub opened with three beer varieties. Given their unique and original concept, they rapidly grew in popularity.
Today, there are more than 30 Antares pubs across Argentina. They now offer more than 15 varieties of beer. They have also started distributing their beers in bars and restaurants in different cities across the country.
Despite their rapid growth, they still produce their beers using traditional methods to preserve the quality of the beer. For more information about their locations, check their website: http://www.cervezaantares.com/locales/
#2 Cape Horn and Beagle are two craft beer names are leading the market in Ushuaia.
Ushuaia is a port town located on the shores of the Beagle Channel and a popular gateway city to the Antarctic Continent (South Pole). You can read more here about the local foods we discovered in this southernmost city in the world.
The two breweries were originally two separate local breweries. Now the beers are brewed locally by Cerveceria Beagle in Ushuaia. The brewery uses the traditional German beer making process, using water from the glacier, malt, hops and yeast without the use of preservatives or chemicals.
Patagonia, Cape Horn and Beagle beers#3 Berlina Brewery in Bariloche is one of the most successful craft beers in the region.
Bariloche located on the Southwest side of Argentina is a beautiful city, on the foothills of the Andes, close to the Chile border.
The town was founded by Swiss and German immigrants and has a long tradition of craft beer brewing. Today, there are about 15 micro-breweries, producing and selling beer at local pubs called cervecerias. For more information about the different micro-breweries of Bariloche, check this local website: Bariloche Beer.
Berlina Brewery in Bariloche is a must visit brewery. They are open for brewery visits and beer sampling. They make more than 20 types of beer as well as a cider. They are located at the end of Colonia Suiza, a village with Swiss roots, 20 kilometers from Bariloche. Not only Berlina is making a name for itself in Argentina, it is also exporting its beers internationally.
Flourishing Local Micro-Brews
El Bolson
With the craft beer market burgeoning, you will find other regions in Argentina where local breweries are making an impact.
El Bolson located 120 kilometers south of Bariloche has a growing craft beer scene with eight major micro-breweries.
Rupestre is one of the main micro-brews with three different beer varieties: Golden Ale, Red Ale, and Stout beers.
Córdoba
Córdoba the second largest city after Buenos Aires, located in the center of the country has a growing micro-brews scene. It is home to Oktoberfest Argentina where you can sample local micro-brews, Argentina craft beers as well as international beers. Needless to say, Córdoba should definitely be taken into consideration when planning a beer trip to Argentina.
Buenos Aires
The craft beer craze has definitively taken over Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Today, you can find several micro-breweries and Brewpubs in the city. You will also find beer tours and beer tastings offered. Check Buenos Aires Craft Beer Walk to get yourself oriented.
Cervezas Artesanales sold at Mercado de BonplandFor a complete listing on the main craft beers in Argentina, per region, click here.
How to Order Your Argentina Beer
When ordering a beer in Argentina, be aware that the beer comes in large bottles from 500ml up to 1 liter. These servings are meant for sharing. You can find smaller bottle for one serving called a porrón. Draft beer is called a chopp or a liso in Santa Fe province.
One liter bottle to share
ChoppDraft beers are mainly served in three types: Cerveza Rubia, Colorada, and Negra. They correspond to a Pale Lager, Red Ale and Stout. Dedicated bars or Brewpub are called cervecerías.
Cerveza RubiaWhere To Taste It All – Beer Festivals in Argentina
If all this talk of beer has you salivating for more, check out these beer festivals in Argentina.
Fiesta de la Cerveza Artesanal
The Bariloche region is the main producer of craft beers. La Fiesta de La Cerveza Artesanal is a national outdoor artisanal beer festival that takes place every December. This event celebrates Bariloche artisanal and craft beers.
This is the largest craft beer event in Patagonia. With more than 50 craft brewers styles, 16 breweries are presented. There is also an important gastronomic fair during the festival, with music and rock bands playing all week.
To learn more about this event check their website: Beer Art.
Fiesta de la Picada y La Cerveza Artesanal
Buenos Aires also has its own beer festival. It is called Fiesta de la picada y la cerveza artesanal (Picada and beer Festival). This festival takes place in October in Uribelarrea a city located at about 90 kilometers from Buenos Aires.
For two days, artisanal beer of Argentina and over 40 craft breweries from across the country are celebrated. There is a musical show as well as stands with cheese and cured meats from the region called picada. This is a great way to celebrate Argentina beer with traditional local food.
Fiesta Nacional de la Cerveza – Oktoberfest Argentina
The National Beer Festival – Oktoberfest Argentina takes place every year in Villa General Belgrano. This is a small village located 100 kilometers Southwest of Córdoba.This village was founded in the 1930s by two Germans, who brought with them the tradition of the German Oktoberfest.
Today, the festival takes place over ten days in the Parque Cervecero (Beer Park) built especially for the occasion. The main beer brands, both national and international participate in this festival.
For more information check the festival website: Oktoberfest Argentina
Flyer OktoberfestIn Summary
Argentina, while most famous for its wine, also has an interesting and growing Argentina beer scene. Quilmes is an Argentine cultural symbol and a beer you should try once on your travels through the country. Beyond the national and regional beers, you will find many craft breweries that are leading the beer revolution in Argentina.
Wherever your travels take you in Argentina, go for the authentic Argentina beer experience. Share a one liter bottle with new found friends and take the time to sip the local craft beers.
Have you ever tasted Argentina beer? Tell us your favorite brand in the comments below!
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Claire is a culinary explorer and the engineer brain behind Authentic Food Quest. Together with her partner, Rosemary, they created Authentic Food Quest to inspire people to travel deeper through authentic food. Through food, they believe, people can have more meaningful connections on their travels. Take the quiz and find out your Food Traveler Profile.
Hi! Welcome to Authentic Food Quest. We are Claire and Rosemary. Our goal is to invite you to explore the local flavors on your travels. Follow our quest for authentic foods from around the world.
I think craft beers are amazing and this looks like a great selection ?
Hi Tandy, you are right, the craft beer movement is taking Argentina by storm. Lots of good options to choose from 🙂
I love to do that too, try local beers, especially the crafted ones. This gives me an idea to share my experience on trying out local beers. Thanks for sharing this post!
You are so right Carla, part of the fun of traveling is trying the local beers. Yes, it is a great idea to share your beer experiences on your travels. It gives readers an insight into the country and local culture.
I feel I missed out. I think I spent too much time drinking Malbec! Great post to know what to have in the future.
Hi Caroline, no..you did not miss out. The Malbec is amazing indeed. This points to the growing beer market which is pretty fascinating, especially the craft beers. Thanks for your comments.
My husband is a beer aficionado and even brews his own beers. Whenever we travel, he is excited to see what beers the country has to offer and learn about their brewing techniques and traditions. Maybe I get him to go to Argentina with me now 🙂
That’s wonderful that your husband brews his own beer. He would love the craft beers in Argentina and especially the small and upcoming micro breweries. Share this post with him and plan for a trip soon 🙂 Cheers
I was surprised to see a growing craft beer movement in Quito as well. I suppose nothing goes with a good Argentine steak quite like a craft beer!
That’s fascinating that the craft beer movement is also in Quito. In Argentina, it is in part due to the demanding tastes of a younger generation with more sophisticated palates. Curious, what’s driving the growth in Quito? Yes, it does go pretty well with a delicious Argentine steak. Thanks for your comments Brianna.
Thanks for the tips! We’ll be in Argentina in August and can’t wait! Good to know that the big bottles are meant for sharing lol we probably would have gone that way anyhow :D!
You will Argentina and August is a great time to be there. The surprising thing about the 1-liter bottles is how prevalent they are. Rosemary does not drink beer, so sometimes I could not order beer because the bottle was too big. Sounds like you both drink beer…so you will enjoy the tasting the many craft brews. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions to help you get ready for your trip. Cheers
Mission accomplished! You got me craving for Argentinean beer!
I’ve only tried Quilmes, Imperial and Antares. Imperial is my favourite.
We are heading home(Brazil) next year, I think we gonna extend our trip in South America to include Argentina, need to sip some of the beers you suggested 😉
That’s wonderful Natalie that you have tried some Argentinian beers already. Agree with you on Imperial. Although Antares has many varieties and interesting flavors. I really liked the ones I tried at the pubs. Yes, do save this list for your future trip to South America. You will have an amazing time. As you get closer to your trip, feel free to reach out for any tips. Cheers!
I love how simple the beer naming is – Cape Horn, Patagonia, Norte. You definitely know where you are by looking at the beer available! Interesting as well that servings are large and meant for sharing, a departure from my culture!
Great comment Drew about the culture. So much in Argentina is about sharing -from the asado, to the beers, to the cafe culture and more. Food is a shared experience that brings everyone together. Indeed a departure from US norms. The simple naming of the beers does make it easy to remember what you are drinking and from where it comes from. Thanks for your comments.
Wish I’d seen this post before visiting Argentina a few months ago! I think I only had one beer (Quilmes) when visiting the country, but mostly I just stuck to wine!
Hi Erika, ahhh..that’s too bad that you did not try any of the up and coming craft brews. While Quilmes is popular, I think you would have enjoyed discovering the other micro brews. I guess there is always the next time 🙂 Cheers!
That’s interesting about the craft beer movement in Argentina – I had no idea. Yes, I thought it was all about Malbec and steak, now I’ll add some Patagonia beer to my culinary list. Thanks.
Hi Carol, thanks so much for your comments. That is exactly what we are striving to do with Authentic Food Quest is to showcase everything a country from the authentic foods perspective so that travelers can have deeper travel experiences. Yes, do add the craft beers from Patagonia. If you are a big beer fan, consider attending a beer festival as well:)
We tried a bunch of beers while we were in Argentina. In Buenos Aires we found a bunch of craft beer bars where we were able to taste a lot. It’s great that the beer craze is in full swing.
That’s wonderful Laura that you were able to take taste many of the delicious craft beers. It’s quite amazing how craft beer is so popular, especially in Malbec land. Thanks for your comments.
I have to admit I’m not a fan of beer at all. But I wouldn’t have picked Argentina to make their own. I liked the little bit of history behind some of the breweries. I do find the making of them interesting.
Thanks Marteen for your comments. Rosemary is not a beer fan either..so I understand 🙂 Learning about the history and visiting the breweries is fun. Always nice to see the source or where the products come from. Thanks for your comments.
I love beer i make a priority when we travel to try as many different beers as i can. I cant say i have tried many from Argentina but i may have make a note try harder lol
Thanks Mark …lol….the best would be to travel to Argentina and taste their local specialties. Is there a particularly good beer you’ve found on your travels?
I would’ve never known to try out the craft beer in Argentina. Thanks so much for sharing.
So glad Courtney that you learned something new about the beer scene in Argentina. Our goal is to make sure that travelers don’t miss out on foodie activities on their travels. Cheers
Now I’ll need to keep 3-4 days for beer tasting and make it coincide with a beer festival whenever I plan a trip to Argentina. Haha 😀
That would actually be a great idea, to make it to the beer festival. You will have the bonus of enjoying the beautiful city of Bariloche where the beer festival takes place. Hope your travels take you to Argentina soon 🙂 Cheers
Interesting article. Is this beer festival same like octofest in Germany?
Hi Sumti, so glad you enjoyed reading the article. There are many beer festivals in Argentina and indeed there is one similar to Octoberfest in Germany. Have you been to October fest before?
[…] one of the most popular beers in Argentina, and maybe even all of South America, Quilmes’ home (brew) town is Buenos Aires, and […]