Is America’s Craft Beer Revolution Headed for
Cuba?
Cubabrews.com aspires to help “warm relations
between Cuba and the United States through a shared love of cold
beer.” The brand new site intends to become a hub of news and
information on the Cuban beer industry and marketplace as well as beer tourism
and travel.
The site’s creator, Dave Hardy, is an attorney who works with
craft breweries and other beverage alcohol clients in the
Northeast. Long fascinated by the island’s unique history as a
communist, U.S. antagonist located just 90 miles from Key West, Hardy took the
opportunity to combine in the site his interest in Cuba with his insights and
experience in the business (and consumption) of beer.
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| Cuba News' David Hardy |
Although the craft beer scene in Cuba is currently negligible,
Hardy is optimistic that the thaw in relations with the U.S. may change
that. In recent years, the Cuban government has allowed its people
to pursue private economic opportunities in very limited areas. But
notable among these emerging areas are restaurants and tourism, and now the
island is home to a handful of brewpubs that produce both light and dark
European style beers. In addition, as the President is expected to
announce during his visit to Cuba, restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba
will continue to loosen. These trends may provide the necessary
synergy for a proliferation of restaurant-based microbrew offerings targeting
the tourist market.
For now, Americans wishing to travel to Cuba must do so with an
authorized tour company, of which there are several operating in the U.S.
Most likely while you’re there time will be a factor so here are
two craft beer emporiums in Havana to jump start your search:
La
Factoria Plaza Vieja
The first of the modern craft beer breweries in Cuba; located in
the popular Plaza Vieja, one of the many intriguing public squares in Havana.
Converted warehouse (since 2014) on Havana Harbor.
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