I am a huge craft beer fan, and when I’m traveling through a new country, there’s nothing I love more than sampling some awesome craft beers. In fact, I always try to visit as many breweries as I can when I’m visiting a new town or city because I find it a great way to meet like-minded people, and I also get to try some really unique and flavorful beers. Plus, let’s face it, there’s nothing more relaxing than enjoying an ice-cold Pale Ale or IPA in the sunshine!
Luckily, one of the best things to do in Costa Rica is to try craft beer. With so many breweries around the country, your spoiled for choice.
So, if you love craft beers as much as I do, you will love this list of 10 of the best breweries in Costa Rica; I’ve included everything you need to know from where the brewery is located, the type of beers they serve, as well as the best dish to order (if they do food)! It’s the ultimate guide to the best craft breweries in Costa Rica!
The BEST Breweries in Costa Rica
1. Monteverde Brewing Co
One of the best things to do in Monteverde is to enjoy a cold beer at Monteverde Brewing Co., near Hotel Miramontes in the La Virgen neighborhood.
Monteverde Brewing Co uses local water rich in minerals and local ingredients like organic coffee and fruit. The beer is produced in small batches for high quality and premium freshness.
I highly recommend taking a tour at Monteverde Brewing Co. It starts with a 16oz pint of beer, five 6oz samples, and a full look around the production facility. The cost is $35 USD per person, and there’s also a non-alcoholic version of the tour for $25 USD. After the tour, stay here for a meal with their yummy burgers marinated in a red ale. It’s one of the best meals we had in Monteverde.
2. Belmar Craft Brewery
Another great place to grab a drink in Monteverde is Belmar Craft Brewery which also boasts an epic view of a stunning natural spring lake! It is the perfect spot to relax after a long day of exploring Monteverde!
This taproom and beer garden is located 100 meters north of the gas station in town. What I think is pretty cool is that all the artisanal ales here are brewed with water from their spring in the cloud forest, and some even include ingredients from the brewery’s organic garden.
They serve up a varied selection of seasonal beers, together with the very popular Aurora Pale Ale (my favorite beer here), which has hints of lemongrass. Another bestseller is the Nubosa Tropical Stout which has coffee and chocolate undertones – yummy!! It’s worth noting Belmar Craft Brewery is only open on the weekends, exact opening hours are Friday to Sunday from 1 p to 9 pm.
Related Read: Learn about the best foods to try in Costa Rica!
3. Guiones Brew Co.
If you plan to visit the small beach town of Nosara during your time in Costa Rica, I urge you to try Guiones Brew Co., which recently opened in the town. This small establishment is one of my favorite breweries in Costa Rica because they also serve up delicious wood-fired pizzas (one of the best restaurants in Nosara), which pair really well with their craft beer! Plus, the pizzas cost just $10 USD, which I think is great value for money!
Although they usually only have a couple of beers on tap, what they do, they do well. I have to admit, my favorite is the IPA, but they also have a really yummy Pale Ale.
Guiones Brew Co. opens at 4 pm, but it’s best to head here after 5 pm for a better atmosphere. It can also get really busy here, so make a reservation to avoid disappointment.
4. Puddlefish Brewery
PuddleFish Brewery is a boutique brewery in the town of Jaco. What’s cool about this spot is that it’s located within a factory known as Colectivo Sin Zapatos, which is also home to a surfboard building business, a skate bowl, a mixology bar, and more! And it’s a great spot to connect with artists and other creative types!
Their craft beer is renowned for its balanced flavors, and there’s a great story behind the creation of each beer. You can try their beer in the tasting room or from the pub, which also serves food truck-style food (I highly recommend the Cuban Sandwich or the burger, which is huge!). In fact, this was one of our favorite places to eat in Jaco.
The bartender was alert and let us try each of the beers until we found our favorite – I really loved the mango pale ale and strong IPA! Overall, the food and beer experience was unforgettable – coupled with a great atmosphere and awesome helpful staff.
PuddleFish Brewery is located on Calle Madrigal, near the Delta Gas Station, and is open from 12 pm to 10 pm every day; and food menus include brunch, lunch, and dinner options. The food is also affordable, making dining here one of the best cheap things to do in
Related Read: If you’re heading to Jaco, be sure to check ut our guide on where to stay in Jaco including the best hotels.
5. 2 Gringos Artisan Brewing
2 Gringos Artisan Brewing is an excellent brewery located in the pretty town of Samara. It’s conveniently located right in the middle of town, and I must admit, 2 Gringos is one of the best breweries I have visited in Costa Rica.
On tap, you’ll find a huge selection of beers; during my visit, there were over 24 on offer! They range from hoppy IPAs to crisp pilsners and fruity sours. Seriously, there is so much to choose it will take you a long time to decide which one to order – but not to worry, the friendly bar staff will help you make a decision!
I should note that a beer at 2 Gringos costs around 4,000 colones, which is pretty pricey for Costa Rica. With that said, I really enjoyed their beer!
Note: 2 Gringos Brewing tasting room is located in Coco’s Mexican Restaurant, one of the most popular restaurants in Samara. So, you can eat delicious tacos while you drink beer – it’s a win-win!
6. Lake Arenal Hotel and Brewery
The Lake Arenal Hotel and Brewery is the perfect place to relax with a cold beverage after a long day exploring the famed Lake Arenal. But it’s a 1.5-hour drive from the closest town of La Fortuna; therefore, I recommend spending the night here so you can enjoy a few drinks, explore the property, and not drive back to La Fortuna that night.
This brewery is situated on a 15-acre organic farm and has a big focus on green energy. Would you believe all the craft beer here is made with pure spring water and brewed with 100% solar electricity and bio-diesel? In fact, this is the first eco-brewery in the country!
My top recommendation for this establishment is to try their Paradise Pale Ale; it’s my favorite and has a distinct hoppy flavor and is made using Nelson, Centennial and Cascade hops. They also serve up Costa Rica’s first fruit beer, the Piña Blonde, which is created with organic pineapples. Or another popular option is the Chili Birra, a blonde ale with a spicy kick from campana chilis grown on the farm.
Related Read: While in the area, check out the best hot springs in La Fortuna!
7. Costa Rica Beer Factory
In the bustling city of San Jose, in the Barrio Escalante district, to be exact, is this excellent microbrewery. In fact, Costa Rica Beer Factory is the most-awarded brewery in all of Costa Rica.
It’s a popular spot with locals, and the weekends can get pretty busy. Their beers include the famous Escalante Red Ale, Puerto Viejo Sweet Stout, and my go-to order, the Tortuguero IPA. All of their beers are created using premium local ingredients. They also offer a varied food menu serving pizzas, salads, burgers, and more! Some people even say it’s one of the best pub-style restaurants in San Jose.
A cool new beer they’re brewing here contains blueberry and coconut flavors – I can’t wait to try it when I return to San Jose.
They even run a beer school where they will teach you all about the brewing industry and how to create your own delicious craft beers; this is more suited to large groups as a minimum of 10 people are required for the course to go ahead. They also offer brewery tours from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.
8. Fuego Brewing Co.
Dominical may be a small hippie town, but it still has a fantastic craft brewery. Fuego Brewing Company is one of the best breweries in Costa Rica; it’s surprisingly large and is located just off the main street in the town.
Because of its slightly hidden location, Fuego Brewing is quite a peaceful spot to enjoy a beer, and it’s surrounded by nature! The gorgeous bar and restaurant here are elevated off the ground, while the brewery sits below the bar, and part of the flooring is glass, so you can see the tanks and brewer at work – it’s a super unique experience!
There are eight beers on tap here, including an ale, pilsner, IPA, kolsch, and pale ale. My favorite, however, was the Kaka mango pale ale, it’s so fruity and delicious! They also serve food – we tried the Poke Bowl and the Lobster Sandwich, and both were really good! It’s a great place to eat in Dominical!
9. Butterfly Brewing Co.
Located not far from Montezuma town, the small Butterfly Brewing Co. is surrounded by nature and boasts a beautiful outdoor balcony overlooking a lush forest. They had four beers on tap during my visit, and I loved them all – the IPA and Pale Ale are especially good. They also serve food here, and I hear their black bean burger is delicious; in fact, this is a great option for food in Montezuma if you’re vegan or vegetarian!
There used to be a butterfly garden connected to the brewery, hence its name. Unfortunately, it was closed on our last visit.
Butterfly Brewing Co. is a short drive or walk out of town. However, be prepared for a steep climb up the hillside if you walk. They do not accept credit or debit cards here, so be sure to bring cash with you!
10. Whale Tail Brewery
Whale Tail Brewery is the local brewery in the small town of Uvita, and it’s renowned for serving delicious craft beers to thirsty travelers and locals. Plus, it often has live music acts playing! It’s safe to say; that it didn’t take me long to get to know this establishment while I was staying in Uvita!
The brewery is small, but it has plenty of room for you to enjoy a refreshing craft beer at its bar, which is attached to the brewery. They serve only a few beers here, including a pale ale and an IPA, but the best thing about this spot is their prices – each beer here costs just over $3 USD, so you can certainly enjoy a few on a budget.
They also serve food and cocktails, so everyone will find something they love.
Pura Vida!
As you know, sampling delicious craft beer is one of my favorite ways to get a taste of the local culture while enjoying a relaxing evening. And I really loved putting together this list of the best breweries in Costa Rica, even though it made me really thirsty! I can’t wait to go back and visit these great breweries on my next visit to Costa Rica!
I hope this blog has helped you decide which breweries to try while you’re in Costa Rica! If it has, be sure to browse around and check out more of our blogs. We have so much to tell you about this wonderful country, such as:
23 Delicious Foods you have to try in Costa Rica