“The Magic is strong — and so are the drinks!”-Abuela in Encanto

The beer scene in Bogotá is growing and thriving. The breweries in Bogotá particularly surprised us upon our arrival to this incredible and booming city. There are now plenty of options for local breweries. With so many choices, I listed 4 breweries you have to try in Bogotá. I have also included a list of more breweries I want to visit on my next trip! Because I am food-motivated, I also listed some of my favorite foods at the end.

Most people travel to Colombia to visit Cartegena and Medellín. We were surely one of them! At the time, Bogotá was a quick stopover on our way to Cartegena. What a mistake! After spending a short time in Bogotá, we nevertheless regretted not spending more time in this thrilling city.

About Bogotá

Bogotá is the upbeat, lively, high-altitude capital of Colombia. Despite being a populous urban city, you will find it between the Andes mountains. It is also centrally located in Colombia.

Here are some quick fun facts about Bogotá:

• Bogotá was previously named Santa Fe de Bogotá.
• Bogotá is one of the largest cities in the world. 
• It is also one of the highest capitals in the world!
  • It is about 2,640 meters or 8,660 feet above sea level. 
  • Bogotá is on Bogotá Savanna, a high plateau in the Andes. 
  • The temperature here is colder than you may expect.
  • Due to the high elevation within the Andes, the weather here is slightly chilly year-round. 
  • Daytime temperatures are usually around the 60s F. This is also thanks to the overcast. When the sun is out, which may seem rare, it can warm up to a comfortable temperature. 
• Bogotá is in sum the city of gold!
  • Bogotá has the largest gold collection in the world. You can see some of it at the Gold Museum/ Museo de Oro. 

Some Helpful Tips for Bogotá

• Cell Service
  • Specifically check with your individual providers.
  • We have T-Mobile, which worked fine in the cities. We had more trouble with the signal during our hiking excursions, which is typical even in the States. 
• Petty crime is high, but not surprising for any big city.
  • In any case, always be aware of your surroundings and avoid traveling solo at night. 
• Bogotá has an old reputation for not being safe.
  • From what I could tell, the reputation dates back to the drug trade days of Pablo Escobar. Given that information, the peak of the drug cartels in Colombia was back in the 1980s and 90s. Bogotá has since been working hard to improve the safety of locals and tourists.  
  • It is best not to stay downtown overnight at this time.
  • All things considered, take a legitimate taxi if you do not feel safe. Restaurants and hotels can help you arrange one. 
  • We overall liked where we stayed in the Chapinero neighborhood. For our purposes, it was walkable, safe, and had a lot of fun restaurants and breweries nearby. 
•  Tipping
  • The standard tip is 10%. Read your bill- some restaurants will automatically add the gratuity. You will see “propina voluntaria” on your receipt.
• Drinking Age
  • The legal drinking age in Colombia is 18! 

4 Breweries You Have to Try in Bogotá

Bogotá and Beer! And All The Breweries You Have to Try in Bogotá

I am guessing you do not think of beer when you think of Colombia. But trust me, this beer scene is definitely worth the visit. The beer business here is booming. These are four breweries we liked, and so these are the breweries you have to try in Bogotá.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff! Beer me!

1) Bogotá Beer Company (BBC)

I firstly have to start this list with Bogotá Beer Company. BBC is probably the most-known beer in Colombia. It is also the most awarded Colombian brewery in the world. You can find it listed all over their website as well. Furthermore, there are tons of locations throughout Bogotá. It felt like we were running into a BBC at every corner! After all, they are the “Starbucks of Colombian craft beer.” Being that they are from Bogotá, BBC names their beers after neighborhoods and attractions around Bogotá, which I love.

They serve their staples:

• Cerveza Roja Septimazo- IPA
  • Their hoppy pure malt red beer has a citrus, herbal, and intense profile. 
• Cerveza Negra Chapinero- Porter
  • A lush single malt stout. 
• Cerveza Roja Monserrate- Bitter
  • Cerveza Roja is fruity and hoppy. 
• Cerveza Rubia Lager- Lager
  • BBC’s refreshing blonde staple. 
• Cerveza Negra Macondo- Stout
  • They infuse Colombian coffee with this beer. It was a delicious stout! 
• Cerveza Blanca Bacata- Wheat 
  • A refreshing wheat beer made with coriander and orange peels. 
• Cerveza Rubia Cajica- Honey Ale
  • Their pure malt blonde ale is made with honey. Rubia Cajica has won several beer awards. Try it! It was delicious! 

In addition to their staples, BBC also makes a wide variety of seasonal beers. It was an overall good spot for tasty beers and some yummy bar snacks. We got nachos and empanadas!

Bogotá Beer Company’s website

2) El Mono Bandido

El Mono Bandido was a fun and unique brewery experience. In this case, we went to El Mono Bandido Zona T.

The overall decor was AWESOME. Firstly, there was the giant inflatable gorilla out front. The gorilla was what initially intrigued us to go inside. Secondly, the interior was a mix of modern beauty accented with an adult playground. There was an adult slide on the 2nd floor down to a ball pit on the 1st floor! We heard all their locations are fun and creative. El Mono Bandido was busy on a Friday night. They have live music on select nights, which I am sure adds to the fun.

El Mono Bandido serves food, cocktails, and beers. We ate the papas bravas and the carimañola de morcilla. They were perfect little bites to snack on while we sipped our beers.

The beer menu included a lager, hoppy red ale, IPA, cider, and more. You can also get them in a 330ml cup, 500ml pint, or 1750ml jar. I prefer the 330ml size. The smaller size allows me to try more of their variety. El Mono Bandido is definitely worth the stop when you are in town.

El Mono Bandido’s website

3) Birrería Macha

Firstly, their mascot is a bulldog on a skateboard! The bulldog alone sold me on my love for Birrería Macha. Furthermore, they are a small and independent brewery in Bogotá. Birrería Macha has several locations around the city. We went to Birrería Macha 80, their original bar. They have a small menu of good artisanal beers. The brewery is small and perfect for sitting on the terrace with beers and snacks. 

Their beer selection was as follows:

• Helles Lager 
  • An easy-to-drink blonde lager
• Pils Lager
  • A fruity lager made with New Zealand hops.
• Cali(fornia) Lager
  • An amber lager that reminded me of a moderately bitter IPA.
• Birrería Macha Lab 
  • Birrería Macha’s rotating experimental beers!

Birrería Macha’s website

4) Bruder

Bruder was not initially on our list of breweries to visit. However, they came highly recommended by a tour guide we used for a day trip hike in the cloud forest. Following a recommendation from a local is usually a good idea. So, we made it to Bruder on our last night in Bogotá.

Bruder started in Tunja, and with their quality and good reputation, they eventually made their way to Bogotá. Bruder additionally won several beer awards. The awards include The International Taste and Quality Institute and The World Selection awards. They have a lot of fun flavors, and we liked their overall beer selection.

 We tried…

• Mango y Granadilla
  • The staple pale ale. 
• Fuego Verde
  • A spiced herbed beer.
• Maracuyá Belgian Ale
  • This is an award-winning Belgian ale, and I highly recommend this one. 
• Piña y Durazno
  • A wheat beer made with pineapple and peach 

You can check out their list of beers on their website: Bruder’s website

If I Had More Time…

Those who know me know my wish list is ever-growing. After all, I find it adds to my options for my next visit! Here are some of the breweries I plan on visiting when I return to Bogotá.

More Breweries You Have to Try in Bogotá

3 Cordilleras 

• The brewer at 3 Cordilleras learned the beer trade in Atlanta, Georgia. In brief, he returned to Colombia to open his own brewery. 3 Cordilleras in due time opened breweries in Medellín and Bogotá.
• They have won several competitions, including:
  • Latin American Brewing Circuit
  • Dubbel Beer Bronze Medal
  • Black Beer Gold Medal 
  • National Competition Participants Craft Category
    • Metiza Beer Bronze Medal 
• 3 Cordilleras’ website

Cervecería Gigante

• This tucked-away nano-brewery is on a quiet street. Cervecería Gigante is a brewery and in addition a pub. What intrigues me most about this spot is its equally important food menu! The menu includes house-made chorizos.
• Their house beers include: 
  • Sirena Pils
    • A blonde, malty, and floral lager
  • Paladin Pale Ale
    • A blonde made with passion fruit and citrus. 
  • Sequoia Red IPA
    • A red IPA with tropical fruits and pine. 
  • Galeon Porter
    • A porter with toasted malts, dark chocolate, and coffee.
• Cervecería Gigante’s website

Statua Rota Chapinero

Statua Rota Chapinero is a small brewpub. We walked by their Chapinero location, and my husband was too hungry to wait in line. The reviews boast delicious food and delightful craft beers. The Google reviews also mention delicious burgers. 

Hanna Hops

• Hannah Hops started as a YouTube video about making craft beers at home. Following their success, the brewers created their own microbrewery. Hanna Hop’s goal is to be the first carbon-neutral brewery in Colombia. I admire their attempts to make sustainable and responsible products. Furthermore, they aim to use local suppliers and brew their beers in Colombia. 
• They simultaneously have 2 locations. The Quinta Camacho neighborhood location looks beautiful. I can imagine myself sitting on their lovely terrace, surrounded by plants.
• Their beer selection includes:
  • 940 
    • 940 is the blonde ale that started it all. Hannah Hops named their first beer after the address of their first bar. 
  • Tribe
    • An amber ale with sweet cookie notes. Yup, you read that right- sweet cookie. I was also intrigued by that description. 
  • Eureka
    • A hazy NE IPA with passion fruit, mango, and lemon peel. 
• Hanna Hops’ website

Madriguera Brewing Co.

• Madriguera Brewing Co. simultaneously makes beers and ciders! This one caught my eye because I adore their can art. You should definitely check out their website to see the cute illustrations. 
• Their ciders include:
  • Rebel Hare Cider
    • A fresh and carbonated cider. 
• The beer selection includes:
  • Rocambolesca Otter Beer
    • A fruity and tropical lager. 
  • Raccoon King Beer
    • A pale golden ale with a sweet and malty aroma. 
  • Everlasting Bear Beer
    • A brown ale with toasted and fruity notes. 
  • Conde Cortés Beer
    • Conde Cortés is an American IPA with woody and citrus notes. 
  • Rampant Meerkat Beer
    • A hazy New England IPA.
• Madriguera Brewing Co’s website

Sanchez Cervecería Artesanal

All in all, I am a sucker for pretty beer gardens, and this place seems to deliver. The vibe is contemporary in this 2-story building with indoor and outdoor seating. Sanchez Cervecería Artesanal also hosts live music, but some reviews complain the atmosphere is already too loud. I am also intrigued by the food- it looks delicious. 

Sanchez Cervecería’s website

What to Eat in Bogotá- Because there’s more than breweries you have to try in Bogotá

I cannot write about beer and not mention food! I am without a doubt more of a food-motivated person. To that end, this is my short list of favorites from our trip to Bogotá. We tried so many more dishes, but these are the ones I continue to crave.

• Ajiaco 
  • Ajiaco is chiefly the national dish of Colombia! It is a delicious chicken and potato soup.
  • The famous restaurant, Puerta Falsa, had without reservation a delectable ajiaco!
• Arepa
  • Arepas are hand-size cakes made of ground maize dough. To that end, you can stuff them with a variety of fillers, like cheese! It is delightful any time of the day. You may see breakfast arepas with eggs in the morning and savory arepas for lunch and dinner. They also make good late-night food after lots of drinking. 
• Empanadas
  • A fried or baked turnover with savory fillings. Empanadas are surely one of my favorite dishes! Furthermore, it pairs great with beer. 
• ALL the fresh fruit
  • The locals boast a wide variety of fruit, and they are undeniably correct. I especially loved all the fresh fruit juices. It was refreshing and out of this world. 

Savor These Breweries You Have to Try in Bogotá

In sum, there are several breweries you have to try in Bogotá. We loved the four we visited, which thus sparked my interest in researching more of them. The breweries in Bogotá were a pleasant surprise on our trip to Colombia! We love sampling local breweries on our travels, and the beer scene in Bogotá is flourishing.