Amstel Bright Beer: My Other Favorite Beer When in Aruba
Seems like the perfect time for my other favorite beer in Aruba, Amstel Bright Beer. No, that’s not a typo. It really is Amstel BRIGHT with a “B”, not the same Amstel LIGHT better known throughout the world.
Like it’s Light cousin, Amstel Bright is easy on the carbs and alcohol content (only 5% by volume), making it ideal for a nice, warm day at the beach.
As for the taste, it’s a bit smoother with less of the bitterness found in Amstel Light. Some say the closest thing to it is Corona, which might explain why the one pictured here, which I enjoyed at Moomba Beach Bar, was served up with a slice of lime. This was unnecessary in my opinion as the Bright was just fine on its own.
Amstel Bright was also just fine on its own when it came to beers in Aruba before Balashi came along in 1999. One of the cabbies I rode with during my trip to the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba explained that Amstel Bright was formerly brewed in Curacao exclusively for the Caribbean market, and was the beer of choice for years. But, the increasing availability of Venezuela’s less expensive Polar Beer combined with the birth of Balashi effectively pushed Amstel out of Curacao in 2005.
Amstel Bright is now brewed in Europe for export back to the islands. It may not be homegrown in the Caribbean anymore, but it certainly still has the right flavor and diet-beer character to keep your beach body in shape.
Proost!
Related Posts
Balashi Beer: 3 Reasons to Love Aruba’s Only Homegrown Brew
Friday Happy Hour: Getting Sinny with Ginny in Aruba
