High Rock Beer: A Truly Bahamian German Lager
As you might imagine, excitement is building around here over the upcoming Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival! I mean, it’s not every day that we get invited to judge anything, much less a celebration of our favorite libation: rum!
It bears noting, though, that the event is called the Caribbean Rum & BEER festival. Sadly, I won’t have the honor of serving in an official judicial capacity over the many participating brews. You can bet, though, that I’ll enjoy my fair share of suds. If I’m lucky, that fair share will include High Rock Beer.
Premium Beer
This is the third of the four homegrown Grand Bahama beers I’ve been promising to tell you about. High Rock is the “premium” offering from the Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company. By premium, I mean it’s most like the German beers all Bahamian Brewery brews emulate.
It takes just 15 days to produce Sands, the Bahamian Brewery’s standard beer. For High Rock, though, brewmasters invest a good six weeks!
If you get a chance to sample them side-by-side you’ll agree: the best things come to those who wait.
A Taste of High Rock Beer
Like Sands, High Rock is smooth and easy-drinking; another ideal option for those warm Caribbean days. The alcohol content is a tad higher. (5.6% for High Rock vs. 5.2% for Sands.) The flavor is also decidedly more robust in-line with the more protracted brewing process. Or, as the folks at the Bahamian Brewery state on their website:
The longer aging process gives it (High Rock) a slightly darker golden colour as well as a wholesome quality… Allowing the slow acting yeast to ferment during storage gives it more body – much like a European beer.
Local Heineken?
That type of similarity is certainly a good thing for those who appreciate good beer. Some people, though, say there are a few too many things in common between High Rock and one particular green European beer. While in Grand Bahama recently, more than a few locals referred to High Rock as the “local Heineken.”
The packaging is fairly similar. Folks I spoke to at the brewery, though, said it was just coincidental. (What do you think? Leave a comment below…)
High Rock may measure up to Heineken and other great European beers in more ways than one. As it says right on the label, though, it’s a Truly Bahamian beer.
Truly Bahamian
The same natural Grand Bahama spring water used to make Sands (and all other Bahamian Brewery beers) is also employed in the production of High Rock. Also like Sands, the beer’s name was chosen from among suggestions made by the people of Grand Bahama.
There’s even a bit of juicy island melee tied to the beer’s name and packaging…
Church Trouble
You see, High Rock is also the name of a village on Grand Bahama Island. An iconic lighthouse found there was once featured on the beer’s original label. The lighthouse was built by Rev Cecil Kemp who lives in High Rock. According to a December 2009 article in the Tribune Freeport Reporter, Rev Kemp built the lighthouse “as a symbol of a spiritual inspiration in the High Rock community.”
Needless to say, the Reverend didn’t look too kindly upon having his community’s identity so closely tied to a beer. Out of respect, the Bahamian Brewery changed High Rock’s packaging to feature a red lighted buoy.
(I guess you could say that they ‘saw the light.’)
With peace having been achieved between Church and brewery, High Rock is now sold without qualms throughout The Bahamas. It’s worth the trip to get a taste, no matter your beliefs…
Cheers!
Related Posts
Royal Jamaican Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Friday Happy Hour: Caybrew, the Freshest Beer in the Caribbean
