Many years ago, my husband and I took a short little cruise from West Palm Beach to Freeport Bahamas. The weather wasn’t supposed to be great, so a beach day was out of the question. We started looking for other things to do on Grand Bahama Island, and one of the ideas that appealed most to us was visiting a brewery. That’s when we realized that we could experience The Bahamas’ Breweries while on a cruise.
After discovering Bahamian Brewing Company on Facebook, we found out that they offered tours that had gotten some great reviews. So we started at the straw market and found some conch salads and fruity drinks. Then we hopped into a cab and headed to the brewery. We did not regret it!
Since then, we’ve made brewery visits a priority on our vacation plans—no matter whether we’re on a work trip, visiting family, or on a cruise. And we love helping others find fun breweries to visit when they’re traveling, too! If you’re curious about how to visit The Bahamas’ breweries on a cruise, keep reading!
Visiting Breweries in The Bahamas
There are three craft breweries located in The Bahamas. That may seem like a small number for a country with 30 inhabited islands (and close to 700 total). However, hop-heads will be happy to hear that these craft breweries are typically easy to get to from your port of call. Before you plan your day, do a quick check to make sure the breweries you want to visit are open. Much like in the States, the breweries in the Bahamas are rarely open seven days a week.
Breweries in Nassau, The Bahamas
I’m always shocked when I meet people who say “We never even get off the ship” in Nassau. Sure, most avid cruisers have made multiple stops in The Bahamas’ capital and largest city, but with two craft breweries within a short walk of the port, why wouldn’t you at least hop off the ship for an hour or two? I can guarantee you that the beer at these breweries is better than the beer they serve on the cruise, and it probably will cost you less (unless, of course, you have a drink package).
Pirate Republic Brewing
Just steps from your ship, you’ll find Pirate Republic Brewing on Woodes Rogers Walk along the Nassau shoreline. The buccaneer-themed brewery has a comfortable tap room with 16 taps and a great gift shop. And yes, you can also buy a six-pack to bring home as a souvenir (but of course, you’ll need to surrender it for the remainder of your cruise when you re-board the ship at port).
Pirate Republic offers five core beers: Take No Quarter, an American-style IPA; Island Pirate Ale, a session IPA; Long John Pilsner, an Old World-style pilsner; Gold & Haze of Piracy, a citrusy witbier; and Black Beer’d Stout, a velvety stout with notes of chocolate and coffee. You’ll also find an array of seasonal brews on tap, which can include more IPAs, winter ales, barrel-aged imperial stouts, Scottish ales, and more, depending on the time of year.
Alongside its beers, Pirate Republic also serves typical bar fare, including wings, burgers, and of course, conch. If you’re traveling with friends who aren’t beer drinkers, Pirate Republic has a variety of hard seltzers and also has a full bar for those with a hankering for a tropical cocktail.
Rip Ty’d Bahamian Craft Beer
About a 15-minute walk along the Nassau coast, you’ll find Rip Ty’d, The Bahamas newest craft brewery, which opened in 2020. The Rip Ty’d tap room is a charming nod to “Old Bahamas,” with cozy tables made from locally-sourced wood and décor inspired by the owner’s family collection of Bahamas postcards.
Its highest rated brew on Untappd is the Farmer’s Daughter pilsner, and if you get a chance to chat with the owner, she’s quite a storyteller and will spin you a great yarn about the farmer’s daughter. Rip Ty’d offers a variety of styles on tap. With wheats, porters, EPAs, sours, and IPAs on their regular rotation, there’s a brew for everyone. They also embrace their Bahamian vibe with some fun, fruity beers. You’ll likely find notes of lime, mango, or melon on the beer menu.
Can’t decide on just one? Rip Ty’d offers flights—and even a tour package At $25.00 as of March 2023, it includes a flight of beer samples, a full beer of choice, and a tour of the brewery. The brewery also serves wine, cocktails, and seltzers to satisfy a variety of tastes for beer drinkers and non-beer drinkers alike.
Breweries in Freeport, The Bahamas
While Grand Bahama is much larger than New Providence island where Nassau is located, it has a much more of a suburban vibe to it. You’ll find a lot of nature excursions here—kayaking, snorkeling, and a large national park are some of the area’s most popular features. However, just a five minute taxi ride from the port, you’ll also find a great brewery!
Bahamian Brewery
The first brewery in The Bahamas we ever visited is still our favorite brewery there: Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company. Established more than 15 years ago in 2007, Bahamian Brewing produces the country’s second-most popular beer, Sands. Although you might think the beer’s name is beach-inspired, it’s actually named after the family that owns the brewery, led by Jimmy Sands.
Sands includes a full family of beers: Sands and Sands Light, mild golden pilsners, as well as a few different flavors of Sands Radlers. There’s also Strong Back Stout, High Rock Pilsner, and Bush Crack, a pale lager/ale. Bahamian Brewing also creates and bottles a house beer for Señor Frog’s. Even better, they produce the exclusive beer of the luxurious Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. And yes, you’ll get to taste it on your tour (for much less than the high price tag you’d pay at Atlantis).
The Bahamian Brewery Tour
I’ll admit, the first time I visited, I thought the cab driver might have driven us to the wrong spot. We walked in the front door to “Jimmy’s Liquors” and must have looked confused, because a friendly cashier asked us if we were there for the tour. We were ushered through a small gift shop and up a set of stairs, where the brewery suddenly appeared before us through a gigantic window. This is no small micro-brew operation. Conveyor belts filled with cans of beer whirred below the window, reminding me of Laverne & Shirley’s assembly line.
After a five-minute explanation of the operations and a brief Q&A we were led into the private tasting room with the rest of our small group. For the next 45 minutes, our tour guide played bartender, having us sample each beer and then pouring us unlimited cups of beer—a bargain for the 10 (or so) dollars it cost at the time. My second trip, several years later, was just as great. By the end, we were singing show tunes and trading spring break horror stories with our Bahamian tour guide, Crystal.
When hurricane Dorian hit Grand Bahama island in 2019, I was terrified for Bahamian Brewing. They took a direct hit. But within days, their staff was back on site, cleaning up and preparing to get back to business—even those who lost their homes or family members. I was thrilled to see a photo of Crystal on their Facebook page a few weeks later!
Tours were suspended for quite some time after Dorian, but from their website, it looks like they’re back up and running. Tours are now $15, still a great deal—especially if you enjoy a few pints of that fancy Atlantis beer.
What’s the most popular beer in the Bahamas?
Without a doubt, Kalik is the most popular beer brewed in the Bahamas. Much like Budweiser, Coors, and Miller in the United States, Kalik is a golden lager. It has a moderate with an ABV of 5%, making it a mild, smooth drink that my dad would call a “lawnmower beer.”
Also like the above-named American brews, Kalik is more than just a single beer. It’s a full franchise of brands including Kalik, Kalik Light, Kalik Gold, and Kalik lime. There’s even a Kalik Radler. The Kalik family is brewed by Commonwealth Brewery Limited, which is The Bahamas’ 800-pound gorilla in the brewing industry. Commonwealth also locally brews and distributes Heineken, Red Stripe, Guinness, Coors Light, and other brands. In fact, Heineken owns Commonwealth Brewery. While they’ve done tours on request in the past, as of March 2023, they’re not offering tours of their massive facility.
Where did the name Kalik come from?
If you’ve ever been to the annual Junkanoo parades in the Bahamas, you’ll recognize the sound of cowbells. According to Commonwealth, these musical cowbells sound like “Kalik, Kalik, Kalik”- thus the name of the popular Junkanoo beer. I love learning the stories behind the names of foreign beers. When you’re at the Bahamian Brewing Company, make sure to ask where the name “Bush Crack” came from!
What’s the drinking age in The Bahamas?
Spring breakers will be excited to hear that the drinking age in The Bahamas is just 18 years old. However that’s not the case on the cruise lines’ private islands. The cruise ships out of the U.S. have a minimum drinking age of 21, just like in the States. Accordingly, the private islands also have a drinking age of 21. So if you’re 18, 19, or 20, the only ports you’ll be able to drink in are Freeport, Nassau, and other Bahamian cities. You won’t be able to imbibe at cruise-line owned resorts or private islands. Just another reason to experience some of The Bahamas’ breweries on a cruise.
Can you find American Beer in The Bahamas?
If craft beer isn’t your thing, you’ll be happy to hear that most popular American beers are available in the Bahamas. You won’t have much trouble finding Budweiser, Miller, and many others, especially in the tourist hot-spots. But if you’re a fan of these lighter lagers, I really encourage you to try a Kalik or Sands instead! When in Rome, right?
Can you book a brewery excursion in The Bahamas?
Ready to experience The Bahamas’ breweries on a cruise but don’t know where to start? Some cruise lines offer excursions to Bahamian Brewery in Freeport. However, if you want the full brewery experience, contact us to arrange a brewery-themed cruise for your group of 16 or more beer connoisseurs. You’ll get great cruise rates for your group, plus specially-curated experiences for your crew. Don’t have a large group? We can work with you to book a brewery-themed trip to The Bahamas.
Are you nterested in breweries in other popular cruise destinations? Take some time to check out our blog on cruising Alaska’s breweries!
