For decades, asking for a beer in Colombia meant one thing: a light, mass-produced lager like Aguila or Club Colombia, usually served ice-cold to combat the heat. While these have their place on a hot afternoon, they aren’t exactly exciting. But in the last few years, Medellin has undergone a quiet revolution. A wave of passionate, sophisticated microbreweries has crashed onto the scene, turning the City of Eternal Spring into an unexpected destination for serious beer lovers.
Forget watery lagers; Medellin’s new brewers are experimenting with local fruits, coffee notes, and bold hops, creating world-class IPAs, Stouts, and Saisons in spaces that rival the best taprooms in Denver or Berlin.
Here is where to taste the best of the city’s foaming revolution:
- 20Mission Gastropub (El Poblado/Manila): This is arguably the most impressive taproom in the city. Housed in a massive, beautifully designed warehouse space in the trendy Manila neighborhood, 20Mission offers award-winning beers (try their complex Saisons or hoppy IPAs) alongside excellent high-end bar food. It’s sophisticated, buzzing, and perfect for a group dinner.
- 3 Cordilleras (Industriales): The pioneers of the Medellin craft scene. While you can find their bottles in supermarkets, the real experience is visiting their brewery. On Thursday and Friday nights, they host legendary “brewery tours” which are essentially lively, open-bar parties with a DJ inside the production facility. It’s a loud, fun, Colombian way to start a weekend.
- Metmy Beer (Laureles): For a more relaxed, neighborhood vibe, head to Laureles. Metmy isn’t a brewery itself, but a dedicated craft beer bar with an ever-rotating tap list featuring the smallest, most experimental micro-brewers in Antioquia that you won’t find in bigger venues.
The VIP Brewery Crawl
The best breweries are spread out across different neighborhoods, from the industrial zones to the leafy streets of Laureles and the hills of Poblado. Trying to coordinate rideshares between pints can kill the vibe.
Upgrade your tasting experience. When you book your luxury stay with MedellinVillas.com, our concierge team can organize a private driver for a custom brewery crawl, ensuring your group moves safely and stylishly between taprooms. Alternatively, if you prefer to enjoy the view from your own terrace, we can pre-stock your villa’s fridge with a curated selection of growlers and bombers from the city’s best local brewers before you arrive.
Contact our concierge team to taste the best of Medellin’s craft revolution.
