What’s the beer industry like in Barbados?
It’s not a question, I admit, that I have ever asked, but when my parents offered a week’s stay in Barbados in February 2026 for the price of a plane ticket (they were staying for a month, and had a spare bedroom) it was one of the first thoughts that occurred to me.
What DOES the beer industry look like on this island that’s so far removed, north of Venezuela?
When I first came to Barbados, I immediately noted that there were two dominant choices for beer on the island: Deputy (a Pilsner) and Banks (a lager). No matter where you went, those two were available, and empty bottles/cases were stacked around every bar and restaurant I saw.
Both were decent (I preferred Banks), but I couldn’t help but ask:
How do you complete with two such dominant beer choices as a separate craft beer destination?
Within two days, I told my parents I was going to Bridgetown to check out one of the few breweries I could find on the island: Carlisle Brewing, Admittedly, it took me a little bit to find the place (still figuring out the area!) but I was thrilled when I did.
I met the fab Monique on sitting at the bar, who provided me with a flight to start off. But I was chatty enough with her that she eventually sought to contact one of the owners, Richard Perkins, to come and answer some of my nerdy questions.
Here’s what I learned from my conversation with both Richard and Monique:
The main resource for water on Barbados is rainwater. There isn’t any other natural resource available on the island. It’s then filtered through for municipal use, but still, it blew my mind. I have always considered municipal sources, well water, spring water, and reservoir water when it comes to beer resources, but I had never considered rainwater and what minerals might exist in that. It sparked so many questions!
Most of what’s used in imported. I’d read on the website that Carlisle imported European malts, and I had to ask Richard about that, assuming it was at an astronomical expense. He was nonchalant about it, but did mention that he was looking into experimenting with growing hops on the island, which of course led me to more questions about ideal growing environments for hops and if that was possible in Barbados – we will see!
And what about the dominance of Deputy/Banks on the island? Isn’t that intimidating? Per Richard’s words? It’s an opportunity, all of it. For people who are looking beyond the standard offerings, looking for something more on the island, they are there.
I admired how persistent and sure in his vision. And in fact, at the time of us meeting, he was expanding to not only distribution/canning, but also setting up a space across the way for brewing.
The industry, it seems, is just starting to form in Barbados. There are only a couple of places right now, but I will keep watch to see if more come – and I will visit them if/when I come back for sure.
