--- title: "Peru’s Best-Selling Beers, From Cristal and Pilsen Callao to Craft Brands" description: "Cristal and Pilsen Callao, from Backus, are Peru's best-selling beers. Learn their history and other brands such as Cusqueña, San Juan, Tres Cruces and Barbarian." url: https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/best-selling-beers-in-peru/ date: 2024-07-03 modified: 2026-09-29 author: "Carlos Uhart M." image: https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Las-10-cervezas-mas-vendidas-en-Peru.jpg categories: ["Business"] tags: ["Business", "Mercados", "Perú"] type: post lang: en --- # Peru’s Best-Selling Beers, From Cristal and Pilsen Callao to Craft Brands Peru’s best-selling beers are Cristal and Pilsen Callao, the two flagship brands of Backus, the Peruvian subsidiary of AB InBev that controls the vast majority of the market. Alongside them are regional brands with a long history, the competition Heineken brought in 2020 and an increasingly visible craft scene. ![Best-selling beers in Peru, Cristal, Pilsen Callao and Cusqueña](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Las-10-cervezas-mas-vendidas-en-Peru.jpg)*Best-selling beers in Peru* This review covers the country’s 10 best-known beers, from the big mass-market brands to the craft breweries that have gained ground in recent years. The story of the company that dominates the market is told in the article on [Backus, the brewing group that started as an ice factory](https://www.thebeertimes.com/backus-en-el-grupo-cervecero-mas-grande-del-peru-que-comenzo-como-una-fabrica-de-hielo/). Contenido - [Cristal, the All-Time Favorite](#Cristal_the_All-Time_Favorite) - [Pilsen Callao, the Country’s Oldest Beer](#Pilsen_Callao_the_Country8217s_Oldest_Beer) - [Cusqueña, the Pride of Cusco](#Cusquena_the_Pride_of_Cusco) - [Arequipeña, the Pride of the South](#Arequipena_the_Pride_of_the_South) - [San Juan, the Beer of the Amazon](#San_Juan_the_Beer_of_the_Amazon) - [Corona, the Mexican Must-Have](#Corona_the_Mexican_Must-Have) - [Tres Cruces, Heineken’s Gateway](#Tres_Cruces_Heineken8217s_Gateway) - [Heineken, the International Touch](#Heineken_the_International_Touch) - [Barbarian, Craft Innovation](#Barbarian_Craft_Innovation) - [Candelaria, Craft Passion](#Candelaria_Craft_Passion) - [Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)](#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQ) - [1. What is the best-selling beer in Peru?](#1_What_is_the_best-selling_beer_in_Peru) - [2. What is the oldest beer in Peru?](#2_What_is_the_oldest_beer_in_Peru) - [3. Which company brews Peru’s most popular beers?](#3_Which_company_brews_Peru8217s_most_popular_beers) - [4. Which Peruvian craft beers stand out?](#4_Which_Peruvian_craft_beers_stand_out) - [Recommended](#Recommended) ## Cristal, the All-Time Favorite Cristal is one of the best-known and most consumed beers in Peru. It is a golden lager with a smooth flavor, brewed by Unión de Cervecerías Peruanas Backus y Johnston, and a regular presence at gatherings, soccer matches and hot days on the coast. ## Pilsen Callao, the Country’s Oldest Beer [Pilsen Callao](https://www.thebeertimes.com/pilsen-capital-cerveza-y-cultura/) is Peru’s oldest beer. It was born in 1863 in Callao, when Federico Bindels partnered with Frenchman Aloise Kieffer to brew the country’s first beer, and in 1878 it won a gold medal at the Industrial Exposition in Paris ([El Comercio](https://elcomercio.pe/blog/huellasdigitales/2013/10/pilsen-callao-150-anos-de-trad/)). Today it belongs to Backus and is a light, refreshing lager that pairs well with Peruvian food. ## Cusqueña, the Pride of Cusco Cusqueña was born in 1911 in the imperial city of Cusco and has become the country’s benchmark premium beer, with a smooth, balanced flavor. It comes in varieties ranging from golden to dark. ## Arequipeña, the Pride of the South Arequipeña is named after the city of Arequipa and is one of the best-loved regional brands in southern Peru. It comes in blonde and dark versions and is part of the Backus portfolio. ## San Juan, the Beer of the Amazon San Juan is the traditional beer of the Peruvian Amazon. Cervecería San Juan was founded in 1971 in Pucallpa, in the Ucayali region, and its brand is the favorite in that city, where it has become a local symbol ([Backus](https://www.backus.pe/marcas/san-juan)). ## Corona, the Mexican Must-Have Corona, the world’s best-known Mexican beer, is sold in Peru as part of the Backus portfolio. Its light flavor has made it popular at parties and on beach days, and it is served with the classic lime wedge. ## Tres Cruces, Heineken’s Gateway Tres Cruces was a Grupo AJE brand that Heineken bought in 2020 for about 50 million dollars, the deal through which the multinational entered the Peruvian market ([Gestión, 2020](https://gestion.pe/economia/empresas/heineken-cierra-compra-de-cerveza-tres-cruces-e-ingresa-al-mercado-peruano-junto-a-aje-noticia/)). Today it is sold in Lager and Light versions. ## Heineken, the International Touch [Heineken](https://www.thebeertimes.com/heineken-lager-notas-de-cata-y-maridajes-recomendados/) arrived in Peru in 2020 together with Tres Cruces and Amstel, distributed in partnership with AJE. The Dutch lager is now one of the most visible imported premium options in the country. ## Barbarian, Craft Innovation Barbarian is one of Peru’s best-known craft breweries. Born in Lima, it is famous for creative beers, from heavily hopped IPAs to robust Stouts, and has been one of the brands that most boosted the Peruvian craft scene. ## Candelaria, Craft Passion Candelaria is a [craft brewery](https://www.thebeertimes.com/la-brewers-association-planea-modificar-su-definicion-de-cerveceria-artesanal/) inspired by the festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria, one of Peru’s most important celebrations. It brews a range of beers that show craft care in every detail. In Peru beer is part of the culture, from the Pilsen shared at a family gathering to the craft beer sampled in a Lima bar. That mix of century-old brands and new breweries defines the country’s beer scene today. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ### 1. What is the best-selling beer in Peru? Peru’s best-selling beers are Cristal and Pilsen Callao, the two main brands of Backus, an AB InBev subsidiary that controls the vast majority of the country’s beer market. ### 2. What is the oldest beer in Peru? Pilsen Callao, born in 1863 in Callao thanks to Federico Bindels and Aloise Kieffer. In 1878 it won a gold medal at the Industrial Exposition in Paris. ### 3. Which company brews Peru’s most popular beers? Unión de Cervecerías Peruanas Backus y Johnston, an AB InBev subsidiary, brews Cristal, Pilsen Callao, Cusqueña, Arequipeña and San Juan, and distributes Corona. Its main competitor is Heineken, which arrived in 2020 with Tres Cruces, Heineken and Amstel. ### 4. Which Peruvian craft beers stand out? Barbarian, born in Lima, is one of the best known and has boosted the craft scene with styles such as IPA and Stout. Candelaria, inspired by the festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria, is another craft brand with a strong presence. ## Recommended - [Which Are the Best-Selling Beers in Each Latin American Country?](https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/best-selling-beers-latin-america/) - [Chicha de Jora Recipe, How to Make the Ancient Inca Corn Beer](https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/chicha-de-jora-recipe-how-to-make-the-ancient-inca-beer/)