Pilsen Callao
Unión de Cervecerías Peruanas Backus y Johnston in Lima, Lima, Peru 🇵🇪
Lager - Pale Regular|
Score
4.48
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Pilsen Callao. By far the oldest beer in Peru, and one of the longest-lived in South America. Pilsen Callao traces its origins back to 1863, when Federico Bindels partnered with the Frenchman Aloise Kieffer to make the first beer in the then Callao port neighborhood. More than a century and a half later, it remains at the highest levels of preference in the Peruvian beer market.
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4/10
—
Appearance 5
Aroma 3.5
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4
Aroma of grains. Taste is on malt, corn, with mid bitterness and a grainy sweet finish.
Tried
from Can
on 05 Jun 2026
at 01:56
3.5/10
Sour
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Feb 2026
at 04:04
4.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4
A classical and boring lager, in the north of Lima, it is really hard to find another beer than this one and Cristal, 27.12.17, at Collique, Comas. Drinking it at some opportunities in Peru because you don't have another option, not a grand cru, definitely.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Feb 2026
at 10:17
4.5/10
Tried
on 30 Jan 2026
at 15:18
4.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 3.5
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 4.5
305ml (lol) bottle from D&S Getränke, Dresden, lagered in my Prague, Czechia fridge and shared in Zagreb, Croatia with Hrabren, as the beer simply needed to travel some more! Consumir ates 21/AGO/2025... oops. Well, at least I got a discount on 1/3 expired beers I got there. Huh... slightly skunky, bit oxidized, vaguely herbal aroma, got that sakeish tropical lager vibe too. Smoothish sweetish malty taste, more of that saké malty vibe. Drinkable, vaguest of herbal hoppy touches, no bitterness to speak of. I got what I expected I'd get... But hey, at least no need to try it until I run into it fresh in Peru on tap or something. Not godawful thankfully.
Tried
from
D&S Getränke
on 26 Jan 2026
at 19:49
4.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 5
Overall 4
0.305 bottle thanks to Marko who brought it from Germany. Clear golden, small off-white head. Aroma is grainy, cooked corn, stale malt, cardboard and hints of vegetable. Smooth, light body, soft texture, light carbonation. Slick, sweet, bready, corn, minimal bitterness. Finishes sweet.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Jan 2026
at 19:47
4/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4
Bottle at a Peruvian restaurant in Palm Beach.
Pours clear light golden with a small white head, some lacing. Skunky, straw, sour.
Not too good.
Pours clear light golden with a small white head, some lacing. Skunky, straw, sour.
Not too good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Sep 2025
at 00:57
5/10
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Aug 2025
at 11:00
4.5/10
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Jun 2025
at 17:21
2.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 2
Flavor 3
Texture 2
Overall 2
Not absolutely terrible. At least has the green bottle skunk infection, which I actually like. Golden pour. Bottle of this at a Venezuelan arepa place--the only reason I ordered it was I thought it was another Venevuelan tick from the city of Callao. I guess not. Maybe I'll get a Peruvian region.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 May 2025
at 20:41