Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico

The Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico (formerly known as Cervecería India) is one of two breweries in Puerto Rico.[1][2] It is located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The company's main brand is Medalla Light.[3]

Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico
IndustryAlcoholic beverage
Founded1937
FounderAlfonso, Sabino and Ramón Valdés Cobián
Headquarters
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Key people
Camalia Valdés
ProductsBeer, Malta and Sodas
Websitewww.cerveceradepr.com

History
Cervecera de PR brewery

The company was founded on November 2, 1937 by the brothers Valdés Cobián: Alfonso, Sabino and Ramón Valdés Cobián, in Mayagüez, the largest city on the west coast of Puerto Rico. The Valdés brothers were following the example of their father, Don Ramon Valdés, who had founded the Mayagüez Light, Power and Ice Company in 1910. In 1938, their first beer, Cerveza India, was released to the public. The company competed with two other native beer breweries, "Real" and "Cerveceria Corona" (Cerveceria Corona de Puerto Rico "subsequently sold its trademark rights to Cervecería Modelo de México, which then launched Cerveza Corona as Modelo's Corona Extra."[4] Alfonso, as chairman and president, successfully led his company converting it into Puerto Rico's largest beer brewery and manufacturer of canned and bottled soft drinks.

Medalla beer advertisement on PR-129 northbound.

In the late 70s, the brewery was forced to expand its portfolio and produce a lighter beer with less calories than their Cerveza India. Until that time, India was the only alcoholic beverage producing plant in Mayagüez.

In 1985, their main competition, Corona, went bankrupt and left a free way to Cervecería India, which was in full swing after the release of its new product Medalla Light years before.[4] In October 2009, the brewery reverted its name to "Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico".

The company works to promote the art and culture of Puerto Rico.[5]

Products
Medalla delivery truck

The company's main product is Medalla Light, a 4.2% abv pale lager.[6] The brewery also produces Malta India, a non-alcoholic soft drink made from barley. In 1940, it began producing Orange Crush and Old Colony sodas. In May 2010, the brewery announced the launch of their new beer, Silver Key Light, which hit the market on June 1, 2010.[7] They launched Magna, a premium beer, on August 1, 2011.[8]

Gold Medal and Best-in-class beer in category International Golden Lagers Beer in New Zealand Awards 2007

Quality Medal for the third consecutive year competition Monde Selection 2007. Monde Selection is organization recognized worldwide as the most seniority and representation in the field of selection quality.

Medal of quality Australian International Beer Awards 2007, the second largest beer competition in the world.

References
  1. "Beer Me! — Breweries in Puerto Rico, United States". beerme.com. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  2. "Puerto Rico Breweries Directory". ratebeer.com. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  3. "Medalla Light - El Sabor Que Nos Mueve". www.medallalight.com. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  4. "Historia de una cerveza nativa". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). April 20, 2008.
  5. "Medalla Light y Alexis Díaz unen esfuerzos para aportar al arte y cultura puertorriqueña" (in Spanish). August 8, 2019.
  6. "Medalla Light from Cerveceria India - Ratebeer". ratebeer.com. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  7. Rivera Cruz, Yalixa (2010-05-19). "Lanzan cerveza boricua". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). p. 42. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  8. "Lanzan la primera cerveza premium boricua". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Puerto Rico: El Nuevo Día. 2011-08-01. Retrieved 2011-08-01.

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