Cervecería El Bolsón

Juan Carlos Bahlaj opened the brewery in El Bolsón, in Río Negro’s Comarca Andina, around 1984; one account says he began as a hobby in 1986 and got approval to sell across Argentina in 1992. It is often called the country’s first craft brewery, and the founders of Antares name it as one of the two that came before them. His son Guillermo, a chemical engineer, now runs it. The brewery has its own malting and stands in the area that grows more than 70% of Argentina’s hops. Its range includes a pilsen-style Rubia, a bock-style Negra Extra, a wheat beer, a smoked Rauchbier and beers with fruit, chilli and chocolate.