The heat is almost unbearable.
Scorching midday sun burns my skin, hot and humid air is hard to inhale, and my mouth is almost as dry as the sand chafing my sandaled feet. But I push past my discomfort, and head inside to grab a beer. After the first greedy gulp of a cool, crisp, and grapefruity (or does it taste more like pomelo?) Session IPA, I feel revived already.
La Cacata Brewing Company, a craft brewery in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, has a personality as distinctive as the mural adorning its taproom wall. “Beer with an attitude” is its motto, and La Cacata wears its origin proudly. From its name (which translates to a species of local tarantula); to its use of ingredients like cacao, passion fruit, and guavaberry; to the bold colors on the cans and the walls, every element adds up to a distinctly Caribbean sense of place.
During my visit, I learn that La Cacata recently celebrated its first anniversary, and what a year it was. Not all local beer businesses survived, but La Cacata was able to keep moving forward. Most of the beers I try are befitting of the tropical climate—like its Kölsch, Session IPA, and fruited Wheat Beers—but it’s not shy of darker and stronger offerings, like its special birthday release. Its label features the same beaming woman as the mural, and I hope fate keeps smiling upon this brewery, too.
Words + Photo by Lana Svitankova