Canary Islands Craft Beer: Breweries You Need to Try
Think Canary Islands, and you picture beaches, volcanoes, and bananas. But something else is growing here that most tourists never notice — and plenty of locals haven't caught onto yet: a craft beer scene that's vibrant, creative, and unmistakably its own.
At Rock N Hopz we've spent years working shoulder to shoulder with Canarian breweries. We pour 64 Canarian craft beers on our menu — probably the widest selection on the islands. Here's why they deserve your attention.
The State of Craft Beer in the Canary Islands
The Canaries showed up late to the craft revolution. While Barcelona, Madrid, and the Basque Country were exploding in the early 2010s, island drinkers were still stuck choosing between Dorada and Tropical. But arriving late had one upside: Canarian brewers watched the mainland's mistakes play out first and started with a technical level most regions took years to reach.
Today there are more than 30 microbreweries spread across the archipelago, with Tenerife and Gran Canaria leading in both volume and quality. Most are small operations — two or three people, limited runs, local distribution only — and that's exactly what makes the beer worth seeking out.
The Canarian Breweries You Should Know
TACOA — Tenerife's Benchmark Brewery
Based in the north of Tenerife, TACOA is probably the most established craft brewery in the archipelago. Their range is broad and consistent — a clean Pilsner, a hop-forward IPA, a punchy Bock, a refreshing Weizen.
What defines TACOA is consistency. Beer after beer, batch after batch, the quality holds. In an industry where batch variation is a real problem, TACOA proves you can brew at a European level right here in Tenerife.
Tierra de Perros — Wild Creativity
Tierra de Perros is TACOA's philosophical opposite — and that's a compliment to both. Where TACOA chases consistency, Tierra de Perros chases exploration: mixed fermentations, local ingredients, one-off batches that never repeat. If you want to see how far Canarian craft beer can push its limits, this is the answer.
Their use of native ingredients — tropical fruit, local herbs, Canarian honey — creates beers that couldn't exist anywhere else on earth.
La Armada Cervecera — Our Collaboration
We've got a special relationship with La Armada. Our Smoke on the Hopz was born from a bar-counter conversation: what if we brewed a beechwood-smoked rauchbier, Bamberg-style, but made in Tenerife? It turned out so good it became a permanent tap.
La Armada blends European brewing tradition with Canarian creative restlessness. Their core range is solid, and their special editions are adventures always worth the risk.
Chutney — Gran Canaria's Fresh Take
Out of Gran Canaria, Chutney brings a different energy. Their beers speak to a younger crowd — tropical IPAs, fruited sours, lagers with a twist. It's the youngest Canarian brewery in spirit, and its boldness shakes up a market that can sometimes play it too safe.
Other Breweries Worth Following
- Nao — Lanzarote, beers with volcanic character
- Jaira — Fuerteventura, a young project with real potential
- Gara — La Gomera, the island's quintessential microbrewery
- Isla Verde — La Palma, one of the archipelago's pioneers
Why Drinking Canarian Beer Actually Matters
Every time you order a Canarian beer instead of a mass-market one, you're doing three things:
- Supporting the local economy. The money stays on the islands, in the hands of real people with names and faces.
- Cutting the carbon footprint. A beer brewed in Tacoronte travels 80 km to reach your glass. A Heineken travels 3,000 km from Holland.
- Tasting something you can't get anywhere else. You won't find these beers in any mainland supermarket. They're exclusive to the archipelago.
Where to Try Canarian Beer in South Tenerife
At Rock N Hopz we pour 64 Canarian craft beers from more than 7 island breweries. We rotate the taps by season and availability, so every visit can bring a surprise.
Ask for a Canarian beer flight if you want to try several in one sitting — we'll put together 4-5 different styles for you to compare side by side. It's the best way to discover the islands through beer.
