alc./vol: 5.5%
Proof: 11°
Vintage: Non-vintage
Aged: Unaged
Product of: United States
The Bacardi ‘rum’ family where supporters of the struggle against Spanish repression in Cuba, so when they started brewing this beer they fittingly named it in honour of Hatuey, a native Hispaniola Indian chef who was killed by Spanish invaders. Hatuey’s label features a likeness of the Indian chef.
Christopher Columbus discovered the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola (lies between Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east) in late 1492 and found the islands populated by friendly Taíno Indians.
In 1511, Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, one of Columbus’ conquistadors, set out from already conquered Hispaniola to overrun the Cuban natives and claim the island for Spain. However, the Indian chef, Hatuey had already fled Hispaniola with a party of 400 canoes and warned the Cuban’s of the Spanish. ‘Hatuey’, bravely tried to repress the invaders but was captured and on 2nd February 1512 was burned alive at the stake.
A Spanish priest travelling with Velázquez is said to have tried to persuade Hatuey to convert to Christianity moments before his execution. Telling Hatuey, that if he accepted Christianity then he would enjoy eternity in heaven but if he did not then he would suffer in hell. Legend has it that Hatuey responded, “Do any Spaniards go to this heaven?” The friar replied, “Yes, but only the good ones.” Hatuey retorted, “I don’t want to go to a place where I’d meet a single one.” Hatuey is celebrated as Cuba's first national hero and the town of Hatuey, in the Camaguey province of Cuba is named in his honour.
In 1914, Bacardi established the Santiago Brewing Company in Santiago de Cuba and the Hatuey beer brand which was registered in 1915. In 1926, Enrique Schueg, son-in-law of the Bacardi founder, contracted George J. Friedrich, a well-known German brewer to build a new brewery, Cervecería Hatuey, where on completion the next year, Friedrich brewed the first batch of Hatuey beer.
In 1953 Bacardi built Cervecería Central, a state-of-the-art brewery to produce Hatuey with USA brewed Hatuey following in 1995.
In 2011 Bacardi discontinued its lager style Hatuey and re-launched U.S. brewed Hatuey (pronounced ‘ah-Tway) as a “Cuban style pale ale craft beer” brewed by Thomas Creek Brewery in South Carolina. The new Hatuey is brewed with malted barley, hops, yeast and water in small batches (less than 800 cases) and is double filtered.
Sampled on 09/01/2014
Clear, deep golden amber with thin but lasting white head and good lacing.
Toasty malt, nougat and pine with faint herbal note.
Medium bodied with an almost creamy mouthfeel and generous carbonation. Toasty dark-roasted malt with underlying bitter piney hops balanced by faint honeyed sweetness.
Cleansing lingering bitter piney hops.
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