Craft Beer In Cali – Sultana Brewing

Craft beer in Cali (and all of Colombia) is still very much in its infancy. With only a few certified microbreweries and a handful more home brewers, the craft beer scene in Cali is new, exciting, and delicious. Last week we had the opportunity to tour one of Cali’s few certified microbreweries, Sultana Brewing. There we found a trio of young, passionate, beer loving entrepreneurs. Sultana Brewing & craft beer in Cali may be in its infancy, but I’m willing to bet it’s going to grow up in the blink of an eye!

HISTORY

Sultana is the passion and pride of Hector, Daniel and Juan. Hector is the brew-master and has a love for Belgian beers that is second to none in Cali. He began his home brewing hobby in 2015 and then opened Sultana Brewing in 2017 as a full time business. Longtime friend Daniel joined as an engineer and has designed several of the machines they use today. Juan joined in 2018 to help market and promote the product. The rest is history and now Sultana can be found in a number of bars and cafes around Cali. One of my favorites is ColBru Cafe in San Antonio!

Tour

Our tour began with a welcome from Hector and the guys. Sultana is currently established in a ‘bodega’ in a residential neighborhood on the east side. We used the address finding the place as it’s not signed. The set up is in the shell of an old house that has been turned into an office space, some storage, and the large brewing area. After a quick hello we got down to business. Hector talked to us about ingredients and his passion for using local flavors to create unique blends.

The brewery is small, some machinery is imported but some was built to spec. Sultana imports malts from the US due to a lack of reliable local suppliers. They source other ingredients in Colombia. Hector is a wealth of knowledge in regards to what’s available in Colombia. He’s working to grow the local industry as much as possible.

Currently Sultana has a batch capacity of 50-300 liters. They are running at about half steam while Juan markets and builds the demand side of the business. Hector explained each step of the brewing process in detail but I’ll let you take the tour. The highlight for me was the locally made bottling machine that is hand fed (this is truly artisan craft beer).

Our tour ended with a glass of Bororó while Juan labelled bottles by hand. The house has a rooftop patio where they enjoy the occasional BBQ with friends and family (and are happy to entertain).

Sultana Beers

Sultana’s line up currently includes a blond (Morronga), an amber (Calidosa) and a dark (Bororó ). Easy drinking and delicious each has a unique style and all are testaments to Hector’s vision and dedication.

1. Morronga
   Morronga is Sultana’s flagship brew, and the one that most customers ask for. An easy drinking ale great for Cali’s warm climate. A moderate to high IBU, scents of fruits and herbs with a dry finish.
2. Calidosa
   If someone is ‘Calidosa’ they are warm and welcoming in Spanish. This amber ale embodies the same characteristics (but drink it cold!). A low IBU, amber color and just a hint of panela (locally produced raw sugar).
3. Bororó
   Bororó is colloquial slang for a loud or noisy party (think brewhaha or shindig). This dark desert lives up to its name with strong notes of coffee and chocolate!

There are plans for seasonal brews in the works. Hector is looking forward to playing with more local flavors including Chontaduro!

Future

Hector has plans to move the brewery to a space where they can have a pub on site. He would like to create a pub with a welcome atmosphere for craft beer lovers. The current lease is up later this year so he is considering options for a new site. Later this year they also plan to start releasing small batch ‘seasonal’ brews.

They have also secured a lease on a space in Granada where they will be opening a craft beer pub later this summer!

Some other locations of interest for craft beer lovers in Cali are:

Tienda Camden – The best selection of beers from Cali and Colombia! Ask for Jose if you want to know more about craft brewing in Colombia.

Burbon St – a good selection of local beers and a great atmosphere.

Cervezas Kalima – micro bar from a micro brewery. Located in El Peñon.

444 Craft Beer Pub – Horse shoe-shaped bar in San Antonio with one of Cali’s best selections of craft beer on tap, including lots of Holy Water which is brewed in Buga.