Ocean Lab Brewing Co.

Located inside the VIVO Beach Club on San Juan's Isla Verde Beach – one of the most beautiful stretches of white sand in Puerto Rico – Ocean Lab Brewing Co is the place to come for premium craft beers and a picture-perfect drinking location. There's a full menu too; the chicken longaniza sliders and fried whole snapper fish come highly recommended. The trade winds coming from the east bring soothing breezes and beers made with local ingredients like passion fruit, grapefruit and blood orange will leave your tastebuds imploring you to up sticks and move to the Caribbean.

One of the most widely distributed craft beers on the island was “born on the beach,” as the owners say, just two years ago. (Ocean Lab, attached to the stylish Vivo Beach Club"), fronts the Atlantic Ocean.) This brewery holds the distinction of being the first in Puerto Rico to launch a cask ale, which is real beer-geek beer: unfiltered, lightly carbonated, and re-fermented. A deep, rich flavor comes through in their Boricask, a dry IPA.

One of the most widely distributed craft beers on the island was “born on the beach,” as the owners say, just two years ago. (Ocean Lab, attached to the stylish Vivo Beach Club, fronts the Atlantic Ocean.) This brewery holds the distinction of being the first in Puerto Rico to launch a cask ale, which is real beer-geek beer: unfiltered, lightly carbonated, and re-fermented. A deep, rich flavor comes through in their Boricask, a dry IPA.

I had the good fortune of being able to visit this place the day I was leaving Puerto Rico and lunch there was the perfect end to this already perfect trip. This restaurant is located right across the beach and the beach looks straight out of the covers of one of those Traveller magazines. Famous for the huge variety of beers that you can order, their beer sampler comes with six different beer in shot glasses perfect for tasting.

If you're a coffee person, Café Comunión is THE place. Their co-owner, Abner Roldán, is one of the best baristas on the island—a latte art champion! My favorite brunch spot is Café Sidibou, a low-key Arab-Dominican-run Mediterranean café that is incredibly soulful. Try the mangú, a Dominican dish of mashed plantains, and the bacalao (salted cod) salad.

One of the largest microbreweries is Ocean Lab right on Isla Verde Beach (beach and beer sounds like a good combo… just saying). Others you should check out are Rincon Beer Company in Rincón, FOK Brewery in Caguas, Cold Blood in Quebradillas, Beer Box in Aguadilla, Papa Rupe in Ponce and Boquerón Brewing Company in Cabo Rojo among others.

Another place you have to go when you are visiting is Ocean Lab Brewing Co – they are a little less than 0.75 miles in the same direction as the water park area. They had great beer, amazing craft cocktails, and the food was delicious. We visited twice during our stay and will definitely be back the next time we are in the area.

Born on the Beach is Ocean Lab Brewing’s moto and at their tap room you can sample one of their many beers and also grab some tasty food while you are there. The microbrewery is located at the Vivo Beach Club in San Juan, which as an added bonus has great ocean views. They are open Monday – Sunday from 11am.

Craft beer lovers should carve out time to take a brewery tour at Ocean Lab Brewing Co. They serve up award-winning brews and internationally-inspired bites, from Bratwurst to red snapper. If rum is more of your beverage of choice, head over to the Bacardi factory for a tour of their distillery.

When planning my trip to Isla Verde last Spring, an Instagrammer I followed lunched at Ocean Lab Brewing Company while staying at my Isla Verde hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde. It looked pretty good, so I added it to our list!

Imagine sipping a crafted beer on the shores of Isla Verde Beach. Ocean Lab Brewing Co. offers just that, with a lineup of beers perfect for beach relaxation. Take a tour, enjoy a flight, and let the island’s vibe wash over you.