by VeRn
Thursday October 22, 2015
According to our good buddy Google, it wassupposed to be a quick and easy 30 minute walk to the Brewery House Altamira from where we departed the liberty launches that got us off the ship. In a perfect world where street signs are readily available that may have been true. We were able to navigate close enough to where a local was able to get uspointed in the correct direction.
We Arrived and found a very clean and well-kept 
establishment. The staff was very friendly and spoke English fairly well. There was seating inside and out. The brewery was located next to the elevator at the foot of Queen Victoria, Valparaiso. They advertise beer museum but it was really just a series of small displays spread around the tasting/dining room. The glass wall that separated, but allowed full view of their brewery operations was very nice. We were even taken on a little walk through by one of the brewers, who told us about the “Earl Grey Tea Beer” that they either previously had or they were about to release, somehow that part got lost in translation, until a few days after we left I saw their Facebook post advertising their “Earl Grey Beer”.
The beer selection at Altamira was a lot smaller then Barranco, my previous stop in Peru, the big difference was that all of the beers here were very good!
Here is how my flight went :
1.) American Pale Ale –(5.0 ABV) This one had some great flavor, it was nowhere near the Hop Level I am accustomed to but there was enough there that this is what I ordered a full glass of!
2.) East Coast Lager – (5.2 ABV)Not sure why they named it this, but it was pretty much your standard lager not my favorite, but if it was their only beer I totally could have drank it.
3.) Deutsches Alt Bier- (5.3 ABV) Quite the malt bomb! Again not my style but not objectionable.
4.) Irish Dry Stout- (5.6 ABV)This one was very light for a stout but it did have some deep coffee and chocolate flavor that lingered, very drinkable!
5.) Belgian Strong Ale-(8.0 ABV) (not in picture) I did not order this one with my flight at first as I am not typically a Belgian fan, in my opinion the use of Belgian yeast makes them all taste like Band-Aids. In this case they followed a Belgian recipe but did not use Belgian yeast. This one had a very good flavor and was smooth and drinkable but being it was the highest ABV of the bunch the taster was enough for me! 
The food here was also very good, and silly me I was so hungry by the time my chicken sandwich was set in front of me that I forgot to take a picture. Their French fries were also excellent they reminded me of the fries from In-N-Out Burger, made from freshly cut potatoes.
I highly recommend that if you find yourself in Valparaiso Chile that you add Brewery House Altamira to your list. My next stop is Brazil!
About the Author:
Christopher “VeRn” Varney is a 24+ Year US Navy Service member, currently a Senior Chief Petty Officer stationed with the HSM-78 BlueHawks an MH-60R helicopter squadron based at NAS North Island, Coronado California. He was introduced to craft beer just a few short years ago by his girlfriend who also is a big craft beer fan.
“although she prefers the malty and I prefer the hoppy, which makes it nice because 9 times out of 10, we won’t drink each other’s beer”
You can find “VenRn” on Twitter
A few more of my local favorites (in no particular order):
Wiens Brewing , Temecula CA
TYPE 3 RED IPA 6.5% ABV – 75 IBU This perfectly balanced IPA has a sweet, Red colored body complimented by a rush of Pineapple and Melon notes from selected Hops.
Probably my favorite Red IPA.
Garage Brewing Co. Temecula CA
Hatch Chile IPA ABV. 7.5% – IBUs75 A Hatch chile infused American IPA Big, clean hop-forward taste with light heat from Hatch chiles. Very good chili beer, with the perfect amount of spice, adds great flavor without getting overly spicy.