Belikin Beer Belize Scoop: A New Brew Coming, One Retired and A Chance to Win a Signed 2014 Calendar!

At the risk of sounding like a total cornball, I had one amazing amazing day yesterday.  Belikin, THE beer of Belize, invited me to a luncheon to meet the ladies of the very popular 2014 Calendar and to see that calendar unveiled to them for the very first time.  Cool on its own but get this…

It all took place at Belikin’s brewery in Ladyville, in the beautiful brewery taproom and finished with a tour of the facilities.

And then an evening party at the Princess Casino and Hotel in Belize City with DJs, the ladies all glammed up and signing the calendars, a good sized group of US soldiers and much of the Who’s Who of Belize City.   Let me just put it this way.  I wore a dress for the second time in my 7 years in Belize.

Here’s our 2014 cover girl Zarifa with Joanna of San Pedro and Island Films at the brewery.  Check out Joanna and her husband Ben’s great video about the Making of the Belikin Calendar.  You’ll get giddy too.  And (even if you are female) you’ll be pretty jealous of that gig.

I have a bunch to tell you about.  But for this morning, I start with some excellent scoop I gathered during my day.  And a bit of a contest… well more of a raffle… for what I think is one cool prize.

First.  Belikin is releasing a VERY limited edition beer next Spring.  Much of it is still a secret but here is what I can tell you.  As most of you know, Sir Barry Bowen, a 7th generation Belizean, passed away WAY too soon a few years ago in a plane accident here in Belize.

WHAT I HAD WRITTEN:  His father founded Bowen & Bowen (the beer maker and beer, soda and water distributor of Belize) but Barry is credited with growing the company into what it is today.

The real story:

“Sir Barry created Belikin.  He had gone to his father to ask about starting a brewery and his dad didn’t want to.   Sir Barry went to a brewery in Honduras and met with the owner, Bertie Hogg, who taught him about brewing beer and helped him start the brewery in Belize.

They had a “Name the Beer” contest and two people entered the name “Belikin” which is Mayan for road to the coast or road to the east.  Or at least that’s how the story goes…”.

Love it!   Thank you Lady Dixie Bowen (Sir Barry’s wife) for the update!  And now I am even more intrigued by Belikin’s history…

Belikin is by far the most well known brand in Belize both locally and internationally.  (If you haven’t been to Belize, let’s call it the Budweiser of Belize x 100.)

Barry was a great guy and very much missed in San Pedro and Belize.  I found this picture of me and Barry from 2010.    I’m busy drinking rather than smiling…

WELL… Barry and his wife Dixie’s youngest daughter Courtney is getting married in May of 2014.  And for her wedding, her older brother Michael is creating a special edition celebratory beer from a rare special hops – her dad’s favorite.

It will be released in Belize on a very small scale in the spring.  Pretty awesome… I’m hoping for a pink cap.  You’ll want to hoard this stuff.  And speaking of hoarding…

Second.  The Verano Beer, a citrusy wheat beer that was released in the summer of 2012 and 2013, has gone out of production.  There were some “kinks” in the flavor during the 2012 and it was not wholeheartedly received.

It was refined and re-released for the summer of 2013 but once you have a bad rap?  Well… it’s hard to beat.  Though there is general agreement that it tastes great now, they are retiring the beer to make way for new projects in the future.

So… get your Verano beer, orange caps and merchandise while you can.  Collectors items I say.

Lastly!  I queued and queued last night to get signatures on a brand new 2014 Calendar for you!  I am giving away (and shipping to where ever you are) one fully signed Belikin calender.

It is not just beautiful Belizean girls but locations from around the country.  (All pics were taken this year by the cute & quirky Belizean photographer, Leonardo Melendez.  He did a fantastic job.)

All you need to do is comment below (in my comment section) why you’d like one (let’s keep it clean!) and you need to be a fan of SanPedroScoop.com on Facebook.  A double whammy.

On October 31st, I’ll randomly pick someone and… you will have one very Merry Christmas.  AMENDMENT!  Changed to Monday, November 4th due to the fact that I don’t have time today!

Look!  Miss September sends you kisses!

What a fun day… I met amazing people and can’t thank Belikin enough.  Stay tuned for many many more pictures and probably a bit more gushing.  Can you blame me?