Cristal is a Chilean pilsner introduced in 1977 by CCU (Compania de Cervecerias Unidas), which controls roughly two-thirds of the Chilean beer market, well ahead of AB InBev’s local share. It has grown into the country’s most widely consumed beer, sold everywhere from corner stores to stadiums. It is worth being clear that this Cristal is entirely unrelated to Peru’s Cristal, brewed by Backus y Johnston (part of AB InBev); the two beers happen to share a name but come from different countries, different brewers, and different corporate groups.
Cristal Chile Beer Review at a Glance
| Style | Pilsner |
| ABV | 4.6% |
| Brewery | CCU (Compania de Cervecerias Unidas) |
| Country | Chile |
| Serving temp | 3 to 5 C (37 to 41 F) |
| US availability | Select specialty liquor stores |
How It Tastes
Cristal pours a clear, bright gold with a modest white head. The aroma is clean and grainy with a light floral hop note typical of a pale pilsner. On the palate it is light-bodied and crisp, with a mild malt sweetness upfront and a dry, moderately bitter finish that lands closer to a genuine pilsner character than many of the adjunct lagers that dominate this category elsewhere in Latin America. It is built for easy, repeated drinking rather than sipping and analyzing, and it does that job reliably.
It leans closer to an actual pilsner than most of its Latin American peers, which is a big part of why it has stayed on top in Chile for decades.
- Genuine pilsner character, more bitterness than typical regional lagers
- Chile’s dominant, best-selling beer
- Available at a small number of US specialty retailers
- Consistent, reliable quality
- Not stocked on Saucey
- Very limited US distribution
- Easily confused by name with the unrelated Peruvian Cristal
Cristal is Chile’s best-selling lager but is not sold through US delivery apps. Corona Extra is a comparable US-available crisp Latin American lager.
FAQs
Is Cristal a Chilean or Peruvian beer?
There are two separate, unrelated beers named Cristal. This review covers Chile’s Cristal, brewed by CCU since 1977; Peru also has its own Cristal, brewed by Backus y Johnston.
How strong is Chilean Cristal beer?
Chilean Cristal is approximately 4.6% ABV.
Who brews Cristal in Chile?
Cristal is brewed by CCU (Compania de Cervecerias Unidas), which controls roughly two-thirds of the Chilean beer market.
Can you buy Chilean Cristal in the US?
It is available through a small number of specialty liquor retailers such as Ramirez Liquor and Forbes Liquors, though it is not stocked on Saucey and is not widely distributed.
