If you visit St. Lucia, be sure to try our local beer, Piton.
It is the official beer of St. Lucia and has been brewed locally by Windward & Leeward Brewery Ltd since October 1992.
Windward & Leeward Brewery is a subsidiary of the Dutch company Heineken International.
Piton Beer is named after one of the most striking natural landmarks in St. Lucia: the twin-peaked Gros Piton and Petit Piton mountains.
When ordering a Piton beer, make sure to pronounce it right.
The first syllable is pronounced as pee, but add a little French twang at the end to sound like a native.
What’s the Love Affair with Piton Beer?
Most tourists prefer Piton beer when hanging out at local bars or basking in the sun on our beautiful beaches.
It has a refreshing floral and poppy scent that is hard to resist.
Any beer connoisseur would agree it tastes like a cocktail mix of Corona and Coors Light.
Our refreshing beer is best enjoyed while exploring local attractions in St. Lucia under the blazing sun.
Unlike visitors, local Lucians prefer Heineken because of its more pungent bitter taste.
Locals like to joke about the milder and pale Piton brew.
They say it was the love child product of water remnants and Heineken barrels left at the factory.
That said, Piton beer gives locals a sense of pride for their Lucian heritage.
After all, the Piton Peaks are a world heritage site.
It is also worth mentioning that visitors prefer Piton beer because it is only available in St. Lucia and the larger Caribbean islands.
On the flip side, Heineken is available worldwide.
So How Much Does Piton Beer Cost?
The official St. Lucia beer retails at different prices depending on where you buy and the quantity.
A crate from the factory’s delivery truck will cost about 48.69 XCD, which translates to 2.38 XCD per bottle.
Many local rum shops & bars receive Piton crates from the brewery truck and sell them at a small markup.
One bottle costs between 4-5 XCD at most liquor stores.
At grocery stores, Piton Beer tends to be cheaper by 0.5-1.5 XCD per bottle.
So, if you want to save money, you are better off buying a case of Piton beer at the grocery store.
The next time you visit the lovely Caribbean island of St. Lucia, don’t forget to try Piton beer.
It is a delicious brew; you will most certainly love it, just like the visitors.
Damian is a co-founder, editor, and author at Islanderkeys. He is also a dedicated father and husband. Damian is an IT Manager / Web developer by profession, but he loves to Blog and share his knowledge about St. Lucia in travel forums.
