East Vancouver's Andina Brewing Company to launch new Frida Kahlo Lavender Lager
The brewery worked with Frida Kahlo Corporation for the forthcoming special release
WHEN ANDRES AMAYA co-founded Andina Brewing Company in East Vancouver four years ago, the Bogotá native named it in honour of people who live on the Andes—women in particular. Its logo is a female named La Pola, for Policarpa Salavarrieta, Colombia’s most renowned heroine who made efforts toward the decolonization of her country from Spain. In the mid-60s, November 14 was declared the Day of the Colombian Woman in honour of the anniversary of her death.
In central Colombia, Amaya says, pola also means beer, and word beer itself is feminine in Spanish.
Now, the Powell Street brewery is highlighting another woman: On August 4, Andina will launch Frida Kahlo Lavender Lager, in honour of the Mexican artist known for her use of vibrant colours and for her self-portraits, many of them depicting her physical and emotional pain.
The beverage came about through a licensing deal with the Frida Kahlo Corporation, Amaya tells Stir.
“We wanted to celebrate a powerful female role model,” says Amaya, who started the brewery with a sibling but is the only active family member in the venture. “As an iconic Mexican artist, Frida had a very difficult life but was able to overcome her adversities.
“Andina also represents the feminine aspect of our industry,” Amaya says. “We thought that having a licensing deal with the Frida Kahlo Corporation would be an excellent way to expand her positive impact and inspiration of empowerment.”
Amaya and head brewmaster Ben Greenberg came up with the lager (five percent ABV) that’s “crisp yet subtle with notes of lavender” and which they hope will appeal to all demographics.
Andina, which had to follow strict guidelines in creating the label’s design, prides itself on providing a cultural experience, with South American-inspired décor (including the huge Toucando the Toucan), food, music, and of course beer.
To date, it has incorporated more than 25 different types of fruit in its beer. Andina is best known for its fruit sours, in particular its Jalea Guava Saison; its Pálida Hazy Pale Ale, meanwhile, won silver at the BC Beer Awards and Festival 2019 (the last event prior to COVID-19) among 64 entries.
You can also find cocktails such as an Andean mojitos, margaritas, and micheladas (sometimes called a Mexican Bloody Mary, with beer subbing in for vodka); South American wines; cider; and non-alcoholic drinks like virgin mojitos, kombucha, or panela water (Colombian sweet water made with cane sugar).
Andina’s logo, La Pola, comes from the nickname for Colombian heroine Policarpa Salavarrieta.
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