Famosa 24OZ Can

Famosa 24OZ Can is a 5% ABV Guatemalan lager served in a 24oz can, brewed by one of Central America's most storied breweries. Backed by 25 Monde Selection awards since 1967—including 21 gold medals—and the distinction of being the first beer in the Americas to receive the Crystal Prestige Award in 2003, Famosa carries serious credentials behind its approachable profile.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5%  |  Origin: Guatemala City, Guatemala  |  Style: Lager  |  Brewery: Cervecería Centro Americana

Production & Heritage

Cervecería Centro Americana has been brewing in Guatemala City since 1886, making it one of Central America's oldest operating breweries. Famosa is Guatemala's oldest continually produced beer, with roots stretching back to 1896—originally known as Gallo domestically, the brand adopted the Famosa name exclusively for export markets. The lager is built on imported European malts sourced from Denmark, Sweden, and Germany, while its hops come from Washington's Yakima Valley. The hop bill leans on Saaz-type varieties, giving Famosa characteristics more closely aligned with Czech pilsners than the typical adjunct lagers common in the region. That deliberate sourcing of premium raw materials distinguishes this beer from most Central American and Mexican lagers in its price range.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with bright hop-forward aromatics, carrying a distinctive blend of eucalyptus, citrus zest, and subtle resinous notes. A gentle grainy malt sweetness sits underneath, keeping things balanced.

Taste: The entry is clean and crisp with a light golden body that belies its fullness on the mid-palate. Saaz-like hop character emerges with green, spicy, and slightly floral qualities that build toward a well-defined bitterness. The malt backbone provides enough structure to keep the hops grounded without veering into heaviness.

Finish: The finish is smooth with a lingering, distinct hop bitterness that stays punchy without becoming astringent. It dries cleanly, inviting the next sip with a faint citrus echo.

How to Drink Famosa

Famosa drinks best ice-cold, straight from the can or poured into a chilled pilsner glass to highlight its golden color and hop aromatics. A squeeze of lime complements the existing citrus notes without masking them.

• Michelada: The hop-forward bitterness and citrus character stand up well to tomato juice, hot sauce, and lime, creating a balanced and complex beer cocktail.
• Chelada: A simple lime-and-salt build lets Famosa's distinctive Saaz-like spice shine through cleanly.
• Beer Margarita (Beergarita): Famosa's crisp dryness and light body cut through frozen margarita sweetness, adding effervescence and depth.

Best For

• Pairing with grilled meats and Latin American street food at a backyard cookout
• Introducing friends to Central American lagers beyond the usual Mexican imports
• Hot-weather drinking sessions where sessionability and flavor both matter
• Exploring world lagers with legitimate award-winning pedigree

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Famosa taste like? Famosa is a crisp, full-bodied golden lager with pronounced hop bitterness, citrus and eucalyptus aromatics, and a clean, dry finish that sets it apart from typical light lagers.

How does Famosa compare to popular Mexican lagers? Famosa tends to be hoppier and more complex than most Mexican lagers like Corona or Modelo Especial, with Saaz-type hop characteristics that give it a spicy, Czech pilsner-like quality rather than a straightforward adjunct lager profile.

Is Famosa good for casual drinking? At 5% ABV with a clean, refreshing body, Famosa is highly sessionable while delivering more hop character and complexity than many beers in its category.

Where is Famosa made? Famosa is brewed by Cervecería Centro Americana in Guatemala City, Guatemala, one of Central America's oldest breweries, founded in 1886.

What foods pair well with Famosa? Grilled carne asada benefits from the beer's hop bitterness cutting through charred fat; ceviche mirrors its citrus notes; spicy tacos al pastor are tempered by its clean maltiness; fried plantains contrast nicely with its dry finish; and black bean dishes complement its subtle earthy undertones.

What sizes does Famosa come in? Famosa is available in this 24oz can format as well as standard 12oz bottles and cans, and multi-pack configurations.

Is Famosa worth the price? Famosa positions as a premium import lager that consistently over-delivers for its price tier, offering award-winning quality and hop complexity that many higher-priced craft lagers struggle to match.

Why Famosa?

Few beers at this price point carry over a century of continuous production history and 21 Monde Selection gold medals to back up their reputation. The deliberate use of European malts and Yakima Valley hops—particularly the Saaz-type varieties that give Famosa its Czech pilsner edge—results in a lager that genuinely stands apart from the crowded field of Central American and Mexican imports. Winning the Crystal Prestige Award in 2003 as the first beer in the Americas to do so was not a fluke but a reflection of the recipe's enduring quality. In a 24oz can, Famosa delivers an honest, full-flavored lager experience rooted in 1896 Guatemalan brewing tradition.