Argentina is the second largest country in South America and the eighth largest in the world by land mass. It was first explored by Europeans in 1516 and derives its name from the Latin word for silver. Argentina became an independent republic in 1860, with Buenos Aires as its capital. Stylistically it is perhaps the most European of Latin American countries, especially when it comes to cuisine. A wave of investment and immigration from Germany, Spain, and Italy in the middle of the 19th century deepened European connections. Southern Europeans helped turn it into the world’s fifth biggest wine producer. Founded in the 1860s by Alsatian colonists, Argentina’s first brewery was known as el egido de la Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires. The principal beer types were based on central European styles of lager and wheat beer.

Based in the capital of Quilmes, Partido (Buenos Aires province), the Quilmes Brewery was founded in 1888 by German immigrant Otto Bemberg and by 1920 had become the country’s biggest brewery. It remains so today. Quilmes’ most popular beer is the light lager “Cristal” and they also brew a bock and stout. By 2010 Quilmes brewed 17 million hl (14,486,854 US bbl) annually, had 75% of the home market, and was a global exporter. In 2002, Brazilian brewers AmBev bought 37.5% of Quilmes and in 2006 InBev (passim, now ABInBev) raised the stakes to 91%. See anheuser-busch inbev. The brewery sponsors the national football and rugby teams.

In 1912, another German immigrant, Otto Schneider, founded the eponymous brewery in Santa Fe. The brewery was acquired in 1995 by Compana de Cervecerias Unidas Argentina (CCUA), a division of Chilean multinational CCU, who in turn had investment from Anheuser Busch. CCUA is the importer of Heineken, Budweiser, Corona, and Guinness and, in 2009, was the second largest brewer in Argentina with 16% of the market.

The third largest brewery in Argentina is Isenbeck, founded in 1893 and owned by the German brewery Warsteiner until 1990, when it was closed. It reopened in 1994 under local ownership and was acquired by SAB Miller in November 2010.

The European beer influence on Argentina is still powerful, and this is especially visible at festivals. Fiesta de la Cerveza (Oktoberfest) has been celebrated by the Germanic population in San Carlos and Esperanza since 1863. A town in Cordoba, Villa General Belgrano, was founded in 1930 by Europeans who chose the area for its Alpine qualities and has celebrated Oktoberfest every year since. Celtic lineage is celebrated as Dia den San Patrico (St Patrick’s day).

Despite some severe financial shocks to the economy, beer production has grown at an average of 13% per annum since 1980, moving to consumption of 15.7 million hl (13,379,000 US bbl) or 40 l (10.5 gal) per capita in 2007. The financial crisis of the early 2000s placed severe restrictions on all imported goods, including beer, and this hastened the birth and rapid growth of Argentine cervecerias artesanales (craft brewers). As of 2010 there were 70 microbreweries and 800 distinctive brands brewed in a wide range of styles. Buenos Aires is home to Buller Brewing, Barba Roja, and Otto Mundo, which exports to North American Free Trade Agreement members, Spain, and Italy. Additionally, El Bolson and Kunster are thriving in Patagonia, whereas Antares has several brewpubs throughout the country. Craft beer accounts for only 0.2% of the Argentine market but has doubled to 36,000 hl (30,678 US bbl) since 2006 and is expected to maintain high growth through the next decade.