Esmeralda Lager: Colombian chef Juan Manuel Barrientos and Bavaria create a new beer taste

In a country where gastronomy, biodiversity, and craftsmanship increasingly converge to shape global narratives, Colombian chef Juan Manuel Barrientos has found an unlikely new canvas: beer.

In alliance with Bavaria, Colombia’s largest brewer, Barrientos has co-created Club Colombia Esmeralda, a limited-edition lager inspired by one of the nation’s most iconic symbols — the emerald. The collaboration marks the first “author beer” in Bavaria’s portfolio and represents a strategic push to elevate Colombia’s premium beer segment through innovation, storytelling, and national pride. The result is a golden lager that blends culinary sophistication with brewing tradition, designed to bridge haute cuisine and everyday enjoyment.

Touching El Cielo through a new taste

Barrientos, founder of the Michelin-starred El Cielo restaurant group, is no stranger to ambitious projects. With restaurants in Medellin, Bogota, Miami, Washington, and New York, the chef has become one of Colombia’s most visible culinary ambassadors.

His foray into brewing, that said, was driven by a desire to create a beer with “character, elegance. Lightness,” capable of pairing seamlessly with fine dining while remaining accessible for casual occasions. The process took more than a year and involved extensive experimentation alongside Bavaria’s master brewers.

Together, they tested different malt combinations and taste profiles until they arrived at a method that balanced herbal notes, smooth malt, and a crisp finish. The final product is a 4.7% ABV golden lager made from three selected malts, designed to be refreshing yet complex enough to complement high-end cuisine. The choice of emerald as the beer’s conceptual anchor is both symbolic and strategic.

Colombia produces more than 70% of the world’s emeralds, and the gemstone has long represented luxury, heritage, and artisanal excellence. For Bavaria, the emerald offered a powerful narrative tool to position Club Colombia Esmeralda as a premium product that embodies national identity.

Inspired by Colombia’s most precious stone

Per to “The emerald is not just a gemstone; it is a symbol of who we are,”, sergio Rincon, president of Bavaria, during the debut. “This beer honors what makes us unique, connecting tradition, exclusivity, and Colombian pride.” The aesthetic extends beyond the liquid itself.

Designed by DraftLine, Bavaria’s in-house creative agency, the bottle features a black label accented with metallic green highlights meant to evoke the depth and brilliance of emeralds, reinforcing the beer’s luxury positioning.

Michelin-star Colombian chef Juan Manuel Barrientos

Club Colombia Esmeralda is being produced in a limited run of 227,000 bottles of 330 milliliters, distributed in Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, and Cartagena, as well as through delivery platforms such as Rappi and TaDa. The scarcity is part of a deliberate strategy to generate exclusivity and elevate perceived value.

A lager that goes well with the chef’s best creations

The rollout in addition carried an international dimension. The beer debuted during the opening of ElCielo New York, where it was introduced as part of curated pairing experiences.

Going to Barrientos, presenting the product abroad underscores the potential of Colombian innovation to resonate on the world stage. Unlike many craft beer collaborations that target niche audiences, Club Colombia Esmeralda seeks a broader appeal.

Barrientos envisioned a versatile beer—one that could accompany a tasting menu in a Michelin-starred restaurant or a casual meal of pizza, hamburgers, or traditional Colombian fare. In interviews with Colombian media, the chef explained that the challenge lay in achieving gastronomic complexity at an industrial scale. “We wanted something elegant and refreshing, with enough personality to stand up to refined dishes but light enough to enjoy more than one glass,” he stated.

For Bavaria, the partnership in addition represents a calculated move to strengthen its premium portfolio in an increasingly competitive trade. As Colombian shoppers become more discerning, brands are leaning into authenticity, storytelling, and experiential value to differentiate themselves.

How to make beer

Beyond turnover figures, the collaboration has been framed as an exercise in nation branding. By fusing gastronomy, brewing, and cultural symbolism, Bavaria and Barrientos aim to project a modern image of Colombia—innovative, sophisticated, and proud of its roots.

Trade analysts view Club Colombia Esmeralda as a case study in how traditional brands can reinvent themselves through creative alliances. The initiative blends mass-market reach with artisanal credibility, a combination that has proven effective in premiumization strategies worldwide.

According to “More than a beer, this is a narrative,”, álvaro de Luna, Bavaria’s vice president of marketing. “It speaks of design, creativity, and Colombian talent.”

The beer brewing process, step by step

As Colombia’s craft and premium beer segments continue to expand, collaborations like this one could set a precedent. By bringing a celebrated chef into the brewing process, Bavaria has blurred the lines between culinary art and industrial production, challenging conventional notions of what mainstream beer can be.

For Barrientos, the project is another step in his broader mission: to showcase Colombian creativity on a global scale. “If our cuisine can earn Michelin stars, our beer can also aspire to excellence,” he has explained. With its emerald-inspired identity, refined taste profile, and strategic storytelling, Club Colombia Esmeralda is more than a limited-edition beverage.

It is a liquid statement of ambition—one that reflects how Colombia’s cultural industries are redefining themselves, one collaboration at a time.