Hamilton’s Collective Arts brewery opens taproom in Costa Rica

Collective Arts, founded by Matt Johnston and Bob Russell in Hamilton more than eight years ago and inspired by a love of beer and music, had a humble start.

But their latest venture takes their business to sunnier skies and warmer weather - people more than 6,000 kilometres away from the city can enjoy the taste of a Hamilton success story at their new taproom and retail store in Santa Ana, Costa Rica.

Located at Santa Ana Town Centre, locals and tourists alike can grab a brew and a meal or purchase merchandise from a rotating roster of artists while taking in the art-decorated walls, and it all began with a suitcase.

Their partners in Costa Rica, Alex King and Carlos De Paco, carry extra luggage when they travel - not because they worry they'll overpack for their return home, but to fill it with their favourite pints from the areas they visit. On one trip, King returned to Costa Rica with over 30 cans of Collective Arts beer stuffed in his suitcase and saw an incredible opportunity" with them, he said.

When King and De Paco approached Collective Arts co-founder and CEO Johnston and his team to open a location in Costa Rica, they thought it was a great opportunity to raise the bar for the brand.

Many of us have spent time in Costa Rica and have fallen in love with the people, the landscape, the art, and the energy of the country," Johnston said in a release.

Since 2013, their artistically designed cans have made their way onto shelves across Canada, the U.K., China and Australia. They've been named the brand of the year by Strategy Magazine and one of the top 25 Canadian startups by LinkedIn and have featured more than 2,000 artists and musicians on their products.

Alessia Passafiume is an intern reporter with The Spectator. Reach her via email: apassafiume@thespec.com