Malpeis vs NAO — Lanzarote's Craft Beer Rivalry Explained

Two Breweries, One Small Island

Lanzarote has two independent craft breweries, and everyone who drinks beer here seems to have picked a side. Malpeis brews in Tinajo. NAO brews in Puerto Naos, Arrecife. We stock both at Brunchi.shop in Marina Rubicon, so we hear the argument on our terrace most weeks.

Honestly, it isn't much of a rivalry. Customers tend to love one, try the other on a whim and end up ordering both. But the two breweries do have different personalities, and knowing them saves you guessing at the fridge. Here is how we explain it across the counter.

Malpeis at a Glance

• Where: Tinajo, brewery opened February 2016
• Founders: brewmaster Orlando Niz and oenologist Tania Delgado
• Style: unfiltered, unpasteurised, traditional methods
• Name: from malpaís, Lanzarote's volcanic badlands
• Order first: La Fresca Session IPA (4.5%), Bermeja Red IPA (6.7%), Rofe Bock (7%)

Because Malpeis beers are unfiltered and unpasteurised, they taste fuller and a little more rustic than the clear, polished lagers most visitors know from home. Expect some haze and plenty of hop character. Serve them cold but not ice-cold, as a freezing glass mutes the fruit.

If you are new to the range, start with La Fresca at 4.5%. It is the easy one for a hot afternoon. The Bermeja Red IPA is the one people remember, with peach and apricot up front and a bitterness that arrives after. The rest of the range is wide: Jable Blond Ale (5%), Palesita Pale Ale (4.8%), Pa' las Risas IPA (5.8%), Chiasss! Hazy IPA (6.2%) and Pelete (6.8%), a winter spiced beer. At the strong end sit Rofe Bock (7%) and Lapilli Imperial Stout (10%). Stock rotates, so not everything is in the fridge on every visit.

NAO at a Glance

• Where: Puerto Naos, Arrecife, founded 2015, taproom El Camarote
• Style: three barley malts, local Canary grain in many beers
• Awards: Mucho IPA, gold, Barcelona Beer Challenge 2023; Marinera, bronze, 2023
• Gluten-free: Lanzarote Lager (4.8%) and Hoppyness (4.2%)
• Order first: Mucho IPA (6.5%), Cactus Session IPA (4.9%), Capitán APA (5.5%)

NAO's range feels a bit more polished and easier to read. The names tell you what you are getting: Lanzarote Lager, Marinera Blonde Ale (4.8%), Capitán APA, Black Patrón Black IPA (7.5%). Mucho IPA, the medal winner, is the one we recommend to anyone who says they like "proper" IPA.

The gluten-free lagers are a real draw for visitors. If someone in your group avoids gluten, Lanzarote Lager and Hoppyness (a hoppy lager at 4.2%) mean they are not stuck with a soft drink. If you have coeliac disease, read the label yourself before drinking and ask us if you have questions.

Head to Head

Light and refreshing

Malpeis La Fresca vs NAO Marinera. La Fresca is hazier and more tropical, and Marinera is golden and rounded. For a long lunch in the sun, La Fresca is the lighter drinker. Marinera suits people who normally order a good blonde ale at home.

Proper IPA

Malpeis Bermeja Red IPA vs NAO Mucho. Bermeja is fruity with a marked bitterness. Mucho is a medal-winning English-style IPA with three malts, so it feels more balanced and less sharp. If you want something punchier, Bermeja is the one. If you want something to sip and talk over, go for Mucho.

Something different

Malpeis Pelete (winter spiced, orange peel and cinnamon) vs NAO Cactus (red Session IPA with prickly pear). Both are only-in-Lanzarote beers, and both tend to be the ones people take home to show friends. Cactus comes in a 44cl can, which makes it easy to carry in a beach bag.

Dark side

Malpeis Rofe Bock or Lapilli Imperial Stout vs NAO Black Patrón Black IPA. At 10%, Lapilli is a slow sipper and not a beer to order three of. Black Patrón at 7.5% is the more approachable dark option, with hop bite as well as roast.

What Customers Ask Us

"Which one is the local one?" Both. Malpeis is brewed in Tinajo and NAO in Arrecife, so either way you are drinking beer made on the island.

"Which is stronger?" It depends on the beer. The range runs from 4.2% (NAO Hoppyness) to 10% (Malpeis Lapilli). Check the label on the bottle or can before you order, especially in the afternoon heat.

"What goes with food?" The lighter beers suit salty, simple plates, such as papas arrugadas with mojo or grilled fish. The hoppier IPAs cope well with spice. Dark beers go with cheese or dessert, or are fine just by themselves. If you are unsure, ask Florin. He will have an opinion, and it may not match mine.

"Can I take it back to the hotel?" Yes. Everything in the fridge is available to drink on the terrace or take away. Bottles are cold from the fridge, so drink them soon or get them into your hotel fridge.

We also stock TF Brew'n IPA (5.6%) in cans at €6.50. TF stands for Twin Flames, an international craft beer brand headquartered in Malta, so it is not local, but it makes a useful third point of comparison.

Settle It Yourself

Pick two from each brewery and decide on our terrace. We suggest one light beer and one stronger beer from each, so you can compare like with like.

If you would rather buy bottles, Malpeis bottles are €5.00, NAO from €5.00 and Cactus €6.50 per 44cl can. More detail in our Lanzarote craft beer guide.

Where to Drink Craft Beer in Playa Blanca

Brunchi.shop is at Calle El Burrugo 44B, Marina Rubicon, Playa Blanca. We are open Monday to Saturday 10am-3pm and 6pm-10pm, and closed on Sundays. Drink on our harbour-view terrace or take bottles back to your hotel, as everything in the fridge is available both ways. Stock rotates, so ask Florin what's in today.

Can't make it in? Email consultas@brunchi.shop.