Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico

The Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico (formerly known as Cervecería India) is one of two breweries in Puerto Rico. It is located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The company's main brand is Medalla Light.

History

The company was founded in 1937 by the brothers Valdés Cobián: Alfonso, Sabino and Ramón Valdés Cobián, in Mayagüez, the largest city on the west coast of Puerto Rico. The Valdés brothers were following the example of their father, Don Ramon Valdés, who had founded the Mayagüez Light, Power and Ice Company in 1910. In 1938, their first beer, Cerveza India, was released to the public. The company competed with two other native beer breweries, "Real" and "Corona" (which rights were later sold to Cervecería Modelo de México and it was re-launched as Corona Extra). Alfonso, as chairman and president, successfully led his company converting it into Puerto Rico's largest beer brewery and manufacture of canned and bottled soft drinks.

In the late 70s, the brewery was forced to expand its portfolio and produce a lighter beer with less calories than their Cerveza India. Until that time, India was the only alcoholic beverage producing plant in Mayagüez.