Kalik

Ingredients

What to buy

• Kalik, the standard lager
• in bottles, ice cold
• or Kalik Gold, which is stronger
• or Kalik Light
• brewed in Nassau
• see the note on why no method is given

To serve

• as cold as you can get it
• from the bottle
• or in a chilled glass
• with lime, if you want it
• though that is not Bahamian practice

To eat with

• conch fritters
• cracked conch
• fried snapper
• souse
• peas n’ rice
• macaroni and cheese, the baked kind
• johnnycake

Directions

1. Kalik is a pale lager brewed in Nassau.
2. It is the beer of the Bahamas.
3. It is drunk very cold, on the beach and at Junkanoo.
4. Now to an honest statement, which comes first.
5. This entry gives no method for making Kalik.
6. The atlas states that plainly.
7. Now to the first reason, which is the real one.
8. Kalik is a specific branded commercial lager.
9. Its recipe belongs to the brewery.
10. Any home version would be an invented beer wearing the name.
11. The atlas states that plainly.
12. Now to a note about that. This is the same position the atlas takes on Kinnie, Kofola and Rivella.
13. A trade secret is a trade secret.
14. The atlas will not guess at one.
15. The atlas states that plainly.
16. Now to the second reason. Lager is technically demanding to brew.
17. It ferments cold and it conditions cold for weeks.
18. That needs temperature control most kitchens do not have.
19. The atlas records that plainly.
20. Now to an important qualification, in fairness.
21. Home brewing beer is legal in many countries.
22. That is not why the atlas declines here.
23. The atlas states that plainly.
24. Now to what that means. Unlike a distilled spirit, beer is not a legal problem to make at home.
25. The reason here is simply that this is a branded product.
26. The atlas draws that distinction rather than blurring it.
27. Now to what the atlas gives instead.
28. It records what Kalik is. It records where the name comes from.
29. It records how and with what it is drunk.
30. That is the honest thing to give.
31. The atlas states that plainly.
32. Now to the name, which is the good part.
33. Kalik is named for a sound. The atlas states that plainly.
34. Now to which sound. It imitates the clink of cowbells.
35. Cowbells are shaken in the Junkanoo parade.
36. The name is that noise written down.
37. The atlas records that plainly.
38. Now to Junkanoo. Junkanoo is the Bahamian street parade.
39. It runs in the small hours of Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
40. The atlas records that plainly.
41. Now to what it is like. Groups parade down Bay Street in Nassau.
42. Costumes are built from crepe paper on cardboard frames.
43. They are enormous and they take a year to make.
44. The atlas records that plainly.
45. Now to the sound of it. Goatskin drums, cowbells, whistles and brass.
46. The drums are heated over fires to tighten the skins.
47. The atlas records that plainly.
48. Now to a note about that. The cowbell is central to the sound.
49. That is why a beer is named after it.
50. The atlas records that plainly.
51. Now to the brewery. Kalik is brewed by Commonwealth Brewery in Nassau.
52. It was introduced in the late nineteen eighties.
53. The atlas records that plainly.
54. Now to a note about that. Before it, the Bahamas drank imported beer.
55. A national beer was part of the point.
56. The atlas records that plainly.
57. Now to what it is like. It is a pale golden lager.
58. It is light-bodied and clean. It is not strongly hopped.
59. The atlas records that plainly.
60. Now to an honest note about that.
61. It is a straightforward tropical lager.
62. It is not complicated and it does not try to be.
63. It is built to be drunk cold in heat.
64. The atlas says that rather than overselling it.
65. Now to the versions. Kalik Gold is the stronger one.
66. Kalik Light is the lighter one.
67. The atlas records that plainly.
68. Now to a note about Kalik Gold.
69. It is noticeably stronger than the standard.
70. People who drink it like the standard find that out late.
71. The atlas states that plainly.
72. Now to serving it. Serve it as cold as you can.
73. The atlas states that plainly.
74. Now to why. This is a beer built for the temperature.
75. Warm, it is thin and dull. Cold, it does exactly what it is for.
76. The atlas states that plainly.
77. Now to a note about the glass.
78. It is usually drunk from the bottle.
79. That is normal practice rather than a shortcut.
80. The atlas records that plainly.
81. Now to a note about lime. Lime in the neck is a Mexican habit.
82. It is not Bahamian practice with Kalik.
83. Do it if you like it. The atlas records the practice rather than prescribing it.
84. Now to what it is drunk with. Conch in every form.
85. Fritters, cracked conch and conch salad.
86. The atlas records that plainly.
87. Now to a note about conch. Conch is pronounced konk.
88. It is the national shellfish. The atlas records that plainly.
89. Now to a genuine conservation note about it.
90. Queen conch is a regulated fishery.
91. It is listed on CITES Appendix Two.
92. Stocks have declined across the Caribbean.
93. There are closed seasons and size limits in the Bahamas.
94. The atlas records that as fact.
95. Now to what follows. Buy it from licensed sources.
96. Do not take it yourself without checking the rules.
97. The atlas states that plainly and moves on.
98. Now to the rest of the food. Fried snapper and grouper.
99. Souse, the sharp lime and pepper broth.
100. Peas n’ rice, made with pigeon peas.
101. Baked macaroni and cheese, cut in squares.
102. Johnnycake. The atlas records that plainly.
103. Now to where it is drunk. At fish fries and beach bars.
104. At Arawak Cay in Nassau. At Junkanoo, through the night.
105. The atlas records that plainly.
106. Now to Sands. Sands is the other Bahamian lager.
107. It is brewed in Grand Bahama. The atlas holds a separate entry for it.
108. The atlas cross-references rather than repeating.
109. Now to an honest note about those two.
110. Which of the two people prefer is a local argument.
111. The atlas takes no side in it.
112. The atlas states that plainly.
113. Now to alcohol. This is an alcoholic drink.
114. The atlas states that plainly and without moralising.
115. Now to who should not drink it.
116. Anyone pregnant should not drink alcohol.
117. Anyone driving or on a boat should not.
118. Anyone who does not want to should not be pressed.
119. The atlas states that plainly and moves on.
120. Now to a note about heat. Drinking in strong sun dehydrates faster than people expect.
121. Drink water alongside it. The atlas states that plainly.
122. Now to keeping it. Keep it cold and out of the light.
123. Light spoils beer and gives it an off flavour.
124. Drink it well within its date.
125. It does not improve with age. The atlas states that plainly.

Technique

• The atlas gives no method because Kalik is a specific branded commercial lager whose recipe belongs to the brewery — any home version would be an invented beer wearing the name. That is the same position taken on Kinnie, Kofola and Rivella.
• Home brewing beer is legal in many countries, and the atlas is explicit that legality is not the reason here. Unlike a distilled spirit, beer is not a legal problem to make at home — the reason is simply that this is a branded product.
• Lager is also technically demanding: it ferments cold and conditions cold for weeks, which needs temperature control most kitchens lack.
• The name imitates the clink of cowbells shaken in the Junkanoo parade — the sound written down.
• Kalik Gold is noticeably stronger than the standard, which people who drink it at the same pace find out late.
• Serve it as cold as possible. This is a beer built for the temperature: warm it is thin and dull, cold it does exactly what it is for. It is usually drunk from the bottle, which is normal practice rather than a shortcut.
• Lime in the neck is a Mexican habit rather than Bahamian practice with Kalik. Do it if you like it; the atlas records rather than prescribes.
• Queen conch is a regulated fishery listed on CITES Appendix Two, with declining Caribbean stocks and closed seasons and size limits in the Bahamas. Buy from licensed sources and do not take it yourself without checking the rules.
• Sands is the other Bahamian lager, brewed in Grand Bahama. Which one people prefer is a local argument the atlas takes no side in.
• Drinking in strong sun dehydrates faster than people expect — drink water alongside.
• Do not drink alcohol if you are pregnant, driving, or in charge of a boat.
• Keep it cold and out of the light: light spoils beer and gives it an off flavour. It does not improve with age.

Substitutions

• Sands is the other Bahamian lager and the direct local alternative.
• Any clean pale tropical lager stands in — Carib, Presidente, Red Stripe, Banks.
• Kalik Light is the lower-strength version; Kalik Gold the stronger.
• Ginger beer or a sky juice without the gin serves as the non-alcoholic option.
• Coconut water is what people actually drink alongside in the heat.
• Switcha, the Bahamian limeade, is the traditional soft drink.

Variations

• Kalik Gold is the stronger expression.
• Kalik Light is the lighter one.
• Sands, from Grand Bahama, is the rival Bahamian lager.
• Strong Back Stout is the dark beer from that same rival brewery.
• Sky juice, gin and coconut water, is the other Junkanoo drink.
• Goombay Smash is the rum punch of the same beaches.

History

Introduced in the late 1980s by Commonwealth Brewery in Nassau; the name imitates the clink of cowbells shaken in the Junkanoo parade.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kalik?

Kalik is a wine & spirit from Bahamas: light lager drunk cold at Junkanoo and on the beach. Introduced in the late 1980s by Commonwealth Brewery in Nassau; the name imitates the clink of cowbells shaken in the Junkanoo parade.

How long does Kalik take to make?

Kalik takes 2 minutes of preparation and none of cooking. The recipe makes buy by the bottle. It is rated easy to make.

What can I substitute in Kalik?

Yes, within limits. Sands is the other Bahamian lager and the direct local alternative. Any clean pale tropical lager stands in — Carib, Presidente, Red Stripe, Banks. Kalik Light is the lower-strength version; Kalik Gold the stronger. Ginger beer or a sky juice without the gin serves as the non-alcoholic option. Coconut water is what people actually drink alongside in the heat. Switcha, the Bahamian limeade, is the traditional soft drink.

What is the most important thing to get right in Kalik?

Do it if you like it. The atlas records the practice rather than prescribing it.