Regal Princess to serve own craft beer

By Tom Stieghorst

Princess Cruises will introduce its own craft beer on Regal Princess for the ship’s Caribbean season, starting in November.

Seawitch West Coast IPA will be produced for Princess by Strike Brewing Co. of San Francisco and retail at $6.25 per 12-ounce bottle.

Princess said the beer should be available fleetwide by early 2015 and that it plans to commission other Seawitch beers from different regional brewers around the country.

Since 2011, Carnival Cruise Lines has contracted for its own beer, Thirsty Frog Red, which is served at its Red Frog Pubs and elsewhere on its ships.

In July, Carnival said it would also carry several craft beers from Tampa’s Cigar City Brewing on its Florida-based ships.