By Solomon Wiesen, TLV Beaches. Last reviewed October 2026.
Sipping on a cold brew while laying on the golden sand of a beautiful Tel Aviv beach is a great thing. Before you hit the beaches, make sure you choose the best Israeli beer and make sure its cold!!!
Alcohol by volume, as printed on the labels.
Maccabee also comes in a stronger 7.9% version. Dancing Camel's Tel Aviv brewery has closed.
Source: Ynet (June 2026), Wikipedia and brewery sites, checked October 2026.
Israel’s craft beer scene has grown significantly over the past two decades, and there are now breweries for most tastes. The big sellers are still the two Tempo lagers, Goldstar and Maccabee, along with Carlsberg and Tuborg, which are brewed under licence in Ashkelon. Here’s a list of the most popular beers in Israel, with their alcohol content, place of origin, flavors, history, and statistics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIp4UjSEo4I&pp=ygUUZ29sZHN0YXIgYmVlciBpc3JhZWw%3D
1. Shapiro Stout
- Alcohol Content: 5.2%
- Place of Origin: Beit Shemesh, Israel
- Flavors: Rich and creamy, with notes of chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt.
- History: Shapiro Brewery was started by the Shapiro family, went professional in 2011 and brews in Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem. Their stout is a crowd-pleaser, particularly during the colder months.
- Statistics: We have no reliable sales figures for individual craft beers, so take any ranking you read with a pinch of salt.
2. Maccabee
- Alcohol Content: 4.9% (a stronger 7.9% version is also sold)
- Place of Origin: Netanya, Israel
- Flavors: Light and crisp, with mild hoppy notes and a slightly sweet finish.
- History: Brewed by Tempo in Netanya, like Goldstar, Maccabee was launched in 1968. It’s a pale lager designed to compete with international brands.
- Statistics: Though less dominant than Goldstar, Maccabee is a go-to choice for those preferring a milder beer.
3. Malka Blonde Ale
- Alcohol Content: 6.5%
- Place of Origin: Kibbutz Yehiam, Northern Israel
- Flavors: Fruity and floral, with hints of citrus and spices.
- History: Malka Brewery started in 2006 in the Western Galilee and became a pioneer in Israel’s craft beer movement; it marks 20 years in 2026. The Blonde Ale is their flagship beer and is particularly favored for its balanced complexity.
- Statistics: Malka is one of the craft names you are most likely to find in bars, restaurants and supermarkets.
4. Dancing Camel IPA
- Alcohol Content: 6.5%
- Place of Origin: Tel Aviv, Israel
- Flavors: Bold and hoppy, with citrus, pine, and tropical fruit undertones.
- History: Founded in 2005, Dancing Camel was Tel Aviv’s first craft brewery. Its Tel Aviv brewery has since closed, and another brewery, White Rabbit, opened on the site in October 2023, so you may no longer find this IPA on tap.
- Statistics: Dancing Camel had a cult following among expatriates and tourists.
5. Goldstar
- Alcohol Content: 4.9%
- Place of Origin: Netanya, Israel
- Flavors: Rich malt, caramel, with a hint of bitterness.
- History: Introduced in 1950 and now brewed by Tempo in Netanya, Goldstar is one of Israel’s oldest and most beloved lagers. It is marketed as a dark lager, though it is really amber, and it is a staple in Israeli bars.
- Statistics: Goldstar is the best-known Israeli beer and the one you will see on tap almost everywhere.
6. Negev Porter
- Alcohol Content: 5.5%
- Place of Origin: Kiryat Gat, Israel
- Flavors: Smooth and malty, with hints of chocolate and toffee.
- History: Negev Brewery, founded in 2008 in Kiryat Gat, reflects the spirit of the southern desert region. It merged with Malka in 2016.
- Statistics: Look for it in bottles in the south and in specialist beer shops.
7. Alexander Green
- Alcohol Content: 6%
- Place of Origin: Emek Hefer, Israel
- Flavors: Hoppy and aromatic, with strong herbal and citrus notes.
- History: Alexander Brewery, founded at the end of the 2000s, is named after the nearby Alexander River. Its visitor center in Emek Hefer is open from Sunday to Friday, 9:00 to 16:00. The Green Ale is their standout IPA, and people love the flavor.
- Statistics: Alexander is one of the largest craft breweries in Israel, with more than 40 employees and 16 regular beers.
A Rising Trend in Israeli Beer into 2026
- Beer Consumption: Israelis consume approximately 15 liters of beer per capita annually, lower than the global average but steadily increasing.
- Craft Beer Boom: The number of microbreweries has grown from just a handful in the early 2000s to dozens of brands today.
- Export Success: Brands like Alexander and Malka are beginning to make waves internationally.
When each brewery on this page began.
Source: Ynet (June 2026), Wikipedia and brewery sites, checked October 2026.
Beer nerd or casual drinker, there is an Israeli beer for you, from the classic Goldstar to the bold Alexander Green.
What’s your favorite Israeli beer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Where Israeli craft beer stands in 2026
The boom has levelled off into a steady niche. Craft is roughly 4% of the beer drunk in Israel, against about 20% at the American peak, and consumption per person has held at around 15 litres a year rather than growing. Ynet’s survey of the boutique scene in June 2026 found dozens of brands rather than the 50 or so the trade once expected, with the brewers who depend on draft hit hardest every time bars close.
The names that lasted tell the story. Malka, which started in 2006, marks 20 years in 2026. Shapiro went professional in 2011 and has been tied to Tempo for about four years, one of several partnerships between boutique brewers and the large beverage houses. Alexander employs more than 40 people, brews 16 regular beers and has won at German festivals. White Rabbit opened in October 2023 in the old Dancing Camel site in Tel Aviv, which is the neatest summary of the decade: one brewery closes, another takes the room.
Sources: Ynet on Israel’s boutique breweries (June 2026), Wikipedia on Goldstar, Tempo and beer in Israel, and the breweries’ own sites (Shapiro, Malka, Alexander). Alcohol percentages are as printed on the labels we have seen and can change. Checked October 2026.
Solomon (Shlomo) Wiesen is the author and photographer behind TLV Beaches. Originally from New York, he moved to Israel in 2011 and lives in Tel Aviv, a short walk from Frishman and Bograshov beaches. Every guide on the site is written from the beach, with more than 200 of his own photos of the Tel Aviv coast. He works in marketing, SEO and startups.
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