We’re only here for the beer.
That’s not something you’ll hear tourists saying about Brazil.
I don’t touch the stuff myself but connoisseurs (and lushes) tell me Brazilian beer is weak, fizzy and crap. Maybe that’s the reason so many people drink it on the beach in the morning.
But beer is one of the thorny issues that separate FIFA and the Brazilian government as they prepare for the 2014 World Cup.
Why, I hear you ask, would FIFA and Brazil be fighting over beer?It’s all explained here in my Financial Times blog.
Beer is no stranger to controversy in the World Cup. In 2010, South African police arrested 36 Dutch girls who wore orange dresses given to them by the Bavaria beer company and accused them of ambush marketing.
Another company had the rights to sell beer inside the stadium and they thought the girls were trying to get round that by drawing attention to themselves. (As if 36 stunning blondes in short dresses wouldn’t already be drawing attention to themselves.) The dresses didn’t even bear Bavaria’s logo.
But here’s a photo so you can see for yourselves (purely for journalistic reasons, of course)…
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January 20, 2012 at 3:11 pm
sweetiebird
srsly? I’m betting you’ve never been to Santa Catarina, or you wouldn’t be questioning the quality of Brazilian beer. I got two words for you: Eisenbahn & Schornstein.
But yes, commercially available beer is crap. Skol, Brahma, Schin… no thank you. Whenever you’re in São Paulo, I’d recommend Serra Malte.
January 20, 2012 at 3:16 pm
andrewdownie
He he he.
Actually, I hate beer. If you read closely, I say ‘beer connoisseurs,’ and that isn’t me.
But you remind me of Rock in Rio in 2001. The slogan was “For a better world.” The sponsor was Schincariol. The new slogan soon became, “For a better beer.”
January 20, 2012 at 3:26 pm
sweetiebird
Well, as a person who will actually make a point of eating raw hops at beer tasting classes, I guess I overreacted. Schin has gotten better since 2001, though. I believe they changed the recipe about 3 o 4 years ago. I’ve always found that the best thing to do when there is nothing but crappy beer to drink is to take it with a grain of salt. Actually… a tsp of salt and half a lime.
Sounds to me like you’re a spirits person. (Pun intended).
January 20, 2012 at 4:07 pm
andrewdownie
I had beer traumas as a teenager (long story) and quickly turned to what we call in Scotland, ‘the hard stuff.’ Then I lived in Mexico and traveled about Latin America and got a taste for rum. I am partial to vodka and am getting more and more of a taste for gin.
I don’t know of any really good places selling exotic rums and spirits here in SP, though. If you have any suggestions, send them my way…
January 20, 2012 at 4:13 pm
sweetiebird
Hummm… Rum? Don’t really know. As for asian spirits and what not, I highly recommend a little place called Adega de Saquê in Liberdade. They have a great variety of shochu, including yuzu and ume infused. If you’re looking for good drinks, Caos on Augusta and At Nine would be your best shot. Best bloody mary’s in SP!
January 20, 2012 at 4:40 pm
andrewdownie
Best shot? Very nice….
Anyway, thanks for the tips. I’ll check them out. (After checking out the prices. Casa 92 tried to sell me a caipirinha for 59 reais last Saturday….)
January 29, 2012 at 9:51 pm
C.O.Jones
It comes down to FIFA catering to their coperate sponsors, Budweiser has always been one of FIFA’s biggest sponsors, so if FIFA cannot strong arm Brasil into changing its laws, Bud will not sponsor the WC 2014. Worse yet, due to FIFA/Bud’s arrangement, only Budweiser will be sold at any World Cup venue or activity…no local beers…nothing……. Bud is swill–worse yet, the Belgians (best beer makers in the world) bought Budweiser….go figure…..
February 20, 2012 at 1:58 am
Nicholas
correction budweiser (us piss beer, what I use to wash my car) is Belgian-Brazilian. USA is fake beer nation, let them keep drinking their own crap called diet coke with aspertame.