Hopulist issue 5

e
GROUP
BRAZIL-BRASIL
GROUP E
BRAZIL
SWITZERLAND
COSTA RICA
SERBIA
Sun 17th JUNE
Costa Rica v Serbia
Brazil v Switzerland
Fri 22nd JUNE
Brazil v Costa Rica
Serbia v Switzerland
Wed 27th JUNE
Serbia v Brazil
Switzerland v Costa Rica
Braz|l might not strike you as an obvious brewing nation, but as with
most places, you’d be pleasantly surprised just how much it is practised.
Naturally, as it’s hot a country, temperature control is an issue, as is
growing hops – but this is not counterintuitive, it actually leads to
Brazilian brewers having to be more creative rather than relying on
hoppy punches to deliver great beer.
The industry here is still in its infancy, however it is growing at a
rapid rate – both in terms of importing foreign beer and brewing its
own. Brazil is certainly a country with more footballing pedigree than
brewing. Having said that, there is room to grow, and growth is just what
is happening with a reported 50 new artisinal breweries opening each
year in the country. Whether the market here is developed or not, one
thing you simply cannot argue with is that Brazilians love their beer.
Some recommended names to look out for include Salvador Brewing
Co, Croma, Cervejaria Octopus, Hocus Pocus and Cerverjaria EverBrew.
Our pick from this lot is Salvador Brewing Co’s Macau Mocaccino Stout.
Named after the Patrol Ship Macau, the first ship to bear this name in the
Brazilian navy, this milk stout has a rich blend of coffee and cinnamon
notes compined with a dense body, complex flavour and thick mouthfeel.
It’s not a session beer by any means, but its complexity is something to be
admired, as it the way it balances fairly overpowering flavours.
If you are ever lucky enough to make your way to Brazil, but want to
enjoy craft beer, then don’t head for the obvious places like Rio or Sao
Paulo – instead try the city of Curibita, just south of Sao Paulo.
kEY PLAYERS:
Despite their
isolationist tendancies
SW|TZERLAND
has seen an explosion
in the number of new
microbreweries opening
in recent years, although
much like their national
football team they seem
to be more about quiet
efficiency than star
quality.
CoSTA R|CA is a
familiar story to that of
other central American
nations. Dominated
by macro lagers they
are slowly cultivating
a craft beer scene with
a small number of
microbreweries popping
up around the country.
SERB|A has a small
but flourishing scene
with breweries Crow,
Kabinet, Zebrew and
a handful of others
producing familiar
beer styles. If you are
travelling to the Balkans
then keep your eyes
peeled.
SALVADOR
BEER: MACAU MOCACC|NO
style: STOUT
abv: 7%
volume: 330ml
untappd: 4.1
FOOTY pred|ct|on:
Group W|nners: BRAZ|L
Group Runner’s Up: SERB|A