Brahma Chopp
Companhia Cervejaria Brahma

Chopp do Brahma seems to be a big deal in Brazil, so the moment to try it happened at a Greek restaurant in Porto Alegre. On to the beer:

Bright clear pale straw color, served with a big creamy white head on top. Somewhat sweet and somewhat corny, but with fewer off-flavors than the competition, and served ice cold on draft, there are few flaws in this light tasting beer. It was very light in the mouth, almost like a cloud, which was the very highlight of this beer. Very drinkable.

All the AmBev lagers I've had so far in Brazil have been sub-standard. Brahma Chopp though, served on-tap ice cold, is a light, refreshing treat that meets the standard for an adjunct lager. Actually, it was kind of cool to walk into an establishment with Chopp do Brahma and see the machine which dispenses it to be covered in ice.

Update: Had again at Copacabana beach in Rio in December 2009, also on-tap. Not as heavenly as I remember. Not as "misty" in mouthfeel, not as creamy, and with a little more off-flavor. It was okay washing down beef and mussarela skewers.

Original score 4/3/3/4.5/4= 3.45

 

 

 

 

Poured into a Reuben's Brew pint glass. Pours a light to medium golden amber with a one finger white head that dissipates to a thin film with nice lacing. Aroma of grainy pilsner malt, skunking and light grassy hops. Flavor is mild pilsner malt, corn adjunct, a little lemon and tired, light grassy hops. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. This is an odd duck here. Its profile is much more like a muted, somewhat watery pilsner than an adjunct lager. What is weird is this arrived in a sensible brown bottle, but is noticeable skunked in aroma and more lightly in flavor. A little rouch around the edges and frankly, the corn adjuncts softened it enough to be tolerable for me. Another equator adjacent lager that appears to be tolerable for a hot day in the boonies, but nothing to seek out. To its credit, although I bought this recently, I have a feeling its got some age on it. If I ever see a fresh one, I'll update this review.

 

kind of reminds me of old school American beer, like Old Milwaukee, but with "buttery" mouth feel

 

Poured from 12 oz bottle into pint glass. Straw colored, thin white head, mild lacing, abundant carbonation. Aroma of musty grains. Mouthfeel is light, thin, and frothy. Flavor of grain husks, cracker, some grassy hops in the background. Overall: decent, but that's about it.

 

 

 

 

 

This might be the best beer you can find in some parts of Amazonian Brazil. A bottle makes it special. Remind yourself that the beer is just to stay hydrated and wash down the world's best fish.

 

The first beer I had from Brazil and it was better than I expected! Of course it is "just" a lager but it has a surprisingly sweet fruitiness to it that's still enjoyable and not overly sweet. Some might not like this feature about it but for me, it is the very key to its uniqueness. Consumable, fruity, refreshing. All good!

 

L: Very light gold beer, very low retention.
S: Grassy, sweet malt.
T: Sweet water, grass, clearly an immature beer.
F: Very watery, carbonation is on the low side.
O: There are better, wouldn't go for a second try in this one.