[denny]

Just in case anyone is interested, here are some pics from our first day in Brazil.  Started off going to an artisinal glass factory where they helped us blow our own crystal beer glasses.  It's a heavily German area, so lunch at a great German restaurant.  Then to Bierland brewery, one of the most respected in Brazil, for some incredible German beers.  Followed that with a trip to Brazil's first brewing school.  Only a year old and they have 1000 students.  Finished the day at a cachasa distillery in the middle of the jungle.



http://s794.photobucket.com/user/dennyconn/library/Brazil%202015?sort=3&page=1

[ynotbrusum]

Very cool, Denny.  Blown glass is quite an art. 

Did you have any fresh Xingu?

[denny]

Nope, but the Vienna from Bierland may be the best Vienna I've ever tried.

[klickitat jim]

From my android all I saw was a tampax commercial.

[HoosierBrew]

Awesome looking trip, Denny. That brewery sounds fantastic. And I found out one time that cachasa can sure put the hurt on ya     Enjoy. 

[denny]

Awesome looking trip, Denny. That brewery sounds fantastic. And I found out one time that cachasa can sure put the hurt on ya     Enjoy.

They gave us each (me, Drew, Mike Tonsmiere, and Scott Bickham) a bottle of cachaca to bring home.  I think it will be more than a lifetime supply.

[HoosierBrew]

I had the cachasa via the caipirinha cocktail the Brazilians love (or I think that's what's in it). My head still hurts thinking about it. I may or may not have had too many.

[brulosopher]

Nope, but the Vienna from Bierland may be the best Vienna I've ever tried.

Weeehelll, you obviously haven't tried my 27.5 point Bronze certificate winning Vienna

Sounds like you guys are having a killer time, loving the updates!

[69franx]

At my last job, they introduced a caipirinha as the new hot drink. That was a phase that did not last even a week. Maybe they are better fresh in Brazil, but I don't think we ever sold anyone a second caipirinha!  Looks like a fun trip though

[HoosierBrew]

That was a phase that did not last even a week. Maybe they are better fresh in Brazil

Derail -  Yeah. I had several that night and don't think I ever had another, Frank.

[erockrph]

I had the cachasa via the caipirinha cocktail the Brazilians love (or I think that's what's in it). My head still hurts thinking about it. I may or may not have had too many.

Caipirinha is one of my all -time favorite drinks. I will take a good caipirinha over a mojito or margarita any day. Now I have a craving for some churrascaria...

[denny]

If you'd like some context to go with all those pics, Drew has blogged about the trip....

http://www.experimentalbrew.com/blogs/drew/brazil-complete-story

[MattDel1700]

Awesome post Denny! How was the homebrew community there? Any practices they have that you don't see much of in the U.S.?

[dbeechum]

With the heavy German influence they had a much larger incidence of lagers.

[denny]

Homebrewers there seem to be transitioning from strong beers like RIS to saisons and especially sour beers.  Still strong stuff around, but it seemed like saison and sour is what I saw the most of.