Beer in Brazil: history, traditions and breweries
Brazil is the world’s third-largest beer market after China and the USA – and it invented a beer style of its own, Catharina sour.
History
Brazil’s brewing tradition goes back to German immigrants in the 19th century. The first breweries appeared in the 1830s; Bohemia from Petrópolis, brewed since 1853, is considered the first Brazilian beer.
Antarctica and Brahma started brewing in the 1880s. In 1999 the two rivals merged to form AmBev, and in 2004, together with the Belgian Interbrew, they formed the world’s largest brewing group, today called AB InBev.
In 1995 DaDo Bier opened in Porto Alegre as Brazil’s first craft brewery. Later the Catharina sour, a refreshing sour beer with tropical fruit, was created in the state of Santa Catarina.
Today Brazil is the third-largest beer producer in the world after China and the USA. Since the 2010s over a thousand small breweries have opened, especially in the south and south-east.
Traditions and drinking culture
In Brazil beer should be “estupidamente gelada” – “stupidly cold”, in other words ice-cold. People often share a big 600 ml (about 20.3 fl oz) bottle at the table and drink from small glasses so the beer stays cold.
About 98 percent of the beer is lager. In the south, towns such as Blumenau celebrate their German roots with big Oktoberfests.
Fun facts
- Blumenau’s Oktoberfest has been held since 1984. It is one of the largest Oktoberfests outside Germany.
- Since 2021 the Catharina sour has been listed in the BJCP style guidelines – the first beer style from Brazil.
- Antarctica started out as an ice factory in São Paulo – refrigeration was the business before beer came along.
- Draught beer in Brazil is called “chope” or “chopp” – from the German word “Schoppen”.
Typical beer styles
- Catharina sour
- Lager (“Pilsen”)
- Craft beer of all styles
Beer cities and their stories
Petrópolis
Bohemia, considered the first Brazilian beer, has been brewed since 1853 in the emperors’ former summer residence in the mountains near Rio de Janeiro.
Blumenau
The town was founded in 1850 by the German pharmacist Hermann Blumenau. Its Oktoberfest has been held since 1984, and the Eisenbahn brewery brews here in the German style.
Porto Alegre
DaDo Bier, Brazil’s first craft brewery, opened here in 1995.
Campos do Jordão
The Baden Baden brewery has been brewing since 1999 in this mountain town, called the “Brazilian Switzerland” because of its Alpine-style houses.
Rio de Janeiro
Brahma started brewing here in the 1880s and became one of the most popular beer brands in the world.
Santa Catarina
The Catharina sour, a sour beer with fruit such as passion fruit or guava, was created in this state with many German immigrants.
Ribeirão Preto
This city in the state of São Paulo calls itself the “capital of chopp”. It is famous for the Choperia Pinguim, which has served draught beer since 1936.
Breweries and their stories
Bohemia
Considered the first Brazilian beer and the country’s oldest brewery still operating; today it belongs to AB InBev.
Known for: Bohemia Pilsen
Brahma
Founded in the 1880s and now one of the largest beer brands in the world; in 1999 Brahma merged with Antarctica to form AmBev.
Known for: Brahma Chopp
Antarctica
Started brewing in the 1880s and merged with Brahma in 1999 to form AmBev.
Known for: Antarctica Pilsen
DaDo Bier
Brazil’s first craft brewery.
Baden Baden
Craft brewery in the “Brazilian Switzerland”.
Eisenbahn
Brews German-style beers and now belongs to Heineken.
Known for: Eisenbahn Pilsen
Timeline
- 1850Blumenau
The German pharmacist Hermann Blumenau founds the town, which still celebrates its German roots today.
- 1853Petrópolis
Bohemia is brewed in the emperors’ summer residence – it is considered the first Brazilian beer.
- 1880sSão Paulo
Antarctica starts brewing in São Paulo.
- 1888Rio de Janeiro
The Swiss Joseph Villiger founds the Brahma brewery in Rio – today one of the most widely drunk beer brands in the world.
- 1936Ribeirão Preto
The Choperia Pinguim opens in Ribeirão Preto – the city becomes the “capital of chopp”.
- 1984Blumenau
Blumenau celebrates its first Oktoberfest – today one of the biggest outside Germany.
- 1995Porto Alegre
DaDo Bier opens, Brazil’s first craft brewery.
- 1999Campos do Jordão
The Baden Baden brewery starts brewing in “Brazilian Switzerland”.
- 1999whole country
Brahma and Antarctica merge to form AmBev. In 2004, together with Interbrew, it becomes the world’s largest brewing group.
- 2021Santa Catarina
The Catharina Sour from Santa Catarina is added to the BJCP style guidelines – the first beer style from Brazil.