Tasting

What does Bohemia Pilsener taste like? According to the producer, it has 5.0% ABV. In the glass it's golden yellow, the nose offers bread and grain, the body is lean, the bitterness restrained. It tastes clean and dry, without sweetness, and is meant to be enjoyed cold.

A second example is Brahma's chopp, the most commonly poured beer in the city's bars. Brahma hails from Rio and, like Bohemia, now belongs to Ambev. This beer is also pale gold, light, and mild. Tasting both side by side, pay attention to body and bitterness; many drinkers find Bohemia somewhat rounder.

The typical glass is called a tulipa, named for its tulip shape, with a slender middle and slightly flared rim. In Rio it usually holds around 300 milliliters; larger glasses are called canecas. Small glasses serve a purpose: the beer stays ice-cold before it can warm up.

Pouring in Rio means operating the chopeira correctly. The glass is rinsed cold, held at an angle, and filled so a firm crown forms on top. The beer should be kept near zero degrees. Some bars take this seriously: the Adonis bar is said to display a sign stating there's no chopp without colarinho.

For tasting at home: chill your pilsner glasses well, pour the beer slowly at an angle, and let the foam settle naturally. Then you'll notice how the aroma unfolds as the temperature rises: bread turns to honey, freshness gives way to a light sweetness. Two or three minutes of patience pays off.