Washington sentinel., 1900-04-07
II, = ~, SENTINEL
TRADE HINTS FROM OUR
CONSULS ABROAD.


II. w. Furniss, OF Bahia, Brazil,
says: 1t is only of late years that
there has been much demand tor
beer in this section OF Brazil. AT
FIRST, that used was about all inn
ported; but this was later rendered
impossible, as so high a duty was
put on beer that It could not com.
pete with the national article.
Meantime, this had so improved
that now, even with lower duties,
it would be able to hold consider
able Of the trade.
AT present, Bahia draws its beer
supply almost entirely from the
Rio de JaneiTo and Sac Paulo
breweries. From Rio de Janeiro
comes "Francescana," which is
represented here by Mr.. John
EggGrs, who WHOLESALERS it at $3.50
per case, and "Teutonia," for
which Mr.. Prealle, the ice manu-
facturer, is agent and which whole
sales for So per case. From Sac
Paulo comes Bavaria" for which
Stumpe & Studer are agents and
which WHOLESALERS at 5000 per
case, the higher price being due
to the additional freight charges.
The above marks Of beer are OF
the class known as light, as dis
tinguished from strong, beer. All
are packed IN tight cases holding
As quarts or 90 pints, each bottle
being surrounded by straw to pre-
vent breakage, and being well
corked.
Though there is a difference in
the wholesale price of the different
brands, the retail price is the same
for all-5o cents per bottle, or IS
cents per hall bottle or pint, and at
present from 1000 to I,2oo cases
per month are consumed.
During the past few months an
attempt has been made to supply
"Teutonia" in wooden kegs hold
ing IS liters, wholesaled at "a cents
per Liter. This, when placed on
draft, is called "choops" and sells
for 9 cents per glass, there being
four glasses to the liter. A com.
bined air pump and faucet is used
to draw this beer, and there is no
arrangement for keeping it cool in
refrigerators as in the United
States. The only cooling that it
gets is that given by Mr.. Prealle
at his ice factory prior to his
wholesaling it. Should the beer
subsequently become warm, ice is
served in the glass with it; while
having once been chilled, it can not
be chilled a second time and is un
drinkable alter standing over
night.
On account OF the loss that this
would entail upon small dealers
who could not dispose OF a certain
number OF kegs per day, they will
not attempt to handle keg beer; so
its use is confined to about FIVE re-
tail establishments, two Of which
Mr.. Prealle himself runs.
To understand the beer and
liquor trade here, it is necessary to
state that there is but one estab.
lishment that approaches a saloon
as we knoWit, and that is the place
recently opened by Prealle and
called "Teutonia Halle" Here
he sells beer by both bottle and
glass and averages from 3 to 6
kegs OF beer per day. This is the
greatest amount consumed in any
one place; IN fact there is no other
which will average kegs per day.
There is no refrigerator in this
place, and consequently a partly
consumed keg can not be kept
over until the next day. On this
account, they are careful never to
put new keg on tap unless there
is chance Of selling practically
all of it before tn e place closes.
The other places where beer is
sold are in the six restaurants and
hotels (Which serve It at their
hotels both with and without
meals), the three clubs and all the
grocery stores. AT only half a
dozen OF the large grocery stores,
styled "armazem," is any quantity
sold to be drunk on the premises.
These, which are wholesale and
retail establishments, have at their
rear a room fitted up with tables
and chairs, and sell drinks by the
glass.
The other class Of grocery stores,
which are smaller affairs, strictly
retail, and are called "Vendas,"
also deal in beer and other liquors
and usually have few glasses for
those who care to drink on the
premises. This class Of store is
seldom entered except by the
lower classes, such as car and cart
drivers, laborers and cooks, and
by the cooks, as it is the custom
OF the country for them to do all
the purchasing Of groceries, veget-
ables, meats, &C., tor the houses at
which they work. Those frequent
ing the "vendas" seldom l( ever
buy beer for themselves, preferring
instead some Of the cheap wines,
but especially the native rum -
"cachaca"-a whole glasslul OF
which can be bought Tor 40 reis.
There is always a demand for
bottled beer at receptions, balls
and public and private functions,
as it is the custom OF the country
to have all kinds Of drinks at such
affairs, a room usually being set
aside for that purpose. OF late,
beer in the cask has even been on
tap at weddings and other private
affairs. There is little demand for
beer for private table consumption,
- 81 - Al