Cervejaria Sul Brasileira – Xingu

The Second Beer of Christmas is a little difficult to pronounce, but well worth the effort.  Straight up from Brazil (where Christmas is in the middle of summer … crazy, I know), Cervejaria Sul Brasileira’s Xingu is pronounced shin-goo.

The first thing any drinker will notice is that this beer pours out an intimidating opaque black. I’ve had dark beers before, but this was a new level.  A moderate head developed and a chocolate/licorice scent peeked out of the glass.

But as bold as the beer looked, the flavor is moderate, especially compared to last night’s porter.  The chocolate and licorice come through subtly in the taste as well as mild coffee and even grass flavors.

Given that the beer is a lager (see the style Schwarzbier below), it’s no surprise that its light carbonation finishes off with a very smooth & creamy feel.  But even with the lighter and smoother taste (compared to last night’s porter), this isn’t one you’ll drink a lot of before you find yourself pretty full.

Don’t let the color scare you off.  Pour a glass and enjoy.

Stats
Brewer: Cervejaria Sul Brasileira
Location: Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Website: http://www.XinguBeer.com
Style: Schwarzbier
Alcohol Content: 4.7% ABV
Interesting Note: The beer is named for the 1,230-mile long Xingu River which flows nearby the brewery.