332 MALT AND BEER IN SPANISH AMERICA. 



The United States allows a rebate of 37 cents a barrel on beer ex- 

 ported in bond, which, while not a great deal, is still a slight advantage. 

 It tends to encourage purchases from the United States, and if the im- 

 port duty were lower, would be still more of an encouragement than 

 now. 



The consumption of beer is greatest along the United States frontier 

 and in the principal cities. As I have before stated, the national drinks 

 of pulque and mescal are so cheap and so well liked that while the duty 

 on beer is so high the latter loses its standing as a universal and be- 

 comes an aristocratic beverage. If the duties were reduced one-half, 

 we could easily send in a million dollars 7 worth of our beers each year. 

 Even as it is we are gaining steadily, although slowly, and in doing so 

 not only serve an increasing demand from new disciples of Gambrinus, 

 but also displace a limited amount of the abominably cheap wines im- 

 ported from Europe. 



The kinds most suited for sale here are those made by the Schlitz and 

 Anheuser Busch companies of Milwaukee and St. Louis, although there 

 are many other kinds which have very good acceptation. In some 

 places the Pilsener is well liked. 



The large German population in Mexico, of course, prefer the beers 

 of their own country, such as Werner, Miinchener, Hof brau, etc., while 

 considerable quantities of the cheaper grades, Elbschloss, Loewendran, 

 and Stettin, have been imported. Alsop's and Bass' ale are the favor- 

 ite drinks in this line of the English-speaking Europeans and, in addi- 

 tion to this, a fine and cheap, but rather thin, Swedish beer is much 

 liked by some. 



The cheaper grades of European beers are losing ground here, and 

 we are gaining in all except the highest grades. 



While the import duty is nearly or quite 90 per cent, of the invoice 

 cost we can not hope to rapidly increase our trade. Our dealers might 

 perhaps secure the privilege, by concessions, of holding beer in kegs in 

 bonded cold storage, but the limited sales, cost of ice and freight trans- 

 port in refrigerator cars would, at present at least, rather overbalance 

 the saving in duties. 



WARNER P. SUTTON, 



Consul- General. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL, 



Nuevo Laredo, February 6, 1890. 



