MALT AND BEER IN SPANISH AMERICA. 333 



LA PAZ. 



REPORT BY CONSUL VIOSGA. 

 MALT. 



There being no breweries in this district, there are consequently no 

 importations of malt made, nor is there any locally prepared. The im- 

 port duties on same are 10 cents per kilogram, or 5 cents per pound net 

 weight. 



BEER. 



Beer is imported in this district entirely in pint or quart bottles, the 

 weather being too warm to admit of its being kept in barrels. Gener- 

 ally light beer imported from the United States has the most accept- 

 ance, principally from St. Louis and California, although English ale 

 and German beer are also imported in small quantities. Black beer, or 

 porter, has no demand whatever, and all attempts to introduce it in 

 this market h.ave failed. 



The yearly importations amount to about 2,500 barrels or more of 

 bottled beer, containing each ten dozen pint or five dozen quart bottles, 

 and it would be safe to state that four-fifths of this amount is Ameri- 

 can beer. Milwaukee beer is also imported, but at a little higher ex- 

 pense. 



The import duties on bottled beer are 20 cents per kilogram, or 10 

 cents per pound net weight that is the liquid only; but no allowance 

 is made for breakage. 



The following will show the relative cost per barrel, say of St. Louis, 

 Mo., beer in bottles : 



The wholesale prices for which it sells here range from $34 to $33 per 

 barrel of ten dozen pints or five dozen quart -bottles in Mexican coin, 

 its equivalent being at present 74 cents in American coin. The retail 

 price is $7.50 in Mexican coin per dozen quarts and 75 cents for single 

 quarts. 



Inferior or false German brands from different parts sell for about 20 

 per cent, less than any of the genuine brands. 



There are at present no agencies for breweries in this country, and 

 perhaps such means at the command of consumers would naturally 

 favor the American trade. 



JAS. VIOSOA, 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Consul. 



La Pa?, March 18, 1890. 



