MALT AND BEER IN SPANISH AMERICA. 355 



RIO DE JANEIRO. 



REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL DOOKERY. 

 MALT. 



All malt used in the Brazils is imported, and its average sales in Kio 

 de Janeiro alone amount in money value to over $25,000 per month, a 

 large portion of which is for cash. The nature of the business requires 

 a large stock to be kept on hand at all times, and for this purpose there 

 are large warehouses both here and at Santos. There are some fifty 

 small breweries in this city, which buy from day to day just sufficient 

 to meet their requirements and pay for same in cash. Malt is imported 

 almost exclusively from Germany, and is subject to a duty about equal to 

 first cost there, but the prices realized have insured alarge profit and the 

 trade is considered valuable. I have had an interview with Mr. Gabel, 

 proprietor of the largest brewery in Brazil. He reports that he is now 

 using about 30,000 pounds of malt per month and 1,000 pounds of hops, 

 producing about 10,000 liters of beer per day, and that it is his intention 

 to double his capacity at once, having already commenced work. He has 

 never used American malt or hops, but is ready and would do so if 

 suitable to his business, and any one who is desirous of opening trade, 

 by sending to him ten barrels of malt and 25 pounds of hops, or either, 

 will, I think, secure an honest trial ; and as this is the largest brewery 

 in Brazil, an approval from him would settle the point so far as quality 

 is concerned. I would heartily recommend a trial of this kind, as I can 

 see a fine opportunity to open a profitable trade, with every inclination 

 on the part of the Brazilians to throw it into our hands. 



BEEK. 



A large quantity of beer is imported in pint and quart bottles and sold, 

 at retail, at 50 cents per quart. It is subject to a duty of 200 reis per 

 liter, or about 8^ cents per quart, with 5 per cent, additional on custom 

 bill, and every invoice is subject to and must have a certificate from a 

 government inspector. An order for 150 barrels of beer has recently 

 been placed with the Empire Brewery, of New York City, by Mr. N. H. 

 Schmitz, an American citizen, with the intention of pushing its intro- 

 duction here, and I see no reason why he should not be successful. 

 Beer manufactured here is of inferior quality, and does not compete 

 with that brought from either the United States or Germany, and from 

 the conditions of the climate it has been clearly proven, after numer- 

 ous trials, that it can not be made of a quality equal to that made in the 

 colder climates ; hence it follows that this will always be a valuable 

 market. At present it is almost entirely controlled by the Germans, 

 who have, by persistent effort, within a few years, about driven the 

 English from the field. With the aid of their government they sought 

 and obtained, through the several consulates, most minute information, 

 and have, by energy and push, obtained the valuable foothold they now 



