I rise at 6:30. Feeling just about human. And quickly head downstairs. As I want to have a leisurely breakfast. At my age, everything takes a long time. The bus to the judging is scheduled for 8:00.
I sit with Jose. No bacon, so it's scrambled egg and cheese. Which fills a hole. And three cups of coffee wake me up. A bit.
“Have you tried the white cheese?” Jose asks.
“Do you mean this?” I reply, pointing at the rather anaemic yellow squares on my plate.
“No, the really white cheese. It’s local. Very fresh.”
I check the cheeses when fetching my fruit. There is, indeed, some very white stuff. I’ll have to try that tomorrow. Always good to expand my cheese horizons. Melon and watermelon provide all the fruity goodness I need. Along with orange juice.
The buffet selection isn’t that bad. Other than the absence of bacon. Lots for the cake-eater.
The bus leaves fairly well on time. To Überbräu, another brewery taproom. This time on an industrial estate.
I’m on table 13. That’s lucky. With table captain Tedesko Almeida (from Brazil) and Lisa Matzeu (from Italy).
After a short introduction from Doug Merlot, including a stern reminder not to throw bog paper into the bogs, we’re ready to rock. And rock we immediately do. This is great. No pointless hanging around without beer to judge.
We kick off with American-style Light Lager. Now there’s a style to cheer the soul. The examples vary between fatally flawed and just about acceptable. I'm glad when we're done.
Looking forward to the next set, which is Catherina Sour. Except they don't seem to have them ready. We have a wait. Which becomes a long wait. So frustrating. And likely to leave us finishing rather late. We have to judge 50-60 beers today. After two hours, we've only judged eight. I have visions of us judging into the night.
We wait so long, that lunch rolls around. Which is, surprisingly, a buffet. Quite a small one Not particularly great for the vegetarians. Who have a choice of stodge or salad. Even some of the vegetable dishes seem to contain meat.
Not long after lunch, a second flight appears. Not Catherina Sour, as promised. Instead, it’s Belgian-style Dubbel. A type of beer I’ve drunk quite a bit of. All are a bit sweet for me, but there are a couple of really decent beers. With enough alcohol to rouse my spirits.
There’s a bit more waiting before the next flight arrives. Catharina Sour. One I’d been looking forward to. As usual, some lovely beers. And all are pretty decent. It’s a wonderful style. So drinkable, while still being packed with vibrant flavours.
After lots more doing nothing, it’s announced that we’re done for the day. At 16:00, after only judging three of our scheduled six flights. While it’s nice to finish early, it just means more work tomorrow. As we try to catch up.
I rest a bit in my room, before heading downstairs at 18:00. The plan is to go to the Trema brewery. But a group of people are going first to Bar do Rone for some meat. I decide to tag along. Good Brazilian meat isn’t to be missed.
When I arrive, the others are already there. It’s an unpretentious Brazilian neighbourhood restaurant, very simply decked out. And pretty busy. Which is a good sign. I pull up a chair.
The meat is delicious pork. With a wonderfully crunchy crust. It comes in a big lump which is sliced by a waiter at the table. Yum, yum, yum. I accompany it with a passion fruit caipirinha. Which is also yummy.
There’s a bottle of posh cachaça on the table. Not sure where it came from. However, it would be impolite to refuse a shot. It’s very nice. As I knew it would be. Don’t ask me describe it. Other than that it’s full of cachaça-ey goodness.
The plan is to continue on to Trema. But I'm feeling knacked. Instead, I return to the hotel. Where I chug some cheapo cachaça. And start watching Match of the Day.
After 20 minutes, I'm done and turn in. Tomorrow will be a long day. Lots of beers to judge.
Überbräu Microcervejaria
Av. Espanha, 391
Tibery, Uberlândia
MG, 38405-048.
https://uberbrau.com.br/
Bar do Rone
Av. Seme Simão, 1399
Laranjeiras, Uberlândia
MG, 38410-327.
Disclaimer: Concurso Brasileiro de Cervejas paid for my hotel, some meals and some drinks during my stay in Uberlandia.
A video of my time in Uberlandia.
Posts
1 comment:
"Even some of the vegetable dishes seem to contain meat."
That reminds me of the story about the British woman who was on holiday in South America and went to a restaurant. She told the waiter she was a vegetarian, but he didn't seem to understand, so she said that she didn't eat meat. No problem says he, before returning with a plate of chicken!
Post a Comment