By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Starting this Wednesday, September 5th to Sunday, September 9th at Rio’s Píer Mauá, in the regenerated ‘Porto Maravilha’ (Marvelous Port) area of Rio de Janeiro, the sixth edition of Mondial de la Bière Rio will be bringing together brewers and beer lovers in a festival devoted to craft and artisanal beer.
Mondial de la Bière Rio is world-famous for being one of the main places to encounter Brazil’s booming craft beer industry. Every year, more people attend the festival as a way to encounter the world of handcrafted, high-quality Brazilian beer.
Píer Mauá’s 17,000 square-meter floorspace will be occupied by breweries from several states of Brazil and other countries, who are going to be presenting the public with both their famous brews and new inventions.
There will be more than 120 breweries in attendance, including international brewers such as Brooklyn Brewery, Chimay, Dellirium, Erdinger, Goose Island, HB, La Trappe, Warsteiner and Weltenburger Kloster.
This festival will also be the first for international brewers Paulaner, Red Stripe and Weihenstephan. The most famous Brazilian beers, large and small, will also be in attendance, including Bohemia, Brewpoint, Sundog, Therezópolis, Black Princess, Colorado, Eisenbahn and Paulistânia.
There will also be plenty to see and do inbetween tastings, with between four and five musical acts performing every day of the festival, playing everything from folk to jazz to reggae to rock.
Two stages will be set up in the outdoor area, with a beautiful view of the Guanabara Bay. In addition to the musical acts, Lady Luck Tattoo will be offering their services during the five days of the event.
Six years ago, Mondial de la Bière Rio presented itself as a showcase for the launch of artisanal beer in Brazil, an industry which is still growing at between thirty and forty percent every year. During the first edition of the festival, Rio de Janeiro had less than twenty bars serving craft beer. Today, there are around 170 and 200 establishments.
“The Mondial de la Bière is the platform that unites all aspects of the brewing market. It is the great meeting between the breweries who produce beer and the consumers who enjoy it, the entrepreneurs who invest in it and the schools and institutions that promote knowledge about it.” comments Luana Cloper, director of the event.
What: Mondial de la Bière Rio
When: Wednesday, September 5th – Sunday, September 9th
Where: Pier Mauá, Av. Rodrigues Alves, 10 – Praça Mauá, Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Entrance: Tickets available from R$66; available here