Karavelle Keller Review

“Minor Shipwreck”

Country: Brazil 

Brand: Karavelle Keller

Brewery: Cervejaria Independente Vera Cruz SA, Indaiatuba (SP)
Package: Bottle (600 ml) 

Type: Keller Lager (Not Filtrated)

Age: NAS

ABV: 4,5%

Ingredients: Water, Malted Grains, Hops, Yeast.
Antioxidant: Not Indicated 
Stabiliser: Not Indicated

Colour: A Hazy Pale Golden. Remember this Beer is not Filtrated.

Foam: Thin, slightly Off-White Foam that disappears quickly. Only a very thin Layer of Foam remains in the glass while drinking your Karavelle. No traces of Foam remain in the glass once you finished it. 

Nose: Light with Cereals, White Bread, Dough, Yeast, Grass, Straw, Lemon and Caramel. Very Light Hops.

Palate: Light and Watery. Sweet at first but slightly Sour and with some Bitterness towards the end. The Carbonation is adequate. I find White Bread, Toasted Cereals, Grass, Hay, light Hops, Lemon, Banana and a Metallic note. 

The Brewery

Finish: Sweet and Soapy. Dry towards the end. Not very pleasant. I find Grass, Cereals, Dough, Yeast, light Hops, Caramel, Lemon, Banana and Artificial Sweetener.

Rating: ***** (Five out of Ten)

Karavelle Bar in Sao Paulo

General Remarks: The artisanal Vera Cruz Brewery was founded very recently in 2012. Thanks to a clever marketing strategy and distribution, the Karavelle Beers are already available in supermarkets and special shops in - and around Sao Paulo. The Brewery also possesses two Bars/Outlets in the city of Sao Paulo. Their communications director is the well-known Brazilian singer Seu Jorge. Currently, the Brewery produces six different styles of Beer namely IPA, Pilsen, Weiss, Keller, Porter and Red Ale.

Drinking Experience: Not very satisfying

Conclusion: I had some Keller beer in Germany but that was way back in the 1980's. So it's hard for me to say if this Karavelle Keller would stand up to its German peers. I tend to think not as I am not at all pleased with this version brewed in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo. The Nose is all Bread, Dough and Yeast and on the Palate it's Light and Watery. I miss balance as Sweet, Sour and Bitter seem to fight - rather than complement each other. The Finish is the less agreeable part. A dry Artificial Sweetener-like taste remains in your mouth for quite a while and does not inspire you to have another sip. I must try a couple of other Karavelle beers as well but this Keller expression is not at all to my liking. Won't buy it again. 

Jan van den Ende                                                                      June 4, 2015