Brahma Beer

Origin: Brazil · Brewer: Ambev (AB InBev) · ABV 4.3-5.0% · Formerly in our Top 10

Brahma is one of the oldest and biggest names in Brazilian beer, and for many years it sat comfortably inside the global volume top 10. As of the latest rankings it has slipped just outside, but Brahma remains a heavyweight in Brazil, Argentina and a growing international footprint thanks to its parent group AB InBev.

From a Swiss immigrant's recipe

Brahma was founded in 1888 by Joseph Villiger, a Swiss brewer who emigrated to Rio de Janeiro. The brewery was originally named Manufactura de Cerveja Brahma Villiger & Companhia, and the name "Brahma" was inspired by the Hindu deity. Brahma grew into one of Brazil's two dominant breweries during the 20th century; in 1999 it merged with rival Antarctica to form AmBev, and AmBev itself merged with Belgium's Interbrew in 2004 to create the giant that is now AB InBev.

Recipe and styles

The standard Brahma Chopp is a 4.3 percent ABV pale lager - dry, clean, lightly malty, and served extremely cold in the Brazilian style. The export version typically sold in North America, Europe and the UK is closer to 4.6-5.0 percent ABV. The Brahma family also includes Brahma Black (a darker, malt-forward lager) and Brahma Zero (alcohol-free).

A football brand

Brahma is deeply tied to Brazilian football culture. It has been an official sponsor of the Brazilian national team, the Copa do Brasil, and several Brazilian league clubs across multiple decades, and is one of the most recognised consumer brands in the country. To celebrate the 2014 FIFA World Cup, AB InBev released a limited-edition Brahma brewed with barley grown on the Brazilian national team's Granja Comary training ground.

Where Brahma sits today

Brahma is sold across Latin America, the US, Canada, the UK, France, Russia, Spain, Argentina, Paraguay and a long list of secondary markets, and is widely available in Brazilian and Portuguese supermarkets globally. Its closest sibling in the Brazilian Top 10 is Skol; the two together account for an enormous share of all beer sold in Brazil.

Sources: Ambev / AB InBev brand history and investor materials; widely reported industry data.