Budweiser for sale in Cuba

[JohnnyO]

On 9/1/2023 at 3:23 AM, Corylax18 said:

Very interesting. My first thought went to the real coke (better than the US stuff) that's been available in Cuba for years. At private restaurants, airports, all over the place. Its made in Mexico, so the trip over to Cuba is pretty short and cheap. 

I agree with others saying that Bud, Budlight, Coors, an the like are not good beers. Cristal is actually perfect for the Cuban Climate. It doesn't have much flavor, but if its fresh and cold, its a perfect compliment to a cigar on a warm, humid day. 

Back in 2018 I actually saw "Budweiser" on the menu at Amigos del mar, my Dad ordered one thinking it would be fun to have an American beer in Cuba. They came back with the Real Budweiser, from Budvar Czech Republic. I didn't know it even existed before then. Apparently the US government doesnt care about European copyright rules, but our "Budweiser" is really the 2nd Budweiser ever brewed. It was actually very good and I drink it regularly now here in the states. Its labeled as "Budvar" here in the states, but otherwise the label, bottle and recipe are identical. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweiser_Budvar_Brewery

You're thinking its just 100% fake? The shipping costs to get the real thing over from China would certainly be a lot higher than the coke in my example above. Could it be coming in through the regular "mule" channels between Havana and south Florida? A case of beer seems like it would be a PITA to travel with, but less so than the TV's, Air conditioners and Car tires I've seen stuffed in the cargo hold of commercial flights in the past. It seems like the profit margin on beer would be a lot smaller though. 

Back in the day a container to Cuba from Miami was $5000 and there are a lot of additional fees for the paperwork, insurance etc. My guess it's a lot more today. The mule airlines today charge $2/lb so the idea of shipping it from the US is falling apart on paper from the beginning. Roughly 1700-1800 24 can cases will fit in a 53' container, bottles its a lot less 850-900. Your cost to land bottles is twice as much and you will have more breakage along the way. Any labor involved in the US will be 1000X compared to any labor in Cuba. It's a lot easier to copy any product made in the US and you get to keep 100% of the profits. Not to say that the ingredients would be the same, just the appearance. They have been doing this for years. I have drank every possible copy of European, Mexican, Canadian, American beer in Cuba and it is just awful. Cuba has made some good beers in the past but I don't think they have access to the correct ingredients so they are just making whatever swill they can. Not exactly a Harvard Case study, but I think the #'s are all wrong from the start. John

[BoliDan]

On 8/29/2023 at 9:23 PM, El Presidente said:

....haven't they suffered enough 

 

It could be Four X 

[Fosgate]

On 8/30/2023 at 10:59 PM, helix said:

My least favorite beer after Coors light . Seems Modelo is the new favorite amongst former BL aficionados and actually a quality brew .  😏

I will have to agree. I love craft beers and brew myself and limited on how much I drink light lagers. However, there are those memorable moments of a beer that was so perfect and Modelo about 5 years ago hit that spot for me. Went out on the range without water one day and it was so hot outside and a friend and I were so parched by the time we got back. Open up the fridge to a few ice cold Modelos in the bottle staring us in the face. I downed the first one faster than water and started drinking the second one normal. Similar was years ago with a Miller High Life, frozen draft glass in the freezer and a very hot day. Call light lagers water or whatever, I just can't remember instances in which I remember a beer years later and how good it tasted and how much it boosted my spirits.