A Taste of Minas —

CBC Finds a New Home in Uberlândia.

There is a specific kind of magic that happens when a beer competition decides to pick up its tasting glasses and move to a new city. For 2025, the Concurso Brasileiro de Cervejas (CBC) had been on an itinerant journey, traveling from the coastal breezes of Balneário Camboriú to the vibrant heart of Minas Gerais: Uberlândia. While the change in scenery was physical, the shift in energy was visceral.

Minas is a state legendary for its hospitality and culinary depth—think pão de queijo pulled hot from the oven and slow-cooked comforts that simmer for hours. In Brazil, the Mineiro people are known for a quiet, genuine kindness that makes you feel like an old friend within minutes of arriving. It felt only right that the 2026 CBC would land here. Coming to Uberlândia felt less like attending a corporate event and more like entering a new chapter of Brazilian craft excellence, one rooted in the red soil and the warm smiles of the Triângulo Mineiro.

We gathered at Über Brau, a space that perfectly captures the modern Brazilian spirit—industrial, welcoming, and pulsing with an undercurrent of innovation. Stepping into the facility to begin the rigorous work of evaluating thousands of samples, you could feel the weight of expectation. But in Uberlândia, that weight was tempered by a communal joy. The volunteers, the stewards, and the local organizers moved with a grace that said, "We are proud to have you here, and of what we have built."

There is something incredibly grounding about the sensory focus required at this level. I often view these competitions as a professional "reset"—a chance to strip away the noise of the industry and return to the raw data of flavor. You might be sitting between a judge from Italy and another from Japan, and though our native tongues differ, our shared vocabulary is written in the language of beer. At that judging table, the only thing that matters is the liquid before us. We aren't just checking boxes on a score sheet; we are interpreting a narrative of technique and tradition. It is a quiet, sacred responsibility to ensure that every entry is heard and every technical nuance is respected.

I find that these panels are where the most profound learning happens. Between flights, the conversation doesn't just stay on the mechanics of carbonation or malt bills; it drifts toward the "why." Why did this brewer choose this specific fruit? How does the humidity of this region affect the head retention? In Uberlândia, those questions felt more relevant than ever. The local climate and the bounty of the Cerrado (the tropical savanna) were present in the very air we breathed, influencing our perception of every sample.

While I was back in the States by the time the final gala kicked off, the buzz from the judging floor was impossible to ignore. One of the most fascinating discussions among my fellow judges revolved around the Manipueira Selvagem category. While I didn't have it on my specific flights, the excitement surrounding it was contagious. Discussing a style rooted in indigenous Brazilian traditions and wild fermentation using cassava juice—manipueira—was a masterclass in the concept of "terroir." It represents a bridge between the ancient history of the land and the modern technical skill of the contemporary brewer. It’s a style that doesn’t just taste like a place; it tastes like history.

The people of Uberlândia were the true backbone of the experience. I recall the way the locals spoke about their city’s growing beer scene—not with arrogance, but with a quiet, fierce dedication to quality. There is a humility in the Mineiro spirit that allows for deep, meticulous work. They don't just want to be the biggest; they want to be the best, and they want you to feel at home while they prove it.

The real joy of the week, however, was seeing that "home team" flourish. The local favorites at Cervejaria Captain Brew put on a clinic in technical excellence, taking home a staggering array of medals across multiple categories. In a competition of this magnitude, winning on your home turf is no small feat. It was a poignant reminder that while the competition follows a global technical standard, the heart of it is deeply local. It’s about the people who show up every day to clean tanks, source ingredients, and perfect their craft in the city they love.

Even from across the ocean, hearing that Faroeste Beer clinched "Best of Show" for their Pina Colada Catharina Sour felt like the perfect tropical punctuation mark on a week defined by regional pride and the incredible hospitality of Minas. The Catharina Sour, now celebrating its tenth year, has become a symbol of Brazilian identity, and seeing it executed with such balance and flair was heartening.

As I look back on my time in Uberlândia, I don’t just think about the medals or the technical scores. I think about the laughter with fellow judges, the smell of fresh coffee during the breaks, and the earnest passion of the people of Minas Gerais. Uberlândia didn’t just host a competition; it gave the Brazilian beer scene a vibrant new place to call home, and it gave those of us lucky enough to judge a reminder that at the end of the day, the best beer is the one shared with good people in a place that welcomes you with open arms.