Xingu Black Beer

September 25th, 2013 by Scott in Walt Disney World Beer Reviews

At the 2013 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, the Brazil booth will feature Xingu (pronounced “shin-goo”) Black Beer. The beer gets its name from the Xingu River in Brazil and it supports the Y Ikatu Xingu organization, a group devoted to protecting the Amazon rainforest as well as the Xingu River basin.

Back when I was in college, I didn’t really like beer. However, my friends and I often visited The Chimes just outside the gates of LSU and I was talked into participating in their Round the World challenge. For this, you drink 60 beers in no more than 6 months from at least 20 countries. I ended up giving it up after a while, but one of the beers I tried and liked more than some of the others was Xingu.

It’s been a long time since then, however, and this is the first time I’ve had Xingu since. The beer is murky black with a small tan head that quickly disappears. It has a somewhat sweet, bready scent that’s also reflected in the taste. The taste is very similar; sweet malt with very little hop taste to speak of. Maybe a slight bit of fruit in there? Xingu is a very thin beer despite its color and it finishes fairly clean. The carbonation is also light.

My current opinion on Xingu is that there’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s very simple and not very exciting. Beer drinkers just starting out may find something here they like, but the more experienced will probably want to move onto something else.

Be sure to check back on Friday; the 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will be opening and we’ll have your guide to the best of the beer!