In 1995, I spent a bit of time in Costa Rica as a mandatory component of my studies at Goshen College. While there, we drank a lot of beer, specifically Imperial. We drank a lot of Pilsen too. I’m not sure how much “a lot” is, but I do know that my college roommate, Brent, carried a dayplanner at all times that he used to track every beer drank and every cigarette smoked, so that data is available. In any case, when I was there, I loved the beer, and since my return have often thought about how to best go about securing the distribution rights of the beer, building a shipping infrastructure and selling Costa Rican beer nationwide to the thirsty masses. Just like with Dan and MySpace, someone beat me to it.
I had been hearing from both sources in Ventura and Fresno, that Imperial is now available. Today I was in River Park and checked BevMo. They had it, and I was really excited.
At $5.99 for a six-pack, the import and distribution costs must be a lot. In 1995 Costa Rica, I could’ve sent the 10 year old from the family I lived with to the corner market to buy about six cases and still have had enough colones left for a carton of Derby cigarettes. In hindsight, I should’ve instead of letting his parents send him for Guaro, that liquor made from sugar cane that tastes almost as good as rubbing alcohol and digests just as well.
Regardless, I happily took home a six-pack, put 5 in the fridge and one in the freezer and looked up my ex-girlfriends on Google while I waited for the beer to cool. I began to prepare myself for the let down that would likely result after 12 years of anticipation of drinking Imperial again. I popped the top on one of the bottles, and took a whiff.
The beer seemed to have a good nose, but I guess most beer probably does, except for Coors Light. I tasted my first sip. It was very good, as much as I could’ve asked for. What was really nice though, was that the flavor seemed to get better the more the beer breathed. Not that it breathed long, but the more I drank the better it got. So good in fact, that I had a second.
Overall, I’m really happy with my purchase. Would I rather be drinking it in Costa Rica? Absolutely. Is it as good as I remember? Not really. Will I keep drinking it? Yes. Am I muy excitado that it’s finally available here? Claro que si. Now I just need to learn not to abuse it like when Fresno got a Hooter’s.
I’ll see if I can find that data. It’s probably in a box somewhere. I think I drank more Pilsen than Imperial. Most of it at Nashville South.
They also sell Imperial at the Chapala Grill!!! Es muy bueno!
“but the more I drank the better it got”…that’s a really weird statement that I don’t understand. Whether it be Taco Bell, mildly attractive girls, bowling, tolerating Short’s loud bursts of laughter or screaming at the Cubs, it’s never gotten better the more I drank.
Hey there! im front Costa Rica….Imperial (and pilsen as well) are the best!!!!!