www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Among the many things I miss now that I'm back home are Imperial beer and Derby cigarettes.

I'm not normally a smoker, but like to indulge on vacation. And Derby's (don't know if they're actually made in CR, but they don't seem to be available here) seem to be very easy to smoke, and not hard on the lungs.

Imperial is simply the best. Nice kick, great aftertaste - get some of this stuff over here pronto!

I don't smoke so I don't know about Derby but, Imperial is great stuff and I would drink it if it was available here. I once saw a website where you could have it shipped by the case to the states. It was at a reasonable cost too, but I don't know the shipping rates.

Also, a great and unique gift during the holiday season, for a coworker, or for a client is to buy the big honkin' twin set of Imperials in the unique Costa Rica gift bag at the airport before you leave. It only costs about 10 bucks and is pretty cool looking, dont have to wrap it, it has those "windows" in the front of bag so you can see the Imperial label, and the chances of that person ever having received it from someone else is close to zero.

Everyone I have given them too really thought it was cool and usually people enjoy the beer enough to ask if they can get it locally... which I have yet to be able to find.

A few months ago there was an article in the local papers that Imperial was being shipped to California and in the near future to New York & Florida. Never heard anymore so do not know if they followed up on that.

Personally still prefer Bavaria Gold.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Guys, Imperial and Pilsen are deceiving. I liked it when I first moved down here, but over the long haul it is not a good beer. Has a lot of impurities and gives a wicked hangover for beer. Ok, maybe your not supposed to drink so many. Great vacation beer, but you don't want it as an everyday beer. I love Bavaria Negra.

I concur with Thirdworld. It really is not that good of a beer. I also was
quite enamored by it my first few trips, but eventually realized it simply
wasn't that good. I certainly don't mind drinking it (if it's cold or over ice).

About three years ago they sold it at Publix grocery stores here in Florida.
They stopped selling it probably two years ago. As with Ron Centenario, I think it has to do with CAFTA, the pending free-trade agreement with the US and Latin American countries.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

Perfectly stated..IMO. I do like Pilsen.

dapanz1

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Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

I tried Imperial (one beer) a little to much bite for my taste, then tried
a Pilson which I liked very much and are probably fine if you only drink a couple but I had mucho that first night and payed for it the next day with a major long lasting hangover,which showed to me the real quality of the beer. Lucky for me I found heineken at every bar I went to there and drank it every day with only small hang the next day.

I can stomach the Imperials when i'm there , but must admit I need it in a glass on the rocks... at home... no gracias...

Bing

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Yippieeeee !!

No luck required. Heineken that is sold widely in CR is a local product not an imported one.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I found a local beer called BAVARIA which I think is much better than Imperial. It comes in 3 flavors: I believe it was Light, Gold, and Dark. I prefer the Bavaria Gold. It costs more than Imperial, but seems cleaner and doesn’t leave you with as bad of a hangover. Some of the more expensive restaurants and bars serve it. I buy it at the Auto-Mercado to keep my room stocked.

The Auto-Mercado is one block west of Parque Morazan---I believe that is the corner of Avenida 3 and Calle 3. It has a better selection of almost everything than Mas x Menos.

Has anyone ever come across Imperial being sold here in the U.S. I've tried numerous liquor stores here in Los Angeles but nobody seems to have a clue how to get it.

Bavaria is available in almost all bars and markets and is a few colones more than Imperial, Pilsen or Rock Ice. Don Giovanni know you frequent the NY Bar it is available there. As stated in this thread Thirdworld likes the dark, I like the gold. It is very popular among a lot of expats who live here.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine