Souvenir beer glasses

[robc311]

I collect beer glasses from wherever I go...with the name of the beer of that particular country.  Are these easy to find in Nicaragua?  Can I just buy one from a restaurant or are they found in Masaya or Granada markets?  Also, on a similar note...what is the best Nicaraguan beer in your opinion?  I did a google search and found this interesting critique of Nicaraguan beers...
http://www.epinions.com/content_4616986756

It looks like Bufalo is this reviewers favorite and Victoria is his favorite "mainline" Nicaraguan beer.  What do you think?

[Randall Wood]

I've never seen what you are looking for, and Nicaragua doesn't really produce its glassware (most of it is imported from Indonesia and/or Spain, as I recall) so you are up for a challenge.  One idea would be to have the potters craft you something from clay - they could probably make a gorgeous beer stein for you.  Start in San Juan del Oriente or the Masaya market and start asking questions.

Thanks for the link to the epinion.  This guy loses one point for referring to "Nicos" and another for using the expression "O-M-G."  I don't think the guy as much beer expert as much as he is beer lover, but his criticisms of the beer were pretty well though out with regard to bubble size, head, and grain processing.  Damn them with faint praise, eh?

I thought this was pretty funny:

Usually, I can find some good beers just about anywhere, but in Nicaragua, that's a very difficult thing to do. I love the rugged beauty of the country and its shockingly sensual scenery, and if I do come back, it's for the raw beauty of the place --- it sure won't be for the beer.

Thanks for the great link - that was a lot of fun.

[tleamond]

I was in Nicaragua in September and had the following "fun" beer glass related experience.

I had to go to the airport the day before my departure from Managua and I stopped to have lunch in the food court.  I ordered a chicken dinner and a Toña beer (my favorite NICA beer).  I can't remember the name of the vendor but it was a chicken place with mostly red decorations and you can't really see the menu if you are tall like me because there are too many overhangs blocking it - but I digress.

When I got my meal the clerk presented me with a very nice Toña beer glass, which she carefully wrapped in paper and gave to me in a separate bag.  Apparently I was the beneficiary of a Toña beer "buy a chicken dinner and a Toña and get a glass" promotion.

The next morning I returned to the airport for my flight and went back to the same restaurant.  I wanted another glass to give to my friend who collects beer glasses and was in Nicaragua this summer but it was breakfast time and I really didn't want a chicken dinner - so I asked the clerk (a different one) if I could buy a glass.  Of course the answer was no (they only come free with a chicken dinner and a Toña)!  I sulked about it for a few minutes and then I came up with a plan.  It occurred to me that a chicken dinner only cost around $5 so I went to the counter and announced to the clerk that I wanted to buy him and his work companion lunch (and he could eat it any time he wanted).  I bought a chicken dinner, asked them not to give it to me but to enjoy it themselves later in the day, I did take the Toña though, and I got my second glass (wrapped neatly in paper and in its own bag).

I felt pretty good about the solution and I think the clerks were happy too.  That was confirmed as my travel partner approached me after passing behind me through the first security door at the airport.  As she was getting ready to walk into the security area - one of the clerks ran up to her (having abandoned his post a the chicken restaurant) and he gave her another Toña glass to give to me!  I was touched to say the least.

I carefully mailed one glass to my friend, the beer glass collector, and I have a set of two Toña glasses and a fun story to tell about them!

[robc311]

Wow, that is a cool little story!  At least I know they exist.  Thanks!

[Randall Wood]

A great story, thanks for it.  I believe strongly that stories like this one are why we travel, and above all, why we travel to places like Nicaragua.