Arowana Beer From Brazil to Hanna’s Hometown

We’ve never specifically targeted arowana, but we’ve inadvertently caught a few while fishing for peacock bass and other exotics in various parts of Brazil.

They’re actually surprisingly cool fish – prehistoric, aggressive and able to breathe air. We’ve heard some people call them “monkey fish” for their mad leaping ability, which also makes them fantastic topwater feeders. Although I’ve never seen it firsthand, I believe the rumors that they can eat birds out of shoreside bushes and trees.

I’d expect that any beer named after these incidental sportfish would be from their homelands in Asia, South America, Australia or Africa. Oddly enough, the only one I could find is from Hanna’s homeland, the mean streets of Chicago.

Indeed, Pipeworks Brewing Company, which brews the Arowana Imperial IPA pictured above, has their retail store just about 20 miles from Hanna’s sister’s house, where we usually stay when we’re in town. It may also be available even closer.

Pipeworks has also brewed a number of other fish-themed beers, including 4 Hands Black Tuna, 4 Hands Square Grouper, Blueberry Cichlid, Catch of a Lifetime, Crimson Snapper, Devil Firefish, Shark Contrast, Shark Dressed Man, Pixel Grouper, Spotted Puffer, Pineapple Guppy and Blood Orange Guppy. We’ll be sure to check ‘em out next time we’re up there.