da Gama Premium Beer: circa 1976

 

This month's can is a Portuguese can from the 1970s. I don't know much about it, but it's one of my favorites. I had one in the 1970s when I was a teen collecting cans. Then in 1976 I traded it to a kid who lived up the street for a 45 rpm record of Cliff Richard "Devil Woman." Eventually I regretted it and started looking for another. I finally got this can in 2005 (I think) when Jeff Lebo (who has the world's largest beer can collection!) found one for me. Thanks Jeff!

I still have the record I got in trade in 1976, although I no longer have a stereo that can play it. I do, however, have "Devil Woman" on my ipod.

 

And here is the song, found (where else?) on Youtube.

I don't remember my friend's name any longer--it's been over 30 years--but he lived up the street from me on Loris Drive. He and his Dad collected cans and they had the first quart cone I ever saw, although I remember it being so rusted you couldn't read the label. His Dad took us dumping in Moraine once, my first dumping trip, and I found a Red Lion pull tab from Cincinnati. So if you're out there, thanks. I still like the song, and although it took me 30 years, I got another da Gama! I wonder if you still have the one I traded you?

About the Can

BTW, who is that guy on the can? Vasco da Gama (1460?-1524) was a Portuguese explorer the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India going around Africa. Wikipedia has a pretty good bio of him.

The beer was made by Companhia União Fabril Portuense (1890-1977) which was one of several breweries that merged in 1977 to form UNICER União Cervejeira.