It doesn’t matter what language you speak, a nice, cold beer is the perfect remedy for a muggy, looks-like-it’s-going-to-rain-for-the-thousandth-time kind of day. Instead of cursing Mother Nature, swing by Eagle Provisions in Brooklyn’s South Slope and pick up one of the 1,500 brews in stock. Then sit back, prop your feet up, pop open that can/bottle/keg and let the cool, bubbly liquid take you away to a happier climate.

Known to many as “The Old White Eagle Market,” this grocery and delicatessen offers an impressive stash of imported European goods, fresh baked breads and kielbasa, but in the summertime I just can’t get past the beer. Everyone–from die-hard beer connoisseurs to those drawn to bottles with cute labels–can find what they’re looking for here. And don’t be mislead by the small offering of beer up by the front registers–there’s a whole beer room to your right! The selection can be a bit daunting, but friendly owner John Zawisny will eagerly help you navigate the stock and point out his current favorites. John and his brother Richard have been at the business for 30 years and watched the clientele (and their requests) change dramatically.

“They asked for vegetarian hot dogs,” John recalls. “I say ‘What?’ but if that’s what the neighborhood wants, I’ll get it.”

Then he walks me to a refrigerator case and convinces me to try the latest customer-requested product: kambucha. He’s a convert, he says, and starts each day with one of the mango or strawberry varieties. I’m skeptical when he tells me they taste like vinegar and mushrooms, but my curiosity gets the best of me and I buy one. (For the record, I quite liked it. Kind of left a tingling sensation in my stomach– in a good way.)

But about the beer, the geographical diversity of this selection is shocking, to say the least. Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Norway, Switzerland, Croatia, Portugal, Dominican Republic, Australia, Netherlands, Guatemala, Barbados, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Latvia, Sweden, Russia, Spain, Israel, Trinidad, Holland, Peru, Colombia, United Kingdom, and Kenya. Damn!

Oh, and you all you cute label people (I know you’re out there), you’ll be thrilled to know there are illustrations and logos to wow any crowd. Medieval themes, busty ladies, gothic scenes, elaborate fonts… Even the containers are pretty! There are brown glass bottles, green glass bottles, bottles with resealable tops, mini kegs, and pint-sized cans.

Hoppy, wheat, blonde, bubbly–whatever your taste, you’ll find a beer here to dazzle your taste buds (including gluten-free beers, hard ciders, root beers…and the list goes on). Eagle Provisions is at the corner of 5th Avenue and 18th Street. It’s open Monday-Saturday from 6 a.m. (seriously, who buys beer then??) to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m to 6 p.m.