Beer in Portugal: history, traditions and breweries
A wine country where two beer brands have been rivals for decades – and where a small beer has a different name depending on the city.
History
Beer was brewed and drunk as early as the Roman province of Lusitania. For centuries, however, Portugal remained a land of wine.
Modern breweries appeared in the 19th century. In 1927 Super Bock was launched in the north; in 1926 it had already won a gold medal at an industrial exhibition in Porto’s Crystal Palace.
In 1934 the Sociedade Central de Cervejas was founded in Lisbon. For the great Portuguese World Exhibition in 1940 it launched Sagres, named after the place at the south-western tip of Europe.
After the Carnation Revolution of 1974 the breweries were nationalised and merged into two large companies, which were privatised again in the 1990s. Super Bock and Sagres still share most of the market.
Since the 2010s around a hundred small breweries have opened, especially in Lisbon and Porto.
Traditions and drinking culture
A small draught beer is called an “imperial” in Lisbon and a “fino” in Porto and the north. If you want more, you order a “caneca”, a beer mug.
Beer comes with snacks such as “tremoços”, pickled lupin beans, and in summer small snails, “caracóis”. The toast is “Saúde!”.
Fun facts
- Super Bock was launched in 1927 as a “winter beer”.
- During the Second World War, in 1942, Super Bock was brewed entirely from Portuguese malt.
- Sagres is named after the place where, according to legend, Henry the Navigator founded a school for seafarers.
- Since 1995 Super Bock has organised the “Super Bock Super Rock” music festival.
Typical beer styles
- Lager
- Preta (dark lager)
- Stout
- Craft beer of all styles
Beer cities and their stories
Leça do Balio (Porto)
Super Bock brews in this suburb of Porto. Since 2015 the “Super Bock House of Beer” has shown visitors around the brewery.
Lisbon
The Sociedade Central de Cervejas was founded here in 1934. In Lisbon you order a small beer as an “imperial”.
Vialonga
Central de Cervejas brews Sagres north of Lisbon.
Sagres
The Sagres beer is named after this place at the south-western tip of Europe, where seafarers are said to have been trained.
Breweries and their stories
Super Bock
The brand was launched in 1927. Since 1986 Super Bock has been Portugal’s best-selling beer.
Known for: Super Bock Original, Super Bock Stout
Sagres (Central de Cervejas)
Sagres was introduced in 1940 for the great exhibition in Lisbon. The brewery now belongs to Heineken.
Known for: Sagres, Sagres Preta
Timeline
- Roman erawhole country
Beer is brewed and drunk in the Roman province of Lusitania.
- 1927Leça do Balio (Porto)
Super Bock is launched – after a gold medal at the Porto industrial exhibition in 1926.
- 1934Lisbon
The Sociedade Central de Cervejas is founded in Lisbon.
- 1940Sagres
Sagres is launched for the great exhibition in Lisbon, named after the seafarers’ town.
- after 1974whole country
After the Carnation Revolution the breweries are nationalised; they are privatised again in the 1990s.
- 2010sLisbon
Around a hundred small breweries open, mainly in Lisbon and Porto.