Portugal

scrapes in   decent   good   excellent   sublime

Central de Cervejas, Sagres (Portugal) This pale, lager-type beer is a little bland on the nose, with some mild malty notes. On the palate it is quite smooth and rich-textured, with a decent amount of dry, almost bitter-edged hoppy fruit and decent length, but it is bit too "clean" and under-flavoured for me. 5.2% ABV, 33cl, ?22.50 X 24, Surf4beer.

Central de Cervejas, Sagres Preta Dark Beer (Portugal) This is a dark beer, which pours almost pitch black with a thick, but quickly disippating coffee-coloured head. The nose is very inviting, with notes of mocha coffee and roasted grain and a warming, chocolaty core. On the palate it is quite light, with a less creamy body than I'd have guessed. The flavours are dark and smoky, with more coffee falvours and a modest bitterness. I was slightly disappointed in this, which whilst a nice, quaffable beer, lacks a bit of real character. Purchased in Lisbon. 4.3% ABV, 33cl, 1€.

Cereuro, Tagus (Portugal) I had only previously been aware of the very good quality beers from Sagres and Super Bock from Portugal, but this brand new product has just arrived in the UK. Tagus declares itself as ?Pure Malt? on the label, so presumably no corn, rice or other grains and starches are used. A good start. It pours a very nice gold/amber with a good white head. It has a lovely nose: a clean, pure array of caramelly malt aromas with a fruitiness and nice perky zest of oily, green hops. On the palate it is zesty and refreshing, with lemon and endive flavours, a real bittering bite in the finish and obviously well-hopped character. Quite a full, powerful style this, that elevates it above the easy drinking, and a really very good strong lager style beer. 5.4% ABV, 33cl, ?0.99, Beersofeurope, .

Super Bock, Lager (Portugal) Super Bock is Portugal's main beer brand, brewed in Oporto to the north, so a great rival to Lisbon-brewed Sagres. This lager has a pale yellow colour with a moderate white head. It is very fresh and hoppy, with a bright fruit character. That fruity, light style continues on the palate, which is smooth-textured and very clean. There's a touch of hop bitterness, but it is basically a thirst-quenching, slightly bland, but thoroughly decent beer. 5.6% ABV, 33cl, ?1.09, Asda, Onlyfinebeer, Peckhams.

Super Bock, Stout (Portugal) Super Bock Stout is a very dark, almost black beer with a thick coffee-coloured head. It has a very interesting nose, that is less roasted and coffeeish than you might expect, but has good fruit aromas and a soft, biscuity character. There's a hint of treacle too. On the palate it is again relatively fresh and fruity. There is a good, thick texture, and a sweetness of malt, but also a plummy fruit and almost creamy strawberry note. This is a distinctive style of Stout, with much less bitterness and roasted malt than you might expect, but I thought it was a very fine beer, almost worth that 4th star. 5.0% ABV, 33cl, ?1.19, Peckhams, Surf4beer.

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