Craft beer in Cascais: a well-poured guide

On tap or bottled, stronger or weaker, bitter or smooth, Portuguese or from around the world, craft or industrial, Na Medida Beer Tap House has a little bit of everything when it comes to beer. It is located in the centre of the village of Cascais and one of its great features is that it has self-service taps – in other words, you need to perfect your technique and tilt your glass if you don't want to end up with excess foam. To accompany the beers, they serve boat-shaped pizzas and other snacks created in the kitchen.

Although they have beers from different origins, all of them craft beers, The Crafty Cellar focuses mainly on Portuguese brands and serves them to customers from all over the world in the centre of Cascais. In addition, they serve burgers, sandwiches, nachos, chicken wings and other dishes and snacks to fill you up. It is one of the most specialised places in this area and is well worth a visit.

Founded just a few years ago by Brazilian brewmaster Roberto Stein, now based in Estoril, Bah! Craft Beer has already picked up awards and built a strong line-up, available both on the brand’s website and at the restaurants and bars it partners with. One of its highlights even pays tribute to Cascais – a Session IPA in a can featuring Santa Marta Lighthouse at sunset.

Bah! also offers a monthly subscription for €35 and is gearing up to open its own space right in the centre of town, in partnership with a restaurant, where you’ll be able to try its full range. Brewing takes place at HopSin in Sintra, where the brand has just released its first alcohol-free beer, OYÁ. Time Out Cascais went behind the scenes of the brewing process and told the full story of Bah! Craft Beer here.

The concept is very simple: beers from around the world. For the past decade, this has been the case at Beer Cascais, where you can currently find around 90 different beers from various countries and continents, available both bottled and, in some cases, on tap. German and Belgian beers are among the most popular, but there are various specialties, ranging from more or less bitter, light and heavy, to both craft and industrial options. When in doubt, just try them.

It was back in 2018 that, after a career spent in aviation, British expat Mark Wilson decided to go all-in on craft beer. Having lived in Cascais for several years, he saw the region’s increasingly cosmopolitan vibe as the perfect springboard for a brand that would appeal to open-minded drinkers: approachable, versatile beers with a local twist. And so Estoril Vida was born. The line-up currently features four regulars – Estoril Pale Ale, Cascais Kölsch, Porter-Gal and Trigo Branco – alongside the odd seasonal experiment, like the pumpkin beer brewed with pumpkins from Quinta do Pisão, now a firm autumn tradition.

You can order online via the brand’s website, but Estoril Vida also pours at partner restaurants, bars and supermarkets. And there’s more on the horizon: as Wilson tells Time Out Cascais, the team is set to open a taproom in Azóia, Sintra, just a stone’s throw from Cabo da Roca. “It’ll be the westernmost taproom in all of Europe, with direct contact with the public and our own production.”

If not for the beers, then definitely for the view – Adamastor at Praia da Parede sits right on the water’s edge. Either way, the ocean breeze and golden rays practically beg for a cold one. Adamastor brews its own craft beer, affectionately dubbed the “giant beer”, which pairs perfectly with sunset DJ sets and a menu of international dishes. From the Calhau to the Chica English IPA and Boa Esperança, it’s worth sampling their specialities.