The first craft beer in the municipality of Loulé gives new meaning to the expression «drinking an abaladiça». It is the brand called precisely «Abaladiça», whose first product, «35ºC/95ºF», produced by the young Tiago Caldeira, is a wheat beer flavored with kaffir lime, «to give it a citrus and tropical touch», ideal to fight the heat of an August Sunday like today.
The beer was launched at the renovated Café Calcinha, in Loulé, which is one of the places where it is now on sale. But the beer can still be found at the vegan restaurant «Outro Lado», in Faro, and at the craft beer shop at Mercado de Loulé.
Tiago Caldeira explained to Sul Informação that his "Abaladiça" is the same as that of the cafes and taverns of deep Portugal: "even if it is advertised as the last, you can never drink just one".
And why the name "35ºC/95ºF" for the first beer version? “Because last year, during the summer heat waves, I noticed that our 35ºC temperature corresponds to 95ºF and I found it curious. That's why,” added the young brewer, with a smile.
The history of this beer begins with Tiago Caldeira's trip to Amsterdam, which inspired him to launch himself in the production of homemade beer. After a couple of years and a few experiences, he took a liking to it and decided to make beer his profession.
To deepen his knowledge of the business, he did an internship at the Danish brewery with the unpronounceable name of Refsvindinge. He spent three months there, during which he had the opportunity to learn from the experienced brewer John Rasmussen and to launch a beer on the Danish market. AND
And why did you choose Denmark? “It's a country with a lot of brewing tradition and I had some contacts with people I already knew. That's why I ended up taking an internship in this brewery, which is one of the oldest in that country, with a lot of tradition».
After an internship in Denmark, he set to work, in his production located in Goldra de Cima, and the result is now ahead of everyone in the first Abaladiça, this «35ºC/95ºF». At launch, still in the testing phase, 80 liters of beer were produced, but things have been going very well.
Also in August, Tiago Caldeira plans to launch his second craft beer, «Not So Black», which he describes as «an extraordinary IPA». And he is already developing another beer, more suitable for cold weather, the «Medronhaut», a stout with arbutus.
Tiago Caldeira, 37 years old, who has already worked in the kitchen and in advertising, now intends to deepen his facet as a master brewer. His «Abaladiça» is intended, for now, «for the local market, in Loulé and Faro. But later we'll see».
Those responsible for the new space, also young entrepreneurs João Apolónia and Bruno Inácio, were responsible for the launch of «Abaladiça» at Café Calcinha. The latter stressed that Calcinha is now «a space with open doors for new projects in Loulé».
For his part, Vítor Aleixo, mayor of Loulé, the entity that owns Café Calcinha, underlined that his municipality “interests in promoting the local economy”, namely through these small business projects that bring “great added value” to the municipality.
Among the many people, friends, family and onlookers who wanted to taste the first craft beer from Loulé was Artur Nascimento, owner of the «Outro Lado» restaurant, in Faro, who sells it. "It's completely different from other craft beers I've had, it's a light summer beer, it doesn't have that bitter taste of other craft beers, it's very aromatic," he explained to Sul Informação.
The refreshing "35ºC/95ºF", the first version of the "Abaladiça", costs 3 euros on sale to the public. So now all that's left is to prove it!
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues|Sul Informação
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