Passion wasn't new, but Neil Caird decided to make it a upgrade. departed from US icy Scotland and found, in the Algarve, the perfect paradise to make “São Brás”, a new beer that will be launched this Thursday, 25th of July, at the emblematic Feira da Serra.
In November last year, Neil set up shop in a small factory in the Centro Empresarial das Almargens, in São Brás de Alportel. But this story started far away from the mountain council.
“We've brewed beer before in Scotland. My family had a house in Lagos and we wanted to improve our production. One day, my wife said: “we should try in Portugal”. We ended up moving in 2016», he tells the Sul Informação.
It was in Lagos that Neil and his family started to produce craft beer in our country, founding the Afters Brewing.
«We were practically everywhere and ended up staying in Vilamoura. We produced there for a year, but then we felt we needed another place», he says.
In São Brás, they found a small oasis. «We spoke with some friends who recommended São Brás to us and we immediately loved the place. We set up our factory here, brought the machines that we had in Scotland, and now we even live here», he reveals.
“São Brás”, a lager, it is the first beer produced in the new facility and has just been made…10 days ago!
“We were in a panic because we only got the license last week. On the day we receive the license, we brew this beer which has a sweet aftertaste, even tangerine and pineapple. It's a fruity beer, in which we used very good hops, from New Zealand,” explains Neil.
Despite not being bottled yet, the beer's big debut will be at Feira da Serra, on Thursday, the 25th, where it will be on sale for 1 euro.
«Our goal has always been to launch the beer at Feira da Serra. We now have high expectations for public acceptance», reveals the Scot.
In São Brás de Alportel, even after the Fair, anyone who wants to consume this beer will be able to do so under special conditions.
«Algarve consumers still don't seem to have a great desire to drink craft beer. Therefore, we think that the big secret to conquer the Portuguese is the price. In São Brás, our beer will be at the same price as a Superbock or Sagres. In other places, we still don't know», explains Neil to the Sul Informação.
This is a way to reach all audiences, at an affordable price, but with a beer “with a much better taste”.
“We are part of the community and we also want to show that, encouraging people to drink at São Brás!”, says, enthusiastically, Neil Caird. Throughout this process, the Scot also emphasizes the «great support» of the City Council of São Brás de Alportel.
For the future, Afters Brewing's idea is to produce more beers, creating 10 jobs. And Neil is perennial: "we really want people from São Brás!"
«We are delighted to be in São Brás de Alportel. We can walk everywhere in the village. I think we have so much in common, the Scots and the Portuguese. We like to enjoy life, we have a great sense of humor and we are nice people», he concludes, smiling, to the Sul Informação.
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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