One of the questions we are frequently asked about living here at the windmill: what do we miss most about England? For Simon, the answer, without hesitation, is a good pub (spending time with family and friends is also up there, of course!).
Well, we think we've found somewhere nearby that is actually pretty close. Ermida, in Abrantes, not only has the cosy feel of a good local, it also has some seriously good beer. In fact, the beer came first - Rui Ruis, a local food engineer, first became interested in the idea of craft beer (still relatively uncommon in Portugal) after reading a report on Sovina, a pioneer in Portuguese artisan beer production. Seeing that they were offering a workshop, he attended, and soon had his own production set up in his parent's garage in Abrantes. The name, Ermida, in fact comes from the name of that road - the Rua Ermida de Santo André - and it is a particularly apt name when it comes to the 'pub' itself also: an ermida is a hermitage; a small place of rest and reflection, away from the crowds.
From 2014 to 2020, Rui produced beer to sell privately, to shops and restaurants, and particularly at local events and festivals, to which a large proportion of his stock was directed - and where you'll still often find him today, at the local summer festas. With the pandemic, however, this outlet was curtailed - but he'd already brewed in advance and had a house full of beer that needed an outlet. So he started looking into the possibility of running a small bar, and getting things ready in time for the easing of lockdown and his grand opening. Things went so well, he quickly ran out of his own beer and had to order in from elsewhere! This trend has continued, with a rotating selection of 12 taps, pouring a mixture of Ermida and other like-minded producers from across Portugal. Food is also available, in the form of tapas boards, snacks and tostas.
Rui brews around 2500 litres per year, across a range of styles from various IPAs to wheat beers to dark beers and stouts. We think his beer is the best we've tasted from Portugal - why not pop in and find out for yourself?
Ermida can be found at 'Crispean's - Craft Beer House by Ermida' at Rua da Fonte de São José, 2200-036 Abrantes. Open from 5pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
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