Monday Moment

This one won’t take very long, but at least one of the things I was concerned about, being the Oregonian I am (I am unapologetically a beer and coffee snob), has finally been resolved here in Braga.  What could it possibly be?

On Sunday Ann and I decided to visit the third, and last, of the three main grocery stores near us (they’re all located within a block of each other).  This third one is a bit harder to get into (I am learning the ways of the roundabout) and we’ve been so busy that we just decided to visit the places we were used to for the time being.  Sunday we had time to relax and scout out the Supermercado.

Now Continente and Lidl, while decent grocery stores are pretty bad in their beer selection.  Wine, well there is no shortage of that, but beer - nah.  Continente is downright bad in its selection.  Lidl, being a German-based company, has a few standard German brews, and even a small selection of two newer craft breweries.  But nothing compared to what I discovered in the Supermercado:

Now that is beer as an Oregonian knows it.  These craft brewers even have the craft brewing name down.  On the top shelf is Leitra, with their very simple “a” “b” “c” “d” “e” and “f” beers (from “b” onward a Bohemian Pilsner, an Oatmeal Stout, a Red Ale, a Belgian Dark Ale, and an American India Pale Ale).  And on the bottom shelf, there’s a selection of MUSA Ales - Mick Lager, Red Zeppelin, Born in the IPA and Twist&Stout.  (MUSA’s website also indicates they brew a Frank APA, a Saison O’Connor, a Psycho Pilsner, A Little APA from my friends, Luiza in the Sky, and Imperial Girl).

As MUSA’s Red Zeppelin’s label says,”MUSA is a beer for people who really like having a beer, brewed by people who really  like brewing a beer.  A revolution of the senses and of the mind.  From Portugal to the world.  Rise up!”  And it’s a mighty fine red ale!  Says someone who really likes having a beer.  

Unfortunately, Sunday was not all fun and games.  While I found my go-to place for a good beer, I also got a taste of sticker shock.  No, not the 1,55€ - 2,99€ per bottle of beer, it was the 1,409€ per liter of gas I put into the rental car.  At 71,92€ to fill up the tank, it worked out to just under $6.00 per gallon.  Yikes.

I think I need a beer after that!