Barona Craft Beer from Portugal – now available in Switzerland
Until 1974, only two breweries were allowed to brew beer in Portugal – Sagres and Super Bock. Forty years of dictatorship, forty years of beer monopoly, and the result is a generation that almost automatically associates "cerveja" with one of two yellow labels. Since the 2010s, what has long been standard in Belgium, England, and Germany is happening in Portugal: a wave of microbreweries. One of them, Barona, is located in a village called Santo António das Areias in the far east of Alto Alentejo, half an hour from the Spanish border. Founded by three childhood friends in 2015, today a multiple Portugal champion at the World Beer Awards. In this article, I explain what Barona is, why the brewery is located where it is – and which beer you should buy for which occasion.
What is Craft Beer – and why was it a taboo subject in Portugal for a long time?
Craft Beer (in Portuguese cerveja artesanal) simply means "handcrafted brewed beer." Small, independent, without an industrial corporation behind it. Definitions vary – in the USA, a brewery is considered "craft" if it produces less than six million hectoliters per year (Sagres and Super Bock are already too large there). In Portugal, the definition is more flexible, but at its core the same: no mass production, no corporate label, no algorithm deciding the recipe.
The historical point: Between 1933 and 1974, Portugal had a dictatorship in which only two brewery groups were allowed to operate – Unicer (now Super Bock Group) and the Sociedade Central de Cervejas (Sagres). Foreign breweries were prohibited.The result was an extremely conservative beer market, where the question "Sagres or Super Bock?" held the same weight as "Feldschlösschen or Cardinal?" in Switzerland. It was only after the Carnation Revolution that the market began to open up – but the craft beer movement really took off only in the last ten to fifteen years. Today, there are over 100 Portuguese microbreweries, from Lisbon's Marvila district through Porto to Alentejo. Barona is one of the most successful – and one of the southernmost.
Who is behind Barona – and where does the name come from?
Three men, three family names, one idea. Barrigas, Roque, and Nabo – three childhood friends from Castelo de Vide, a small mountain village in Alto Alentejo. They found the beer in their region too boring (Swiss mountain villagers in Graubünden would say the same about Stein-Bier, but I'll get to that later).So they came together and brewed the first batch in 2015 in the family backyard. The name «BARONA» was created from the first letters of their last names: BArrigas, ROque, NAbo. Flavor before marketing advice – that was evident.
In October 2019, the three opened the «Barona Craft Beer House» in Castelo de Vide, featuring twelve taps, each with a different beer. The production itself is located in Santo António das Areias, directly below the mountain fortress of Marvão. They now have seven regularly produced beers, several specialty and seasonal beers, and their own series of barrel-aged stouts and brown ales (Kõ Vagár – «with patience» in good Portuguese).
Awards, so it's not just nostalgia: World Beer Awards 2019 in London – Best Portuguese Specialty IPA (West Coast IPA), Best American Pale Ale, Best Strong Porter. Gold at the Barcelona Beer Challenge 2019 for the IPA.For a brewery from a village with 1,500 inhabitants, that's not "not bad." That's a statement.
Marvão and Alto Alentejo – why brew beer in the hot south?
Those who know Alentejo think first of dusty cork oaks, cows in the midday heat, wine, and roasted pork. No one thinks of beer. That's exactly why it works: Barona has no local competition, its own story, and a whole cabinet of regional ingredients to play with.
Marvão is situated at around 870 meters, well above the heat, with a continental climate and one of the best Castanha-de-Marvão-DOP chestnuts in Portugal (one of the four Portuguese chestnut DOPs alongside Soutos da Lapa, Padrela, and Terra Fria). A few kilometers west, in Alcácer do Sal, the Portuguese rice fields grow – the only rice-growing area in Europe north of the Mediterranean.In addition, there is the cork oak forest, the hills, the ancient walls of Marvão – all ingredients for a brewery that aims to be regional without becoming provincial.
What Barona can do and Heineken cannot: translate local special ingredients into authentic beers. The Castanha chestnut becomes a smoked Brown Ale. The Alcácer rice becomes a lager. Oak barrels from cognac and wine distilleries become aging vessels. The same principle as with a single-vineyard wine – only with hops instead of grapes.
Which Barona beers are available – and how do they taste?
Currently, at Vall'doAido, we offer a wide selection of Barona beers in our range. Here is a short version, sorted from "Beginner" to "Character".
The Classics (for every day and every gathering)
- Barona Blonde – Blonde Ale: golden color, white foam, smooth, malt-forward, with floral aromas from European noble hops. A "bridge beer" for those who usually drink Sagres and are venturing into craft.
- Barona Seara – Pale Lager: straw-yellow, white foam, dominated by barley and wheat malt, with a light citrus note. Fresher than a classic lager, leaner than an ale. The "aperitif beer" in the height of summer.
- Barona West Coast IPA: ruby red, bitter, US and New Zealand hops, intense aromas of citrus and pine resin. World Beer Awards 2019: Portugal's Best Specialty India Pale Ale. Plus Gold at the Barcelona Beer Challenge the same year. Anyone who claims there are no real IPAs in Portugal will be silenced by this beer.
- Barona Porter: A hybrid between English and American Porter, dark brown with light brown foam, toasted malt, chocolate notes, subtle hop bitterness. Also a World Beer Award 2019: Portugal's Best Strong Porter .
The Specialties (for connoisseurs and pairing enthusiasts)
- Barona Castanha – Smoked Brown Ale: brewed with Marvão-DOP chestnut. Aromas of roasted chestnut, anise, with a finish of caramel and a light smoky tone. Enjoy: in autumn by a fireplace, with a bowl of roasted chestnuts beside – more about the variety and roasting method in the article «How to Roast Portuguese Chestnuts» . &
- Barona Vila Morena – Imperial Brown Ale: more malt than hops, aromas of biscuit, caramel, with a layer of resinous and citrusy hops. Ivory foam, dark brown color.Stronger than the regular Blonde – a beer for after the meal, not during.
- Barona Capote Imperial Stout: opaque black, brown foam, aromas and flavors of dark chocolate, espresso, roasted malt. The crowning glory of the range – not something you drink at noon, but what you pull out of your backpack on a blanket after a snowshoe day.
- Barona Monda – Alentejo Rice Lager: in collaboration with the Rice Crafters from Alcácer do Sal. 30% rice of the Euro variety replaces part of the barley. Result: a light, lively lager with grain notes and a gentle rice sweetness, balanced by Hersbrucker and Pacific Jade hops. Pairs well with sushi, tacos, spicy food, and summer evenings. My spring favorite in the range.
- Barona & Invisible Lusitania Express Carob Vanilla: Collaboration with the Lisbon microbrewery Invisible. Stout with carob flour and vanilla – more exotic than the name suggests, denser than an espresso, a clear dessert beer.
What distinguishes Barona from Sagres, Super Bock, or Heineken?
Industrial lager and craft beer do not play in the same league format. Three sober differences:
- Raw materials. Sagres and Super Bock use the cheapest hops that meet quality standards – large-volume, interchangeable deliveries. Barona works with named hop varieties (Citra, Mosaic, Pacific Jade, Hersbrucker), often directly from the producer, in small batches. You can taste it in the first sip.
- Volume per brew. An industrial brewery produces thousands of hectoliters per brew.Barona brews on a scale where a single brew is still an event. Pasteurization is avoided, filtration is gentle – the flavors and yeasts remain. In terms of taste, the beer comes closer to the original concept of beer (hops + malt + water + yeast + time) than to the industrial variant.
- Diversity. Sagres essentially has three SKUs: the regular lager, the stronger Bohémia, a Radler. Barona currently has seven base beers, at least four specialty beers, and its own barrel-aging series. Those looking to fill a beer shelf with character won't get far with industrial brands.
What Sagres and Super Bock do better: large, cold, cheap, at the beach. If that's the setting, you stay there. If you're looking for a beer to ponder – they are not built for that.
How do you drink Barona – and what pairs with what?
Three rules that are in every pub book, but many people still break:
- Not ice cold. 4 °C destroys the aromas. Light beers at 6 to 8 °C, dark ones at 10 to 12 °C, stouts and imperials up to 14 °C. You won't find the chocolate aromas of a Capote Imperial at 4 °C.
- A suitable glass. A pint is okay for light beers. For IPAs, porters, stouts, you need a tulip or goblet glass that collects the aromas. Those who drink industrial lager don't need a tulip. Those who drink Barona do.
- Pairing. Light lagers (Seara, Monda) with sushi, salad, grilled fish. Blonde Ale (Blonde) with cheese, ham, aperitif. West Coast IPA with spicy food, Mexican, Indian, burgers. Porter and Brown Ale with BBQ, beef, pot roast. Castanha with game, cheese platter, Magusto evening.Capote Imperial with dessert, chocolate cake, a scoop of vanilla ice cream (yes, pour it on, I explain nothing).
An observation from twenty years of aperitif history: Wine drinkers who have tried a well-served Barona Porter usually stop saying "I only drink wine." They come back and ask what else we have in the beer selection.
Frequently Asked Questions about Barona Craft Beer
What does the name Barona mean?
Barona stands for the three founders: BArrigas, ROque, NAbo. Three childhood friends from Castelo de Vide in Alto Alentejo, who brewed their first beer in 2015. No marketing office, just three last names.
Where is Barona beer brewed?
In Santo António das Areias, a village directly below the mountain fortress of Marvão in Alto Alentejo, near the Spanish border.The «Barona Craft Beer House» with twelve taps is located in the neighboring Castelo de Vide.
Which Barona beer is suitable for beginners?
The Barona Blonde (Blonde Ale) or the Seara (Pale Lager). Both are gentle, fresh, and suitable for everyday enjoyment – ideal for those transitioning from industrial lager to craft. For those who prefer something stronger, go straight to the West Coast IPA.
How cold should Barona beer be served?
Not ice cold. Light beers at 6 to 8 °C, dark ones at 10 to 12 °C, Stouts and Imperials up to 14 °C. At 4 °C, the aromas disappear – especially with the Capote Imperial, that would be a shame.
Can I buy Barona beer in Switzerland?
Yes. At Vall'doAido in Oberbuchsiten, the Barona range is available in the Swiss warehouse and ready for immediate delivery. Shipping within Switzerland is free for orders over CHF 250, with fair conditions for orders below.
Where can I buy Barona beer in Switzerland?
At Vall'doAido in Oberbuchsiten – to our knowledge, we are the only importer offering the entire Barona range in Switzerland. This means: not only the Blonde, but also the Porter, the Castanha, the Monda, the Capote Imperial. All available in Swiss stock, ready for immediate delivery.
→ View all Barona beers in the shop
- For starters: Barona Blonde, Barona Seara – friendly, fresh, suitable for everyday.
- For the IPA lover: Barona West Coast IPA – multiple World Beer Award winner.
- For the autumn and winter drinker: Barona Castanha, Barona Capote Imperial.
- For the rice storage curiosity: Barona Monda.
- As a gift: a mixed package with three to six beers – inspiration in the article «Portuguese Wine as a Gift: 5 Ideas for Every Occasion».
Shipping within Switzerland free from CHF 250, below that at fair conditions. Anyone who visits the showroom in Oberbuchsiten (Dürrackerstrasse 2, 4625 Oberbuchsiten, usually on Saturdays from 9 to 12) can get advice and take a leisurely look at the range. Tastings are held at our public tastings, which take place several times a year – dates on the website.
Barona is not "Sagres with a better label." It's a different league – not because the beer is more expensive, but because behind it is a brewer who knows what he's doing, and a village that is proud of it.If you only know Sagres and Super Bock in Portugal, you've missed the country at aperitif time. If you only know Feldschlösschen and Heineken in Switzerland, you already know there's more out there. Barona is exactly that "more" – from the hot highlands of Alentejo, into the cool world of your beer bottle.