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Porto Trip No2
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- Written by: Jason Baxter
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Hello everyone,
We've been back a week since our two day break to wonderful Porto and despite me still not A1 beer wise that (and the rain) did nothing to spoil our fun.
Some favourite bars were visited and new ones too, we also squeezed in a visit to one of Porto's many Port houses and that's where we'll kick things off.
Not visiting one of these houses was one of the big regrets of our last visit...not this time.
Looking from the Porto side towards the Vila Nova area on the other side of the Douro river there's one particular Port House that sticks out from the others - Cálem, that would be the place we visit.
The tour takes roughly an hour with a guided Port tasting later. Firstly you wonder around the onsite Port museum that features lots of info on the history of Cálem and the history of Port.
You are then taken on tour of the various barrel rooms learning about the history and process of Port manufacture, these rooms were quite dark and didn't really lend themselves to picture taking but I took a few for the memories
One of the many large barrels (filled with Port) each holds 74000 bottles
The Port tasting took place upstairs in a modern looking designated Port room. You sampled three different Ports - a Fine White, a Late Bottled Vintage Ruby from 2019 and a 10 year old Tawny...all delicious with our favourite being the Vintage Ruby.
After the tasting you exit through the souvenir shop, a bottle of the Vintage Ruby Port was instantly bought also a set of Cálem Port glasses and wine that was produced just a few miles away along the Douro River.
It was an interesting and informative tour and we're glad that we've ticked that box.
Bars (old and new) to follow
Porto - the bars,
Seeing as we were in town for just two days we had to be certain about the bars and places we wanted to visit, no time for idle wandering 
The majority of bars were one's we've visited before but first a word about our hotel. Yet again Linda picked us an absolute beauty with a fantastic location (just 3 doors down from the brilliant Bao Bab bar) our two night stay at Exe Almanda cost us just over 120€
Now the first bar we visited was Fábrica because we knew we wanted to sample again two of Porto's famous sandwiches and this great beery bar was just around the corner.
A couple of house brewed IPAs were ordered - a NEIPA and Tropical IPA
Poto's infamous Cachorrinho (Porto style hotdog) and Bifanas (Porto style braised pork sandwich) both completely delicious and an absolute must when in town.
Yes I bought all the special ingredients to make these back at home 
Time to visit our favourite bar (the only one we visited twice) and just steps away from our hotel was the wonderful Bao Bab.
Upon entering we were warmly greeted by the husband and wife owners (who remembered us from our previous visit) so very much the happy reunion
My first beer was a Rima Yellow Stork, a 5.6% Honey and Rosemary Herbal Ale...full of sweet herbal notes
My next beer was from Fermentage and their bonkers Pulp Friction - a 4% Peach Smoothie Sour, couple that with a platter of local Salami and cured meats and you're in for a special treat
Another bar we had to visit was Catraio Craft Beer, some fantastic beers on tap and delicious food cooked fresh at the upstairs rooftop bar.
A couple of DIPA's and a super tasty Piri Piri burger and fries...YUM
Time for something "special" from those mad brewers Ophiusa from Lisbon. An 8% Coffee and Coconut Cream Stout, smells like coffee with the texture of a milkshake and tasted like a Bounty bar...insane 
Time for a new (to us) bar - Letraria...and my this was up several steep streets, makes it that bit more worthwhile
A Letra Rebendita, a 6% Passion Fruit IPA. Full of tart tropical juiciness
Our second visit to Bao Bab and two more bonkers beers, fist off an Equilibrew Mango Berry - a 5.3% Mango, Blackberry and Strawberry Sour
Next a Fermentage and their Pirates of the Caribbean - a 13% Rum Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Coffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Ginger, Orange and Chilli AND it tasted of every single ingredient
A few more magical Porto pics to finish with, this place really is special and despite the near two solid days of rain it did NOTHING to dampen our enjoyment of this truly amazing city. Dare I say it (very much like Bruges) is the perfect weekend getaway
You can't say you've had a Pastel De Nata until you've had one warm from the oven with a barely set custard filling, I could eat loads 
A scrumptious breakfast just across from our hotel
There you go folks, a whirlwind weekend in wonderful Porto...until next time 🇵🇹
Cheers
Jay
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