We’ve followed the story of Sérgio and Marta Pardal, a local father and daughter brewing team, since I took my first taste of their Mag8 Sete Ais IPA a couple of years ago. They’d brewed it up in Magoito and bottled it for sale–then they debuted a taproom at the Aldeia da Praia that opened last summer in Praia das Maçãs.
Now they’ve transformed the former tram (elétrico) building in the Banzão neighborhood in Colares into their own full-blown brewpub. The taproom had its soft opening last week, and we were there to celebrate their next step.
The former tram building in Colares is transformed into a brewpub 
Marta Pardal and her family run the new brewpub in Colares
We met Sérgio for the first time, and he showed us the new equipment standing ready for the first batch, which he expected to begin the first week of July. Marta’s uncle helped her command the taps, and we chose from the selection that for now includes four of their Mag8 beers, plus four more “guest” beers from Lisbon-area brewers like Letra, Dois Corvos, Oitava Colina, and Musa.
The new brewing equipment, ready for the first batch 
Marta passes behind a glass of the fragrant and savory Sete Ais IPA
From the kitchen, you can order several petiscos. We had the hummus, which came with bread and crudités, and the board of quiejo and compota de alperce, apricot jam–a housemade preserve that was bright and intense, and just the right foil for the Sintra-area sheep’s milk cheese with which it was paired.
The taproom is bright and lively, featuring ten taps and a selection of petiscos 
Housemade compota (apricot jam) on local Sintra sheep’s-milk cheese
I tried the Blonde ale, and then the Saison, in imperial-sized pours, followed by a Wit Bier from Oitava Colina. My fiancé, Stephen, stuck with the Sete Ais, one of his favorite beers. A lively crowd filtered in through the evening sun and settled on stools and at tables, enjoying the new gathering spot, in a place that will gain a lot from its youthful energy.
A toast to their success, indeed! Follow them on Facebook.
A light and friendly Mag8 Blonde ale 
The summery favorite Mag8 Saison ale 
Guest beers like this wit bier (wheat beer) from Oitava Colina fill out the taps