491d. Wed 3/10/18: Snack Bar o Jacare, Madeira, Portugal

Beer: Madeira Coral 5.0% 

Post levada walk drink at the finishing point. For those who have not been to Madeira, the levadas are man made narrow channels of water which guide water from the mountains to the rest of the island. Originally built for irrigation of the land and then for collecting water for general usage, there are now a number of levadas that feed hydroelectric stations. Many of the levadas can be walked and take you through some lovely countryside. My beer stands next to the levada I followed. We were told not to drink water straight from the levada which was good advice as on the walk first a dead kitten and then a dead mouse floated past us! Thought the bar at the end of the walk would be prime tourist trap territory but fair do's, 50cls of Coral only €3.

 

485b. Mon 24/9/18: Rei da Poncah, Funchal, Portugal

Beer: Madeira Brewery Coral 5.1%

We're having a pre-dinner drink at this small local bar just down the street from the restaurant. Coral beer is the only mass-produced beer on the island-it's everywhere. It's OK as pale bittery lagers go, the strength helps. The other local drink of the island is Poncho, an alcoholic fruit juice basically, the strong lemon version is the most popular. If you remember Hooch from the '90s and make it double the ABV you are about there. Definitely not a fan. There is a fledgling craft beer scene (all bottled) in Portugal/Madeira and I've had one so far which was the usual overhopped IPA variety. The TV screen outside the bar was showing MTV "Guess the Year" so we spent an enjoyable half hour arguing over the year each song was released. Interesting second-hand junk shop across the road (would be vintage in the UK).