Tasting

A Fino arrives at the table in a small glass, usually around 0.2 liters, topped with a firm white head. If you're thirstier, order a Caneca, the larger handled mug. The small glass won't go warm before you finish it.

On the nose, a pale lager of this type is subtle. You'll pick up fresh bread, a touch of grain, and a hint of hay, sometimes with a light sweetness like honey. The sip is crisp, lean, and dry, with short, mild bitterness.

Super Bock Original shows this type most clearly. Sagres serves as the counterpart—the beer of the south, which acts as the Fino equivalent in Lisbon but is less common in the north. Those wanting to try craft beer will find a rotating selection on tap at the bar Musa in Virtudes.

As for temperature: the colder, the better. Portuguese lagers are served noticeably colder than German Pils, which highlights their light character and masks small flaws. That said, cold also dulls aroma, and finer craft beers taste better slightly warmer.

It's poured fresh from the tap, à pressão in Portuguese. The glass is rinsed cold, tilted, and then straightened at the end so the foam settles. The head should be about two fingers tall and shouldn't collapse right away.

To taste it, take a glass and hold it up to the light. The color should be clear and pale yellow, the foam fine and white. Then give it a brief sniff, take a small sip, and pay attention to carbonation, sweetness, and finish. A good lager finishes clean.