Hopen Braga Beer Festival in Braga, Portugal

Published: May 22, 2024

Any reason to travel to lovely Braga in northern Portugal is a good reason, but for beer lovers Hopen Braga craft beer festival may be the best possible reason! Organized annually in early summer, this atmospheric festival gathers together a bunch of great small breweries and beer enthusiasts from around Portugal. We had a pleasure to participate in the Hopen Braga Beer Festival 2023, and very soon it’s time for the 2024 edition – if you happen to be in Portugal between May 30th and June 2nd, a warm recommendation to head to Braga and participate Hopen Braga 2024 festival!

Hopen Braga showcases Portuguese artisan beers

Hopen Braga is an energetic and well-organized beer festival, that focuses mainly on Portuguese craft beer. In 2023 the festival gathered together 22 microbreweries and 2 cider makers! Altogether there were more than 200 different beers from around Portugal available, and around 30 000 people participated! In 2024 the amount of breweries is even more, and the number of beers will be over 300 – in fact Hopen Braga has grown to be the third largest beer event of the country. The main organizer of the festival is the wonderful LETRA Brewery from Vila Verde, a small town very close to Braga.

The Hopen Braga Beer Festival is also about much more than tasting beers and ciders; there’s delicious street food by 13 different operators, live music concerts and other performances, workshops and show-cooking sessions, new beer releases and much more. For us Hopen Braga was a great chance to interview more Portuguese breweries, since we didn’t have a chance to visit them all during our travels, and of course a wonderful event for tasting new beers and enjoying the atmosphere.

Braga is a beautiful, historical city in North Portugal

Hopen Braga Beer Festival is organized in the stunning historical city center of Braga. The festival venue is in the lovely Campo das Hortas garden, located right next to the historical Arco da Porta Nova city gate, that leads to the old town. Braga is regarded as the religious centre of Portugal, and it’s home to the oldest cathedral of the country (built in 1089). Braga also was the seat of power of Pedro de Braga, the first bishop of Portugal.

The main sights of Braga include several beautiful churches, including the ancient Sé de Braga Cathedral, Paláisio dos Biscainhos palace with a lovely Baroque garden, several stunning Baroque mansions and charming squares and gardens. Just outside the city is the stunning Bom Jesus de Monte church with its huge Baroque stairway.

List of breweries in Hopen Braga 2024

Acor
Alma
Barona
Boazona
Burguesa
Canil
Casa Do Penedo
Cervejeiros Caseiros
Cervejeiros de Coimbra
Deuses do Malte
Dois Corvos
Dos Diabos
Epicura
FDS Beer
Fermentage
Homebrewers Porto
Hopsin
Letra
Mean Sardine
Musa
Old Fox
Post Scriptum
Praxis
Rafeira
Sovina
Tough Love
Vadia
12 Marias