São Paulo’s east side has boom in craft breweries and passionate clientele

The brewing vocation of ZL —the east side of São Paulo— is not new. It started back in 2004 with the pioneer St.John’s Irish Pub. But nothing compares to the boom you’ve seen in seven years here.

Born in Barra Funda and raised in Vila Madalena, the Van Der Ale brewery has just moved to Mooca, where it opened the VDA Drunkstore. The region was also chosen by Cervejaria Nacional to install an exclusive delivery and take-away unit — located in Tatuapé and guaranteeing deliveries in Mooca, Brás, Vila Carrão, Vila Prudente and surroundings.

A partner at Van Der Ale, Caio Fogaça admits that the change was motivated by his pocket — the costs of keeping the business at the Vila Madalena pumping business became unfeasible. What he didn’t expect was to run into an even more beer-loving clientele.

“In the Vila, there were richer young people who went to the brewery to see and be seen. In the east side, they are regular customers, who want to know our beers and talk to us. It’s a simpler and truer relationship, without so much difficulty to close the bills at the end of the month.”

A partner at Cervejaria Nacional, Glauco Ciasca also noticed particularities in the new delivery. While the public in Pinheiros is versed in the universe of special beers, the one in the east side has more beginners.

“These are people who don’t venture so much into seasonal beers, but like to taste new things, so much so that there’s a lot of experimentation combo out”, compares Ciasca, who confesses that he already intends to open a physical location in the region.

Check out ten addresses in the east side, from houses that brew their own beer –called brewpubs– to bars with vast letters of special labels.

Warehouse 77

The brewpub worships the punk movement, born in 1977, and produces several styles of beer — from the light Colina Summer Ale (R$14) to the bitter Lapada Double West Coast IPA (R$20). There are always seven taps on. From the kitchen come sandwiches such as choripán (R$18) and vegan jackfruit and artichoke coxinhas (R$15 each).
R. Betari, 525, Penha. Instagram @storage.77

​Armazém do Carmo

There are seven craft beers on tap, all Brazilian, starting at R$ 9. A hit among hamburgers, Black Beer with caramelized onions in dark beer costs R$ 27.90. On Fridays and Saturdays there is live rock music, with no cover charge.
R. Gustavo Geley, 12, Parque do Carmo. Instagram @armazemdocarmo

Bear Bar

There are three bars at the Colorado brewery on the east side of São Paulo. The Mooca Plaza Shopping unit is the only one without a snack menu. In the others, the menus have similarities, although the one at Mooca is more complete and there is a difference in prices — the portion with ten feijoada cakes costs R$ 26 at Mooca and R$ 38 at Tatuapé. The draft beer always starts at R$ 11.
R. Itapura, 826, Vila Gomes Cardim; R. Guaimbé, 292, Mooca; Mooca Plaza Shopping, R. Capitão Pacheco and Chaves, 313, Mooca.Site: Cervejariacolorado.com.br/bares-do-urso

Beer4U

It belongs to a franchise network with 11 units in the capital. There are always 15 beers in gear, 13 of them rotating —fixed, the IPA produced in partnership with Berggren Bier costs R$ 14. The list of options in cans or bottles reaches 70 labels. There is no kitchen, and the task of satisfying the clientele’s hunger rests with the neighboring Save the Burger.
Rua Cantagalo, 493, Tatuapé. Instagram: @beer4utatuape

Califa Brewpub

Born Gypsy, the brewery set foot in ZL in 2018 and already produces 1,700 liters per month. There are 12 exclusive taps made in-house, starting at R$ 9. On weekends, it is possible to follow the brassagens (production process) and talk to the brewers. To satisfy hunger, the Classic X-bacon hamburger costs R$31.
R. Serra de Bragança, 1476, Vila Gomes Cardim. Instagram @califabrewpub

ewam brewery

The brewpub has ten taps with its own and guest beers, starting at R$ 11. The 473 ml cans start at R$ 17 and come with snacks such as crackling rolls (R$ 37) and a portion of tapioca dice (BRL 27).
R. Rui Martins, 191, Mooca. Instagram @cervejaria_ewam

National Brewery

The unit is exclusive for delivery and take away and receives orders through its own app, iFood and Rappi. The tasting kit with five 1 liter bottles, which combines the pilsen, weiss, IPA, amber ale and seasonal cerrado porter styles, with pequi nut and licuri, costs R$ 157.30.
R. Retiro Grande, 91, Tatuapé. Delivery via iFood, Rappi and WhatsApp (11) 94190-4335. Instagram @cervejarianacional

Urban Ranch

The space for 350 people attracts with 12 taps of draft beer (from R$12) and 300 labels of craft beer (from R$12), to be tasted with sausage hide served inside the cheese (R$100 for up to four people), to the sound of live rock music. There is an artistic cover charge (R$10).
R. Azevedo Soares, 604, Tatuapé. Instagram: @ranchourbanosp

St. John’s Irish Pub

Decorated with a typical Irish pub, it has an extensive menu of draft beer sold in pints, the traditional 570 ml cup (from R$ 19.90) — 330 ml half pints start at R$ 14.90. To eat, there’s fish and chips (breaded fish with fries) for R$49.90.
Rua Itapura 1.308, Vila Gomes Cardim. Instagram @stjohnspub

VDA Drunkstore

Van der Ale’s brewpub produces 800 liters of beer a month, in addition to spirits. The Pinhead IPA (R$15) is always engaged. Signal de Fumaça’s canned and smoked snack board costs R$58. It also works as a headshop, selling tobacco and tobacco accessories.
R. Siqueira Bueno, 1798, Mooca. Instagram @vanderale