Table of Contents:
NEW BEER.
TYPES OF SPANISH BEER.
SUMMARY.
Wines of Spain, Spanish Spirits.
Very Old Spanish Beer.
Beer in Spain goes back to ancient times. Near Barcelona, they have traces of beer dating to around 5,000 BC., currently the oldest in Europe. Brewing came from the Greeks and Phoenicians arriving along the Mediterranean, and the Celtics from the northeast. They were brewing it locally. Also, they were consuming beer locally.
Between 50 and 30 BC., the Romans conquer Hispaniola (present-day Spain) and put a significant pinch on beer production. They are wine drinkers. In time, this will spread to a majority of Europe except where wine grapes are difficult to grow, i.e., today’s Britain, Belgium, and Germany.
The Roman author Pliny the Elder (23 A.D. – 79 A.D.) did not like beer from Hispania and wrote that the Iberians drank far too much of it.
Old Ale
Around 500 AD, the Celtic forces push back and regain large portions of the western Roman empire. With them comes beer as a favorite beverage.
The Moors invade around 700 A.D., and Spanish beer production takes another detour in part to the Islamic law that frowns on alcohol. Interestingly, several Caliphs (Islamic rulers) produce and drink wine during this period.
In 1516, Charles V came to Spain from Flandes (today’s Northern Belgium), to claim the crowns of Castile and Aragon. With him, he brings his court and their strange customs. Beer drinking is one of these customs. He has them import it from Flandres until they finish a local brewery. Beer drinking kings come and go, but the majority of Spain sticks with cheap, tasty Spanish wine.
A Hoppy time for Spanish Beer.
By the early 1600s, Spanish beer breweries were popping up in the new capital, Madrid. However, their owners were either Flemish, Alsacian or German, and the brewery names were often in their name. Still, it is a turning point for beer production in Spain.
1876 AD.+
By the end of the 1800s, Spanish beer consumption has finally grown to a point where it might be profitable. Larger breweries start opening. In Barcelona, August Damm opened his doors in 1876. Their Estrella Damm lager can be found today as far away from Barcelona as the United States. 1890 and Mahou Brewery starts production in Madrid. Today, they are the Spanish owned Mahou-San Miguel conglomerate. Águila beer begins production in 1904, with Cruz del Campo soon after. The latter two go the route of (unfortunately) many other traditional European beers. By 1999, they are both owned by foreign investors. All four go from quality to quantity.
Unlike the breweries of central Europe, many victims of bombs and looting for metal during the World Wars, Spain’s breweries go through the wars unscrapped. They do not have to try and rebuild after the Second World War. Also, after the war, Spain expands its railway system, making the supply of beer-making ingredients easier and cheaper to receive. By the 60’s it is the summer drink of choice. Its low alcoholic content and refreshing taste probably being behind that. Another significant deciding factor, Spanish beer becomes cheaper than wine.
Nowadays, Spanish beer holds its own against wine and often costs less than soft drinks! One reason for this is the caña, a small glass of beer (6-7 oz), and goes well with one Tapas. (Cañas y tapas). From a consumer’s point, a small glass means the beer will not go warm before you get to the bottom. It also makes consuming a beer go faster, so if you are bar-hopping, you can keep moving. From a bar owner’s point, you pay more for several rounds. Everyone wins.
The Micro Brewery.
Who needs a microbrewery? Spain still has Spanish-owned breweries making beers with recipes over 100 years old. Luckily for new brewers, the old beers are refreshing (Spain serves beer cold!) but not too exciting. This situation leaves a gap for a real original beer taste.
Whereas much of Europe does not start discovering new brews until 1990 and beyond, Spain hits the scene in 1986 in Madrid. Thanks to political red tape, it takes another three years before they can sell their product. Not because the red tape went away, but the brewers went through it. The cities create higher taxes and restrictive permissions for brewing anywhere (like a city center) that is outside of an industrial park. For large smoke-belching factories, that is great, but a microbrewery? It will take ten years, and a lot more red tape before Barcelona has its first microbrewery.
Since then, microbreweries have set up shop outside the city limits. Today, Spain has more than 400 microbreweries turning out countless styles/flavors of the beer.
Beer 101
You say, Ale. I say lager.
A quick look at Beer – 101 cliff notes.
You have an ale, and you have a lager. After that, just about every beer falls under one of these. The big difference is how the beers go through fermentation.
Because of the different yeasts, ales (using top-fermenting yeast) tend to be fruitier, spicier.
The lagers (bottom-fermenting yeast) tend to be cleaner and crisper.
Equally important, lagers go through fermenting at lower temperatures. As this takes a longer time, it creates a more mellow, lower alcohol beer.
I Only Drink Pilsner?
Once again, you have an ale, and you have a lager. Pilsner is a lager where hops can be spicy and bitter or a spicy floral or grassy flavor. Crisp with a clean malty presence. In general, a strong malty beer with more robust hops, probably bitter.
It is a lager, originally from the town of Plzen (Pilsen) Bohemia. Nowadays, the Czech Republic.
Ordering Spanish Beer.
There is no one system of ordering beer in Spain. Some sizes seem to be metric based while others… Sometimes you have to point and say “that size.” Here is a general list:
Una Caña
Usually, this is the smallest size of draft beer a bar sells at approximately 6-7 ozs. In the Basque Country, you can get a zurrito, or in Leon, a Corto, which is smaller.
Doble
You would think it should be twice (double) the size of una caña, but not always. Approximately 12 – 14 ozs depending on the Cana size. A doble may come in the same glass as a Copa. (meaning less than double). I try to stay away from this size as it just seems ripe for underpouring and over-charging.
Una Copa
A Copa refers to an old Spanish form of measurement (NOT metric). A Copa is larger than a caña (6-7oz) but usually smaller than a Tubo (10 ozs). It may be the same size as a Jarra (officially 16 ozs). I use this as much as I use Un doble. Are you as confused as I am yet?
Un Tubo
Approximately 10 ounces in volume. However, it depends on where you are if they even offer them.
Una Jarra
Initially, this is a jar of draft beer, often pint size. This glass is one of the most considerable portions of beer sold. The other is a pitcher which they call, (drum roll) a Jarra. Now, do you see why I point?
Una pinta
This glass is the standard pint of draft beer, most places. This glass may be the safest thing to order and probably get what you think you ordered.
Una Cerveza
Nine out of ten times, this will get you a 10 oz. Bottle of beer from one of the big beer companies.
The Spanish Artisan Beer list.
This list is to give people an idea of the enormous amount of Spanish craft beers there are.
It barely begins to touch on the MANY different styles of beers available.
Also, this list is out of date five minutes after updating. THAT’S how fast the Spanish beer industry is changing.
Moreover, new breweries and flavors keep popping up every day.
In general, these beers are in random order. Yes, they are favorites of beer drinkers, receiving high ratings. But different people have different tastes.
SO, you need to look at the list. Get an idea of what sounds tasty to YOU. Then try it. Decide for YOUR self how it rates.
Lager
Pale lager is the most popular beer in the world. In addition to pale, but you can find it in golden, amber, or dark.
- Aotearoa, Naparbier Brewery, Noain.
- Drunken Bros – Gross – La Quince Hop Hunters Winter IPL, Bidassoa Basque Brewery, Irun.
- La Pirata Piztiak, Laugar Brewery, Gordexola.
Pilsner
A type of lager, it usually has a very light, bright color from (pale to golden-yellow). It also has a flavor and aroma of hops.
- Naturepils Pilsener, Nómada Brewing, Barcelona
- Hørny Pilsner, La Quince Brewery, Madrid
IPA
Standing for India Pale Ale, these can vary from country to country. Malt is the common ingredient for brewing the original, which goes to India. While in the USA, many breweries use American Hops.
- La Pirata Downfall, Garage Brewery, Barcelona.
- Combo IPA, Soma Brewery, Girona.
- IPA 8, Dougalls Brewery, Liérganes.
- La Pirata Lab Nº 005 NEIPA, Cerveses La Pirata Brewery, Suria
- Imparable IPA, Basqueland Brewing Project, Hernani.
American Pale Ale
American pale Ale is a style developing in the United States around 1980. They have significant quantities of American hops, usually Cascade.
Yria Man-Darina Xtra pale ale Cervezas Yria brewery, Toledo.
- Mad Clown, Naparbier Brewery, Noain.
American Style Strong Ale
- Brewfist Brass Knuckles, – Edge Brewing, Barcelona.
Vivalabirra laBIRRA collective brew, Cerveza Artesanal Alkimia Brewery, Asturius.
Spanish Stout –
Juliett Extra Stout, L’anjub Cervesa Artesana Brewery, Ribera D’ebre.
Chocolate Tooth Stout, Basqueland Brewing Project, Hernani.
Porters
The use of black or chocolate malt gives porter the dark brown coloring. They are usually hoppy and malty. Spanish porters tend to be a medium-bodied beer with some sweetness (caramel/molasses). Spanish Porters, in comparison to stouts from the same area, are typically milder and less hoppy.
- Random Series 88, Laugar Brewery, Gordexolo.
- Padrino Porter – Chocolate & Vanilla, – Edge Brewing, Barcelona
Spanish beer round-up.
ONCE AGAIN, this is ONLY a handful of the craft beers in Spain. This page is an introduction, not a must-follow list.
Some beers are the same but different. And then some were different but familiar.
New breweries and new flavors keep popping up every day. Therefore, there is no way to keep up with them.
Spanish beers that are favorites today may not be by next season. Artesian beers, like wines, have good years and bad years. Just because it was great last year does not guarantee it will be as exceptional this year. In contrast, it may be even better.
And finally, all people do not like the same beer. Or Tapas, or wine, or.
For this reason, a good bartender or server is probably necessary to point you towards the right cerveza artesanal.
Then, YOU need to decide on YOUR OWN if it’s what you like.
Toasting.
In Spanish, the word for “health” is salud – (Sa LUDE).
The word for “your” is a tu.
A tu salud (ah tu sa LUDE) To your health – when saying cheers in a formal setting.
Salud ( sa LUDE) health – when saying to friends you know well.