14 replies to this topic

[earthtone]

Ok experts, I'm in Barcelona living and working for the next three months - anyone got leads on some brews I should try while here?? I've taken a bit of a look but every store has something different so if there's something I really shouldn't miss let me know so I can drown my tastebuds in the good stuff!

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Ok experts, I'm in Barcelona living and working for the next three months - anyone got leads on some brews I should try while here?? I've taken a bit of a look but every store has something different so if there's something I really shouldn't miss let me know so I can drown my tastebuds in the good stuff!

I'd be rinkin' whatever the locals drink rink.edit: fixed.

[Murphy]

Damm and Mahou weren't bad. typically a bar will only supply one brand of spanish beer and maybe a couple of different varieties of it (light and dark). I'm pretty sure they were all lagers so it's not a huge variety but it wasn't bad and they tend to drink a lot more wine there.great city, have a blast

[strangebrewer]

I drank a fair amount of Estrella Damm Barcelona when I was in Barcelona. It's pretty good cold, definitely don't let it warm up. Buy it at the bar and not from the guys walking down the beach selling individuals out of a 6 pack. As for an interesting one not long ago I had a bottle of Estralla Damm Inedit. It's carbed like a brut and shares some brut like characteristics. In all honesty though, you're in Spain, drink the wine.

[EWW]

Most Spanish beers suck. Check the bars by the Cathedral at Pla de la Seu they use to have some good beers from other parts of Europe...like Belgium

[strangebrewer]

I was there in the summer time and really enjoyed a lot of Spanish white wines. The Albarino's were some of my favorites. I rarely if ever see them on this side of the pond. I can find the Portuguese Alvarinho's but none of the Spanish ones.

[Malzig]

I like Cruzcampo the best, of the Spanish Pilsners, but it's more common in the south than Barcelona. It's got more hop character than most of the other Spanish Pilsners. Voll Damm is a Maerzen that is worth seeking out.When I go to a bar, I usually order a "caña". It's only about 10 oz., but it's usually cheaper per ounce than a bottle, which is usually what you get when you order a "cervesa". I like the fact that I can pop into a cafe when I get thirsty and get a quick caña to keep me going.I love Spain! I know Valencia, Madrid, Seville, and Cadiz better, but Barcelona is a lot of fun and it's so cool to wander around Barri Gotic. The ~30' ride on the commuter train down to Sitges, a small historic beach resort town famous for it's film festival, is a decent cheap beach getaway (and if you bring a girl down there none of the other guys will hit on her).

[Big Nake]

The only beer I know from Spain is Estrella Galacia which has been brewed on the Spanish coast at Coruña since 1906. It's a gold lager with just a bit more hop character than a typical American lager. Have fun over there ET.

[No Party JKor]

I've never seen a Spanish beer that I can recall, which probably means they have sucky beer. Like someone above said...drink the wine.

[Big Nake]

I've never seen a Spanish beer that I can recall, which probably means they have sucky beer. Like someone above said...drink the wine.

It's funny because you have your countries where certain styles were born (Germany, Czech Republic, England, Ireland, Scotland, America, Belgium, etc.) and it seems like everyone else just has their version of a light bodied, gold lager that may or may not be in the style of a German or Czech Pilsner. Think of all of the beer-producing countries that didn't have a style of beer originate there... Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, all of Africa, Asia, etc. Most of these countries just make "gold lager". I would agree that the wine would be more of a star in Spain than the beer. Cheers.

[Malzig]

I've never seen a Spanish beer that I can recall, which probably means they have sucky beer. Like someone above said...drink the wine.

If this was 1985, I'd say that most of the Spanish lagers were significantly better than any lager made in the U.S. As opposed to an American adjunct lager, the best are closer to a decent German Pilsner or Export, but not really competitive with the best of them. Also, Cruzcampo is the only one I can think of with enough hop character to really qualify as a Pilsner. The beer goes great with the food and the weather, though, so I wouldn't sell it too short.

[earthtone]

Hah if only I liked wine as much as my bubbly barley brew! Thanks for the tips folks - I found a couple gooders aside form the general Estrella Damm and San Miguel golden lagers at a Bar de Deportes (sports bar...er football bar....er.......soccccer bar ) down the street that serves 4 different "cervezas artisanos" - craft beer HURRAH! They have a nice "double malt" at about 7% that is dark and has a nice malty backbone that makes you pay attention - yet to try the other three but they also serve fancy imports like budweiser....... I also stumbled upon a bar open from 9 am yes... 9 am to 11 pm ONLY and has 250 belgian beer alone.......... heeeeeaven, haven't even begun to look at the german/czech selection which looks to be equally large. It's two spanish enthusiasts that opened it with a Brewmaster from london who's about 70 and has thoroughly pickled himself in worldly brews over his life.I'll post some updates and pics as I can, until then brew a batch for me - I miss it :'(

[brewguy]

I also stumbled upon a bar open from 9 am yes... 9 am to 11 pm ONLY and has 250 belgian beer alone.......... heeeeeaven, haven't even begun to look at the german/czech selection which looks to be equally large. It's two spanish enthusiasts that opened it with a Brewmaster from london who's about 70 and has thoroughly pickled himself in worldly brews over his life.

Those times seem odd for Barcelona. I've only been there once, but one of the best things about the place was how things didn't really get going until late at night.

[Malzig]

I had heard of a few brewpubs opening up around Spain the last few years, but I didn't know there was one in Barcelona yet. Good find!I hope you're enjoying your time there, it's a great place.By the way, watch out for the hash dealers in Plaza Real off the Ramblas. They're right around the corner from the police station, so I'm pretty sure they're probably narcs.

[earthtone]

haha thanks, I'll stick to the barley - it's been a legal crop for too long for them to make it illegal.... wait there was that whole prohibition thing..... meh not here though :cheers:brewguy, the times are odd but they are strictly an establishment for enjoying "el sabor de las cervezas del mundo" and not the get drunk and party haha. I mean honestly all you middleaged men in the prime of your lives, what is your average time of day drinking homebrew??? 9 am - 11 pm?? be honest :devil:I'll have a few tasting notes to post soon, I want to have a few brands to put up at once! from Bar(th)elona!