Summer is almost there. Spain is remarkable of her pretty high temperatures and loads of sun. Drinking a Sangria or wine can influence your whole day. After catching a lot of sun rays, even a glass of wine can make you tipsy. If you still have duties to do (like studying or working) a nice beer can be perfect. Therefore, we summed up 7x must-try Spanish beers. Curious? Check our infographic below!
7x must-try Spanish beers of local brewers
It might be fun to try beers which were especially brewed at your own city. We must admit: not all beers were good and tasty enough to mention, but we created a list of the beers we would recommend you. As you can see, the infographic shows you the beers per city. We’ve chosen the cities where our language schools are. The darkest beers are the beers which contain the highest percent of alcohol. In this post, you can find some more and short descriptions about these beers. We hope you will enjoy the 7x must-try Spanish beers of local brewers while you are visiting this wonderful country!
Beer from Barcelona
Estrella Damm
There are a lot of local beers to find in Barcelona. One of the biggest brewers is Estrella Damm. This brewer has got more beers besides their Estrella beers, like Voll-Damm. Estrella Damm is often called ‘the Spanish version of Heineken’ (we as Dutchies would say: NEVER), but yes it is. This beer has got its own malthouse, which offers tours. Estrella has three reserves of yeast, one at Barcelona, one at Valencia and one at London. This beer contains 100% natural ingredients.
Voll-Damm Doble Malta
Yes this beer is also from Barcelona, not from Malta. This beer is like we said before, also from the Estrella Damm brewery. This beer is better to drink after studying of working, because it contains more alcohol than the Estrella Damm. Namely, this beer contains of 7.0% alcohol. The taste of Voll-Damm Doble Malta can be described as citrusy and roasty, with a hint of fruit.
Beer from Madrid
La Virgen (Madrid Lager)
Besides the big offer of La Virgen beers (like La Vrigin IPA), there is also a more common beer from this brewery. La Virgen (Madrid Lager) is becoming more popular these days. The only difficulty about this beer is where to find it, because not every bar has got La Virgin in their assortiment available.
Mahou (Clasica)
Still bigger then La Virgen is Mahou. Mahou is a beer that is growing and growing, and becoming really famous in Spain. Some students even say that it is becoming the most popular beer from Madrid. It is a real competitor for San Miguel.
Beer from Zaragoza
Ambar (Especial)
Ambar Especial is a famous Spanish beer that has got her own brewery in Zaragoza. A place around 1,5 hour away from Madrid and Barcelona. This brewery offers tours with beer tasting. Besides Ambar Especial, this brewery also has got other kinds of beer. We choose to recommend Ambar Espacial not only because of the great taste, but this beer won in 2016 the World Beer Award. Definitely worth it to try!
Beer from Valencia
Turia
Valencia also has got her own beer, namely: Turia. This is the most popular beer among local Valencian citizens. Also a lot of students order buckets of Turia beers after studying and college. Notifying about there beers is that the bottles are 25cl, not the regular 33cl.
Beer from Seville
Libre
Even though it is not the biggest city of all, Seville also has got her own local brewery. Libre is not very easy to find, but it is the best of the local beers from Seville. It has got a intense yellow color, and the taste of this beer is refreshing, soft and citrusy. Libre also offers a gluten-free beer: Libre Trigo!
Whether you are planning to visit Spain for a vacation or a business trip, you must try some of their tuna Cerveza or beers when you get a chance. Their local beer is available in almost every corner of the country.
But which one is the best Spanish beer to try? Well, here is the list of some amazing Spanish beers to try out during your trip:
1. Mahou Cinco Estrella
In 1936, una Cerveza (a beer) came into Madrid and has been offered in many tapas bars ever since. It is a blonde coloured beer that’s quite refreshing to enjoy on a sunny day. Since it is known as an official drink in Madrid, you can find it on every corner.
2. La Virgin
Made in Las Rozas, this beer is crafted outside of Madrid City. It tastes fruity with different brew options, including Pale Lager, the Madrid Lager, the Jamonera, the 360 Pale Ale, Amber Ale and the brand’s IPA.
3. Turia
Valencia came into the beer brewing industry with their brand called Turia. Now, it is one of the most famous beer brands among the Valencian people. This beer is often sold in smaller bottles than usual Spanish beers.
4. Cruz Campo
Established in 1904 by siblings of the Osborne sherry family, Cruz Campo was Spain’s largest beer brand. But now it belongs to Dutch brewer Heineken. It is a Pilsner lager that’s quite popular in the country and found everywhere.
5. La Pirata Tremenda
This beer has a roasted malt taste with a dark amber tinge. The beer has a fruity taste with some bittersweet after-taste. This brand is one of the favourites of many craft beer connoisseurs and hence, is available in almost all pubs in and around Spain.
6. Rosita Negra
You might mistake this beer for a bottle of honey because of its honey-like colour. The taste of this beer is fruity with the flavour of a red apple and banana mixture. Furthermore, there is a back taste of molasses. One of the interesting Spanish beer facts is that this honey-like beer is brewed in different ways – Rosita Original (honey-coloured ale), Rosita Negra (brown-coloured brew) and Rosita d’Ivoire (light blonde-coloured brew).
7. Cerveza La Cibeles
This Madrid-based artisanal brewery produces around 12 varieties of beers. Furthermore, they offer tours to visitors for tastings and even some beer-making classes to help them learn about the art of beer-brewing.
8. Estrella Damm
Barcelona serves this special flavoured brew to beer enthusiasts. This brand was first established in 1876 and hence, is the oldest beer brand in Spain. They make dense and malty-tasting beer.
9. Moritz
It is the only Spanish beer in the whole country with a label written in Catalan. This Pilsner lager is produced in Barcelona. This brew is instantly available all over Spain and is also famous among locals and visitors throughout the country.
10. Ambar
This particular beer comes with a medium roasted malt taste that gives a bright amber hue. The beer has a balanced and smooth taste, making it one of the highly refreshing Spanish beers. Made in Zaragoza, the house of some of the oldest Spanish breweries, this particular brewery provides guided tours that need to be booked in advance. This particular brew is also awarded four medals in the 2016 World Beer Awards.
Conclusion
Spain offers some of the best beers that you need to try. Castle Malting supports the mentioned beers as the best Spanish brews that one needs to try on their trip to this amazing country.
Spain is one of Europe’s biggest beer producers, so chances are you’ll want to try una cerveza (or two) when visiting the country. But where to start? Many bars will serve you the local beer, so we’ve covered some popular local favourites, but Spain’s craft beer scene is also going from strength to strength. So from well-known classics to a new wave of micro brews, we explore the best cervezas to sample on your next visit to Spain.
Mahou Cinco Estrella
The beer you’ll most likely receive if you ask for una cerveza (a beer) or una caña (a little beer) in Madrid, it was first introduced in 1936 and has been consumed in many a tapas bar ever since. The blonde beer has a light taste and is the perfect refreshing tipple on a warm Spanish day. It is the official beer of Real Madrid so prepare to enjoy a few pints of it come match day.
La Virgin
This craft beer, brewed in Las Rozas, just outside Madrid, has a full-bodied fruity taste. You can visit the brewery for tours, tastings and a bite to eat in its laid-back restaurant. Choose from the Madrid Lager, a pale lager, the Jamonera, an Amber Ale, the 360 pale ale or the brand’s own IPA.
Estrella Damm
This is the favoured beer in Barcelona and the one most likely to be served if you ask for a beer in Spain’s second largest city. The brand was founded in 1876, making it the oldest in Spain. Their beers have a rich, malty taste (the company is one of the last in the world that produces all of its malt barley in its own malthouse).
Moritz
The only beer in Spain whose label is written entirely in Catalan, Moritz is a Pilsner larger brewed in Barcelona. It has become quite readily available throughout Spain, however, and is a popular tipple throughout the country.
Ambar
This beer’s medium roasted malt gives it its signature bright amber colour and its soft, balanced taste, making it a refreshing and popular drink. It is brewed in Spain’s oldest brewery, in Zaragoza, which also offers guided tours (advanced booking required). The brew won four medals in the 2016 World Beer Awards.
Cruz Campo
Spain’s biggest beer brand is currently owned by Dutch brewing behemoth Heineken. It was founded in Seville in 1904 by two brothers from the Osborne sherry family (creator of the iconic Osborne bulls). The brand, which is especially popular in Andalusia, makes several different types of beer but its Pilsner lager is the most popular. It was the first Spanish beer brand to create an alcohol-free beer, in 1976 and is the official sponsor of Spain’s national football team.
La Pirata Tremenda
The team behind this Barcelona-based craft beer started out brewing in their home, before the IPA really took off. It has a dark amber colour and toasted malty taste, mixed with a fruity finish and bittersweet aftertaste. This brand has become a particular favourite of craft beer connoisseurs and is available in specialist beer shops and bars in Spain and across Europe.
Rosita Negra
This honey-coloured ale is another popular addition to Spain’s craft beer scene. The taste is fruity (the brand says you should be able to detect banana and red apple, alongside a back note of molasses). The beer is available in three varieties: Rosita Original, a honey-coloured ale; Rosita d’Ivori, a light blonde beer and Rosita Negra, a brown ale.
Cerveza La Cibeles
This artisanal brew company from Madrid makes 12 different ales, from a refreshing pale ale to a rich stout. The brewery offers regular tours, tastings and even beer making classes, opening up the secrets of the world of beer brewing to the general public.
Alhambra
This pale lager is brewed in Granada, southern Spain, and takes its name from its most famous sight, the stunning Moorish fortress that over looks the city. It was founded in 1925 and has been part of Mahou-San Miguel since 2007. The brand produces several different beers, from its Alhambra Traditional, a refreshing premium lager, to the Alhambra Reserva 1925, its most artisanal brew, inspired by the original beers produced at the brewery in 1925.
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