High quality beer in Spain?

[Jon Hundt]

Has Spain developed a 'quality beer' culture similar to that originally fostered in England by CAMRA in the 70's? In the States these days you can't leave your house without tripping over a new micro-brewery, many of them are turning out really nice brews.

Here in Holland there are micro-brewers present but they stay pretty well hidden. It is a very rare bar that offers any product from the small independents.

My own experience in Spain (Malaga) is limited to the major brewers - San Miquel, Cruzcampo, Mahou and the like. I haven't seen any bars that offer small-batch or specialty beers from Spain.

[Ben]

My own experience in Spain (Malaga) is limited to the major brewers - San Miquel, Cruzcampo, Mahou and the like. I haven't seen any bars that offer small-batch or specialty beers from Spain.

Neither have I :( I think the answer to your question is no, it's all just mass-produced lager, but I would love it if someone tells me otherwise!

[Brian]

I recall one of our field trips while studying at the Univ. of Madrid was going to the Mahou brewery. They had free samples for everyone at the end of the tour.

[gary]

Has Spain developed a 'quality beer' culture similar to that originally fostered in England by CAMRA in the 70's? In the States these days you can't leave your house without tripping over a new micro-brewery, many of them are turning out really nice brews.

Here in Holland there are micro-brewers present but they stay pretty well hidden. It is a very rare bar that offers any product from the small independents.

My own experience in Spain (Malaga) is limited to the major brewers - San Miquel, Cruzcampo, Mahou and the like. I haven't seen any bars that offer small-batch or specialty beers from Spain.

We had a microbrwery in our town but it died on its arse... no one was bothered. Pre 'smooth' beer which uses the Guinness technology to deliver the beer, electric drawn beer in towns was often awful and the hand drawn well kept ales were to die for. They still exist but the quality of the town beers has improved. The microbrewery shut and is now a Witherspoons - they sell drinks at reduced rates (£1.90 per pint, £2.25 large G&T) and provide a pleasant environment and serve food, coffee, wine by the bottle...

[Jon Hundt]

I was lucky to spend 4 months in Finsbury Park in 1976. I shared a house with 3 recent university grads. (I was just a hobo - no university education here, unfortunately.) The Campaign for Real Ale CAMRA was just beginning, and my house-mates were really into it. I remember long drives into the country trying to track down a pub that we'd heard might have Ruddles or some other special beer.

Being 22 years old at the time and from the USA all I knew about beer was "Budweiser" and "Millers" - just as bad then as it is now! Finding those 'real ales' was like discovering the New World, the taste was so wonderful.

Funny enough, I know many Americans who can't stand English beer. And I met an Irish guy in Spain who told me that Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser is the most popular beer in Ireland. And I understand that lager outsells traditional beer these days in England. What a crazy world! There's just no accounting for taste...

[catavino]

I recall one of our field trips while studying at the Univ. of Madrid was going to the Mahou brewery. They had free samples for everyone at the end of the tour.

Yeah but he's talking about beer not soapy water. Mahou is the bane of my exsistence. I ran a wine and beer shop with over 1200 labels of beers, over 40 distinct styles, and over 45 countries...I know I am spoiled but SPAIN has no clue what beer is. I finally found one shop with a few belgiums, other than Grimbergen whicc you can find anywhere. The best beer brewed here in Spain in my opinion is Moritz or maybe Alhambra, I don't love the style of beer, but for the style at least they remain true to it. Mahou is a lager that if I had to guess uses more corn than hops or malt...Pure swill(stylisticaly speaking).

There is one "micro brewery" in Madrid in the Plaza Santa Anna, they again make a decent lager, but you need to visit them. Irish pubs will have guiness, a nut brown and sometimes if your VERY lucky a bitter. Oh and you can find hefe's here and there, mainly paulaner and schneiderweiss.

The only way to get good beer is to have your English Friend (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/member.php?u=1)s bring it back when they go home to visit!;D

[gary]

As my grandad used to say

"Son, theres no such thing as bad beer - its just that some of its better than others..."

All ber improves with the drinking - the eighth pint always tastes better than the first!!!

[Jon Hundt]

Gary - you hit it on the head! Yer grandad taught you right.

[catavino]

As my grandad used to say

"Son, theres no such thing as bad beer - its just that some of its better than others..."

All ber improves with the drinking - the eighth pint always tastes better than the first!!!

With some beer though the first one is hard to choke down! I like to start with a good one or three and then move on to the swill.

Life's too short to drink shitty beer, or water for that matter!:cool:

All time favortie quote: Why's drinking beer like making love in a canoe? It's eff-ing close to water!;D

[ValenciaSon]

Duval beer is my favorite Belgian beer. I brewed the beer for my wedding and watched 100 bottles disappear in less than 1 hour! We only had 40 guests at the wedding with a fourth of those being children.

[Brian]

Isn't (wasn't) there also another mass-produced brand called El Aguila?

Sorry to set you off about Mahou, Catavino. I suppose I don't have a trained palate. ;)

[Jon Hundt]

at my little family-run hotel in Torremolinos they told me the reason they stock Mahou is for visitors from Madrid. What does this say about Madrid? What does this say about Torremolinos?....

[greytop]

Mahou is a lager that if I had to guess uses more corn than hops or malt...
Round here most bars stock Amstel which proclaims itself to be 100% malt. I'm not a lager fan but it does have some flavour!
Oh for a pint of Theakstons Old Peculiar!!

[catavino]

Isn't (wasn't) there also another mass-produced brand called El Aguila?

Sorry to set you off about Mahou, Catavino. I suppose I don't have a trained palate. ;)

No problem, I just miss "geek" talk about beer. I miss sweet piney hops, rich creamy malt, and sour tart lambics and gueze's

Favorites:
Bigfoot- sierra neveda (after 3 years in bottle)
Samiclaus - a lager that tastes like an ale 14% abv (after 4 years in bottle)
Bluebird bitter - No longer made by Conninstons :'(
Any Alt beir!
Jackrabbit porter - McMinimens Portland OR
Old Peculiar - Great stuff
Sheaf Stout - Australia (a lager-all stouts are)
Here's my Top ten from Ratebeer.com where I used to log ratings:

Brouwerij Het Anker (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/brouwerij-het-anker/1718/) Belgian Strong Ale
New Glarus Belgian Red - New Glarus Brewing Company (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/new-glarus-brewing-company/1248/) Fruit Beer
Unibroue La Terrible - Unibroue (Sapporo) (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/unibroue-%28sapporo%29/180/) Belgian Strong Ale
Two Hearted Ale - Bells Brewery, Inc. (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/bells-brewery,-inc/232/) India Pale Ale (IPA)
Traquair House Ale - Traquair (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/traquair/342/) English Strong Ale
Traquair Jacobite Ale - Traquair (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/traquair/342/) Traditional Ale
New Glarus Raspberry Tart - New Glarus Brewing Company (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/new-glarus-brewing-company/1248/) Fruit Beer
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock - Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/weissbierbrauerei-g-schneider-&-sohn/313/) Eisbock
Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout - Three Floyds Brewing Company (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/three-floyds-brewing-company/231/) Imperial Stout
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter- Great Lakes Brewing Company (http://ratebeer.com/brewers/great-lakes-brewing-company/205/) PorterHere's my profile there: http://ratebeer.com/View-User-12710-1-4.htm

[alanmalarkey]

Check this out

http://www.thebeercircus.co.uk/

I happen to know that the owner's partner is spanish - but can you see anything Spanish, and hey, who said Croydon was boring?

[ilai]

I was also extremely dismayed at the beer situation in Spain, but the wines went a long way to improve my spirits.

Not to be a cynic, but we're probably about as likely to achieve peace in the middle east as we are to see Spanish beer develop to the level of the Belgians', so in the meantime here's a lead on getting Belgian beer in Barcelona. I was rooming with a Belgian girl who worked for a while at a bar in BCN, Belgian-owned and serving Belgian biere. I think it was near the Universitat de BCN on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes and can get the name if anyone's interested.

Salud!

[rob]

Zaragoza has a beer called Ambar which is made locally.

However I can't assure the quality of the beer since I'm no connoiseur, but before I came to spain I didn't like beer and now I do.

Still, I don't think that says much about the quality of the beer, but you could try checking it out I suppose.

[Edith]

Duval beer is my favorite Belgian beer. I brewed the beer for my wedding and watched 100 bottles disappear in less than 1 hour! We only had 40 guests at the wedding with a fourth of those being children.

You know how to brew Belgian beer? Wow. how did you manage to do that?

In Belgium, they have got hundreds of different beers. One of my favorites is La Chouffe. Grimbergen Triple is also great. Once I drank two Grimbergen Triples while sitting in the sunshine and they almost had to carry me home. :)

This year, Wittekerke launched a new raspberry beer which is very light (hence more suitable for summer use) and absolutely de-li-cioso!


http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/wittekerke-ros%C3%A9/35386/3677/

http://www.harlingen-skutsje.nl/bieren/wittekerke_rose.jpg

Ah... wish I could have one now...

No offense meant, but I do not consider Coors and Budweiser to be beer. ;)

[SpinyNorman]

Theres a bar in Madrid called Magister which brews its own beer. Unfortunately I only found it on my last morning, and couldn't find it next time I went. It wasn't far from the Puerta del Sol, and the beer was lovely. I had a couple as I was writing my postcards and got on the Metro feeling very happy indeed.;D ;D

[ValenciaSon]

No offense meant, but I do not consider Coors and Budweiser to be beer. ;)[/quote]

None taken, I hate Budweiser, Coors, Miller and the other American beers which predate the microbrew era in the US. I do like Sam Adams however and suggest giving it a try before you rule out the US as a possible source for decent beer.

[Jon Hundt]

Bud, Coors, Miller and the like shouldn't really be considered as quality beers. (In my opinion) they're more like alcoholic soft-drinks. Not bad as a thirst quencher on a hot day, but definitely lacking in the qualities that make for true tasting pleasure.

There are many fine beers available from US microbreweries, too bad very few show up here in Holland. I am often frustrated by the strange tastes that many US microbrewers achieve in the search for "something special". I think a lot of the brewers go overboard with strange fruit flavors and other gimmicks, and I sometimes wish they would concentrate on making good beer that tastes like beer!

And sorry Edith, but a very-light Wittekerke 'fruity pink raspberry rose' just doesn't sound like what I'm looking for! I'm glad you like it, there's something for everyone in the beer world.

[Edith]

No offense meant, but I do not consider Coors and Budweiser to be beer. ;)

None taken, I hate Budweiser, Coors, Miller and the other American beers which predate the microbrew era in the US. I do like Sam Adams however and suggest giving it a try before you rule out the US as a possible source for decent beer.[/quote]


I have never heard of Sam Adams and yes, of course I would like to try it! :) It has a golden color which looks nice and promising. I have heard about the micro-breweries in the US, but I guess you'd have to be a conoisseur to know if they are available here in Europe, and where.

@ Jon: I consider Wittekerke to be an alcoholic soft drink too, and one of the reasons why I like it is because sitting in the sun and alcohol are a tricky combination for me. Therefore, I never drink beer as a thirst quencher (usually it's Cola light/diet Coke for me). Spa rood upsets my stomach so I don't drink that either.

[Jon Hundt]

Spa rood upsets me too, but only because it's water. I don't drink water - not sure why, I just never could drink a bottle of water. You must be the only other person in Holland that doesn't drink Spa Rood.

[ilai]

As someone from the states and Boston in particular, I just have to say that Sam Adams is not that much of an improvement over Bud, etc., and I wouldn't want it to be the ambassador for US beer!

There is a real thriving micro-brew scene in the US, and plenty of excellent suds to quaff. Good US breweries with slightly wider distribution are RedHook, Anchor Steam, Harpoon, Brooklyn, Sierra Nevada. Some of my more local faves are Ipswich and Dogfish Head.

I suppose with all the excellent European beer, US beers don't see the light of day in Europe.

[Edith]

Spa rood upsets me too, but only because it's water. I don't drink water - not sure why, I just never could drink a bottle of water. You must be the only other person in Holland that doesn't drink Spa Rood.

Strange, isn't it, that my stomach doesn't seem to tolerate Spa Rood? It can't be the bubbles because I'm able to drink soft drinks without a problem. Spa Blauw is without bubbles, but tap water is cheaper. ;-) In hot countries, I drink lots of bottled water, up to three liters a day if needs be. And no alcohol during the day. The company where I work now offers free bottled water to its employees, which is great. Last July was so hot we all needed it for sure!

[Brian]

And no alcohol during the day.

Ahhh, no fun! ;)

The raspberry beer that you posted the picture of looks more like wine cooler rather than a proper brew.

[Edith]

Ahhh, no fun! ;)

The raspberry beer that you posted the picture of looks more like wine cooler rather than a proper brew.

No, it's definitely not a wine cooler, it's beer with a fruity flavor. This kind of beer has a long tradition in Belgium; one of its predecessors is called 'Kriek Lambic'.

[Brian]

No, it's definitely not a wine cooler, it's beer with a fruity flavor. This kind of beer has a long tradition in Belgium; one of its predecressors is called 'Kriek Lambic'.

Wow. Being the typical American who doesn't know anything about beer, I'm definitely curious what it tastes like.

Too bad the Internet doesn't allow "virtual taste tours."

Yet.

[ValenciaSon]

As someone from the states and Boston in particular, I just have to say that Sam Adams is not that much of an improvement over Bud, etc., and I wouldn't want it to be the ambassador for US beer!

There is a real thriving micro-brew scene in the US, and plenty of excellent suds to quaff. Good US breweries with slightly wider distribution are RedHook, Anchor Steam, Harpoon, Brooklyn, Sierra Nevada. Some of my more local faves are Ipswich and Dogfish Head.

I suppose with all the excellent European beer, US beers don't see the light of day in Europe.

I know this is subjective but Samuel Adams is way better than Bud or Miller. And for that I have the concensus of those acquaintances I have who brew their own.

There are others such as Indian Pale Ale one could add to your list but none of them has achieved the market scale while retaining the quality as Sam Adams has.

[ilai]

I know this is subjective but Samuel Adams is way better than Bud or Miller. And for that I have the concensus of those acquaintances I have who brew their own.

There are others such as Indian Pale Ale one could add to your list but none of them has achieved the market scale while retaining the quality as Sam Adams has.

I'm glad you enjoy whatever beer you enjoy, all I'm saying is Sam Adams does not make great beer.

All the beers I mentioned (excepting perhaps Ipswich and Dogfish Head) are also available anywhere in the US, just like our Mr. Adams.

India Pale Ale is not a brand of beer, it is a style of beer. Incidentally, it was invented by the British in the 1700s specifically to withstand the long voyages to their far-flung colonies (hence the India part).

bueno, y basta con la cerveza americana, q creo q a nadie le importa.

[catavino]

Ahhh, no fun! ;)

The raspberry beer that you posted the picture of looks more like wine cooler rather than a proper brew.


Actually for most of the history of beer, until the pilsner was made, beer had all sorts of things added to it to give it better color and flavor. Today what we have is a substance that is distilled down to 4 ingrediants at it's purest, but that is something that took a long long time to acheive.

In reality what the US brewries are doing is moving back in time and creating beers that use more elements like they used in the past. If you want an historical beer experience look at Dogfish heads King Midas, it was brewed by reverse engineering a residue of beer found in Krytar(spelling? Ancient drinking vessel). It has honey, raisens, various grains, and it is really a good example of what historically beer has been. The beer we know today, clear and simple is only about a 200 maybe 300 yr old invention. While beer itself has been brewed for thousands of years. During most of that time any sugar source that was available was added to the beers to give more alcohol and sweetness.

In fact Mead was probably the first alcohol(honey wine) to be drunk and then either wine or beers were made by adding grains to the mead.

Anyone who says "Beer is this...." doesn't realize that beer has never been one thing. I would argue that you could say "a Pilsner is this..." or a "lager is this..." though even there Samiclaus is a lager that has nothing in commmon with pilsner Urquell.

BTW sam adams does make great beers, for their style! They don't really make an IPA so they can 't be compared to one. For the simple style called lager, they do just fine and they've been known to make a few really interesting beers that push all limits. (http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/samuel-adams-millennium/1479/)

Another quick note:

Wine=any fruit fermented with one exception/comment Cider is from Apples, Perry from Pears, and while both have a unique name they are still wines.
Mead=Fermented honey - seasoned with almost anything lying around
Beer=Fermented grain(s) - seasoned with almost anything lying around including fruit, heather, hops, pine, wood, spices, vegetables and more - Additionally beer is not traditionaly carbonated. IN fact SAKE(japanesse rice wine) is a beer!
Lambic=Sour beer(rotten?) with fruit added to tone down the sourness. it's called a Gueze if there is no fruit added.So in the end, what it comes down to is what you like.

[Brian]

Our resident beer expert has spoken! :thumbs-up:

Thanks for all the clarifications.

[ValenciaSon]

I'm glad you enjoy whatever beer you enjoy, all I'm saying is Sam Adams does not make great beer.

All the beers I mentioned (excepting perhaps Ipswich and Dogfish Head) are also available anywhere in the US, just like our Mr. Adams.

India Pale Ale is not a brand of beer, it is a style of beer. Incidentally, it was invented by the British in the 1700s specifically to withstand the long voyages to their far-flung colonies (hence the India part).

bueno, y basta con la cerveza americana, q creo q a nadie le importa.

Yours is a semantic argument. IPA maybe a style of beer versus a brand (que mas da?) but it is a well received beer available in the US. Yo creo que habra curiosidad sobre la cerveza americana. I've tried all the beers you've mentioned and they are OK but it doesn't change my opinion on Sam Adams.

BTW Edith, I've made lambic beers and they are trickier than the bock beers I've had success with but are certainly worth the trouble.

[richardksa]

Catavino, what exactly is the difference in the manufacturing process between beer and lager?

Can anyone explain the "head" on a beer, which I detest?

And is "cerveza" a beer or a lager? (I know the translation, but how is it perceived.)

[catavino]

Catavino, what exactly is the difference in the manufacturing process between beer and lager?

Can anyone explain the "head" on a beer, which I detest?

And is "cerveza" a beer or a lager? (I know the translation, but how is it perceived.)

Cerveza is Beer - Beer is a Beverage made from any grain - lager is a beer made with yeast that ferment from the bottom(usually at cold temperatures) - Ale is a Beer that ferments from the top (usually warm temperatures)- Alt is sort of inbetween the two

All Beers/Cerveza's fall into basically two categories(very basic explantion)

Lager
Pilsner
stout
bock
many more though less than with ales
Ale
Porter
Lambic
IPA
Many, many more
Hefeweizen
Triples, doubles, Brunes, all belgians(almost all)
Sake
Too many styles to list: Djaingo, Onikoroshi...etc...

[greytop]

IPA maybe a style of beer versus a brand (que mas da?) but it is a well received beer available in the US.
Hi VSon - I grew up living in British pubs in the 50's & early 60's when the beer came in wooden barrels that needed settling, tapping and using in rotation, as opposed to the sterilised aluminium casks of today.
IPA was supplied by most brewers in bottles and was not that popular compared to the two main types of draught beer. Bitter the most popular was (and is) probably the best known. Also we sold mild which was a darker, less tasty to my mind and maybe weaker than bitter. People also mixed these!
In bottles came sweet stout, dark and heavy (good mixed half and half with draught), strong beers in smaller bottles (or wee heavies in Scotland) which were often bought to top up a half consumed pint of bitter, and Guiness stout - now often on draught as well.
A lot of the breweries were local and served a smallish geographical area, many still using horse and dray (flat cart) for distribution. Much of the quailty came from the way the beer, pumps (or beer engines to be more exact) and pipework were kept rather than the brew.
Sometimes they would produce a special beer for things like the Coronation of ERII, almost invariably in bottles.
Excuse an old man's ramblings, now what was this thread about?

[catavino]

Hi VSon - I grew up living in British pubs in the 50's & early 60's when the beer came in wooden barrels that needed settling, tapping and using in rotation, as opposed to the sterilised aluminium casks of today.
IPA was supplied by most brewers in bottles and was not that popular compared to the two main types of draught beer. Bitter the most popular was (and is) probably the best known. Also we sold mild which was a darker, less tasty to my mind and maybe weaker than bitter. People also mixed these!
In bottles came sweet stout, dark and heavy (good mixed half and half with draught), strong beers in smaller bottles (or wee heavies in Scotland) which were often bought to top up a half consumed pint of bitter, and Guiness stout - now often on draught as well.
A lot of the breweries were local and served a smallish geographical area, many still using horse and dray (flat cart) for distribution. Much of the quailty came from the way the beer, pumps (or beer engines to be more exact) and pipework were kept rather than the brew.
Sometimes they would produce a special beer for things like the Coronation of ERII, almost invariably in bottles.
Excuse an old man's ramblings, now what was this thread about?
I love hearing the history! Nothing like hand pumped beer, there is one place that I know of in Minneapolis that revived that tradition. I love the "wee heavies"...

[ValenciaSon]

I heard the barkeeps in the UK have to take a special course on the proper way of serving Guiness. I guess they take into account the glass tilt anglem the sppeed it is poured etc.. in order to achieve the proper sozed head. Maybe some of you subjects of the UK can comment?

[Marina]

I remember having a Guniess in a pub in Oxford and the waiter draw a trefiol, well in fact it was the Irish one which I think it has 4 leafs, with the "foam" of the beer.
I wouldn't be suprised to hear that the waiter took classes to serve it!!!

(Sorry my vocab for beer is limited I don't think foam is what one should use for espuma de cerveza;-)

[greytop]

I remember having a Guniess in a pub in Oxford and the waiter draw a trefiol, well in fact it was the Irish one which I think it has 4 leafs, with the "foam" of the beer.
I wouldn't be suprised to hear that the waiter took classes to serve it!!!

(Sorry my vocab for beer is limited I don't think foam is what one should use for espuma de cerveza;-)
Foam or froth or a head.
In some pubs they would ask for a "flat" beer. This did not mean one without gas but without a layer of froth on top as they thought that with it they got short measure!

[Marina]

:thumbs-up:Great! Head is the one that I had heard before and also the one that I was looking for.

[Edith]

BTW Edith, I've made lambic beers and they are trickier than the bock beers I've had success with but are certainly worth the trouble.

That's really great ValenciaSon! I have got to tell this to one of my colleagues. He has never been to the States, but he has got some firmly rooted convictions about Americans, e.g. about their food and drink habits. According to him, all Americans eat TV dinners and hamburgers, even though I told him I know someone in Texas who loves to cook every day even though she's got a busy job and who prepares her tomato sauce from scratch. Let's see if this will convince him! ;) BTW, bock beer is great too. I love it.

[guapo]

I guess we really need somebody from Dublin to give the official word on this but for me the important thing is for the barman to fill the pint glass about 3/4 full and then stand it on the bar and allow it to settle for a minute or two. Then and only then should it be topped up and the shamrock drawn in the head of the beer (if that is what takes your fancy).

I once had a pint of Guinness in an "irish" bar in Milan and the barista poured the beer in one go to the brim and handed it to me. It was about 25% head - needless to say that I did not go back for a second pint.

:cheers:

[gary]

The best pint of Guinness in our neck of the woods is actually in the Irish Bar... which has no Aussies serving. I t can take several minutes to pull but the nice touch is the shamrock motif they form in the head by moving the glass under th nozzle of the pump!
Cant stand the stuff - brings me out in boils!!

you cant beat a good pint of Tetleys - but it has to be from the Leeds brewery - so smooth and easy to drink its known an Milk of Amnesia

[ValenciaSon]

That's really great ValenciaSon! I have got to tell this to one of my colleagues. He has never been to the States, but he has got some firmly rooted convictions about Americans, e.g. about their food and drink habits. According to him, all Americans eat TV dinners and hamburgers, even though I told him I know someone in Texas who loves to cook every day even though she's got a busy job and who prepares her tomato sauce from scratch. Let's see if this will convince him! ;) BTW, bock beer is great too. I love it.

I think your colleague really wants you to convince to come to the US because he really wants to but can't admit it:rolleyes: Were his convictions about the US seeded from watching old american TV shoes like Kojak, Adam-12 or Starsky and Hutch?

The last time I had a TV dinner was 1972. I do eat a burger about once a week. I had the last one with Edamer cheese and washed it down with a cold Duval. :thumbs-up:

I love a good bock beer on a fall-winter day!

[Edith]

:rolleyes: Were his convictions about the US seeded from watching old american TV shoes like Kojak, Adam-12 or Starsky and Hutch?

LOLOLOL, I think so yes. And he likes to watch all this telebasura like Jerry Springer, Extreme Makeover etc. as well as some other programs which I don't even know! ;D Our commercial networks show lots of junk from the US, which leads some people to believe this is what the US is all about because they have never heard of PBS, for instance.

P.s.: I like to eat an occasional burger too, burgers don't have to be junk food. :)

[greytop]

This guy (http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/ENT07/610180366/1013/LIFESTYLES) does not think much a brew from the Damn (http://www.damm.es/)brewery in Barcelona - and even less of the American offerings.

"To its credit, my sample of Damm was clear, crisp and clean tasting. It poured a nice, frothy snow-white head. There is slight malt and hops in it, with a minimum bitter finish, and nothing to really give it much flavor. It measures 5.4-percent alcohol, which might give it a little extra shelf life over 4.2-percent beers.....

....But, after having sampled such outstanding lagers as Schwelmer, Holzfass and Maizinis recently, Damm comes across as average. It is better than most American mass-produced beers, but that's faint praise."

I think this calls for extensive practical research http://smileys.sur-la-toile.com/repository/Boissons/0008.gif

[greytop]

Found a couple of bottled beers in the local supermarket. One dark (Mahou Negra 5.5% Madrid) one light (Legado de Juste 6.5% Seville). Both had more flavour than the usual offerings and the Juste in particular was very nice. It reminded me of Carlsberg Special Brew but was more than 1€ a bottle. The Mahou was less tasty but still a pleasant drink.

[Jon Hundt]

those pictures are making me thirsty!

[Edith]

Found a couple of bottled beers in the local supermarket. One dark (Mahou Negra 5.5% Madrid) one light (Legado de Juste 6.5% Seville). Both had more flavour than the usual offerings and the Juste in particular was very nice. It reminded me of Carlsberg Special Brew but was more than 1€ a bottle. The Mahou was less tasty but still a pleasant drink.

This looks delicious! I love special beers.

[georgelondon]

The best pint of Guinness in our neck of the woods is actually in the Irish Bar... which has no Aussies serving. I t can take several minutes to pull but the nice touch is the shamrock motif they form in the head by moving the glass under th nozzle of the pump!
Cant stand the stuff - brings me out in boils!!

you cant beat a good pint of Tetleys - but it has to be from the Leeds brewery - so smooth and easy to drink its known an Milk of Amnesia


i used to work in a bar and was useless at doing the shamrock. i'd tell people the shamrock was in the bottom, and they'd see it when they finished....:D;D

[PeterC]

[quote=Jon Hundt;9354]Has Spain developed a 'quality beer' culture similar to that originally fostered in England by CAMRA

Not exactly.......but
Cruzcampo the Sevilla brewers, import several high quality Northern European bottle beers. These can be found in their resturants cum tapas bars, which are called Gambrinus. These are found in most Spanish cities and large towns, they offer excellent food at reasonable prices. Their draugh is my favourite beer.

In my opinion (and many others), Spain being hot is more suitable for drinking light lager type beers, sold very cold in small (caña) glasses, (or if you are thirsty a tubo), so that it can be drunk before it warm up. It is usally foreigners from the north who drink beer from large glasses, jarra or tanque depending upon where you are.

Peter thinks that this posting could cause a few interesting comments ;D

[Marina]

;) I appreciate my beer being cold so (as a Spaniard :D) I prefer little cañas than pints. But I know some English who would drink my little cañas in one go:eek:

[Dave_K]

And I met an Irish guy in Spain who told me that Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser is the most popular beer in Ireland. And I understand that lager outsells traditional beer these days in England. What a crazy world! There's just no accounting for taste...

I was in Ireland this past August and was shocked to see that Bud and MGD were among the most popular beers with the locals. American lagers (which I agree with Jon Hundt about --they have their place and time) were right up there with Smithwicks (Guiness-brand ale...pretty good). Bulmer's apple cider was fairly prevalent also (though mostly among kids). Guiness seemed to be the beverage of choice largely (but definitely not exclusively) among the tourists (like me).

My brother and I went to the races one day and I figured we'd drink the cheap stuff on tap (like at racetracks in the States). So I asked for 2 Budweisers and got two 11oz plastic bottles which cost 10 euros:eek: . Turns out Guiness would have been cheaper.

While I generally prefer stronger ales or "bitters" (e.g., Fuller's ESB), nothing goes better with little dishes of olives, nuts, chorizo, morcilla, etc. than a cold glass of Mahou. I think this type of lighter and bubbly beer served cold is an excellent complement to all the salty food. Something heavier wouldn't work as well.

[gary]

[quote=Jon Hundt;9354]
Cruzcampo sold very cold in small (caña) glasses, (or if you are thirsty a tubo), so that it can be drunk before it warm up.

thats my beer of choice in spain served as described!!

[ValenciaSon]

How much beer comes in a caña?

[greytop]

How much beer comes in a caña?
Think they are at least 0.2 litre but they vary from one place to another

[gary]

How much beer comes in a caña?

yeah anything between 200cl and 330cl (standard bottle of bud for reference)

call it half a pint as a rough guide

[Edith]

;) I appreciate my beer being cold so (as a Spaniard :D)

I think most people do! :D

Lukewarm beer... yuck!

[gary]

I think most people do! :D

Lukewarm beer... yuck!


Yup, us Brits too - ideal temp for bitter, as opposed to lager is 5°C. Often over chilled bitter masks poor flavour caused by lack of cleaning of pumps. Too cold and new 'smooth' bitters become cloudy - no effect on flavour, just looks bad.

[gary]

How much beer comes in a caña?

Here is what might be regarded as a caña measure. A this is a Stella glass containing a 275 cl ( =0.58 pints) bottle of Beck's - of course una caña would be draught beer!!


UPDATE : 3:20 pm and the glass is now empty - well it is Boxing Day...!

[ValenciaSon]

Here is what might be regarded as a caña measure. A this is a Stella glass containing a 275 cl ( =0.58 pints) bottle of Beck's - of course una caña would be draught beer!!


UPDATE : 3:20 pm and the glass is now empty - well it is Boxing Day...!

So a caña is just a term for a single, standard-sized beer. I never heard that term before NFS, neither has my father. I wonder how old is that term.

[gary]

So a caña is just a term for a single, standard-sized beer. I never heard that term before NFS, neither has my father. I wonder how old is that term.

there are other terms in use - certainly in Barcelona - I dont know about the rest of spain - a if you wanted a standard bottle of beer ( as opposed to draught) and you werent fussy about the brand - ie the house beer - you can ask for 'una mediana' this will get you a 275 - 330 cl bottle BUT there is a smaller 200cl bottle available in Barcelona which I think is called a 'quinto'. I saw one served in a bar called C*ntis (star replaces vowel so as not to fall fowl of NFS badword filter and, yes it really is called that) . Whebn the pay per view football (soccer) was on TV the price of drinks went up €0.50 and many of the older guys that drifted in from the apartments above had one, and ony one, of these tiny bottles. I dont know the price of the dinky little bottles but a madiana was (last February) €1. = GB£0.70 - for the same drink in a pub in the UK you could pay GB£3.60 = €5.35 = US$ 7.00

Talk about rip off Britain, eh?

[guapo]

the geographical extent of the word caña has always confused me a bit. It seems to be widely used in Madrid but not at all in Barcelona (and I suppose Valencia). It also works well in the Basque region though at least in San Sebastian they served a smaller measure (zurito) ideal for those pintxo sessions.

[gary]

the geographical extent of the word caña has always confused me a bit. It seems to be widely used in Madrid but not at all in Barcelona (and I suppose Valencia). It also works well in the Basque region though at least in San Sebastian they served a smaller measure (zurito) ideal for those pintxo sessions.

i have never had any trouble asking for una caña in Barcelona.... caña gets you a draught neer mediana gets you a bottle containing roughtly the same amaunt as a caña....

[ValenciaSon]

So what is the preferred beer to go with tapas/pintxos?

[parubin]

the geographical extent of the word caña has always confused me a bit. It seems to be widely used in Madrid but not at all in Barcelona (and I suppose Valencia). It also works well in the Basque region though at least in San Sebastian they served a smaller measure (zurito) ideal for those pintxo sessions.


CAÑA, is the term accepted all over Spain (Barcelona and Valencia included) for the regular draught lager beer, served in a glass containing more or less a quarter of a litre.

Valenciason, there is an entry for the term 'caña' in the RAE dictionary, and it has been around for as long as I can remember (I've only been around since the mid seventies though).

[Edith]

How much beer comes in a caña?

When I asked for a caña on Tenerife, I always got this:



http://farm1.static.flickr.com/103/315085396_4bc4d9b0a3_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63619153@N00/315085396/)

[Culebronchris]

The Cruzcampo ad on the TV showed people getting fishing rods, cream cakes etc. when they asked for a caña. The ad suggested asking for a caña de Cruzcampo so it must be a pretty universal word. The size isn't though.

[Acosta]

Ok so how much is in a Botallin (not sure if the spelling is correct) I think it is a small bottle of beer.

Joe

[MCP]

Cañas in Asturias tend to be bigger than elsewhere. (Bigger copas, too, for example of cognac.)

As for beer, I think Voldamm is maybe the most tasty brewed in Spain.