I got my beer calendar, weeks before I even expected it, and excitedly ripped into day 1…only to see sin alcohol on the can. Alcohol free? In a craft beer calendar? Is the universe trying to tell me something? At least it is an interesting craft style, a hazy IPA, and from a reliable brewery. Actually, Boira is a collaboration between trusty Guineu and Althaia. If they made the effort to bring the beer out, I guess I can make an effort to drink it.
Very cloudy and a very pale color greet me, not a bad aroma at all with a little bread and a little ginger (but not quite gingerbread), and a wrapping of grapefruit. The head forms with relatively large bubbles and vanishes within seconds. Now it really looks like a fizzy lemonade, one you would expect to be “organic”. Flavorwise, it’s the grapefruit that comes out on top. The bitterness is heavy although the beer itself feels almost effervescent, and it doesn’t have the sharpness that some hazies or NEIPAs end up with. It’s not a bad imitation of its alcoholic counterpart, maintaining a feeling of bitter beer juice and citrus snap that is the attraction of the style. It has less juice than many “real” NEIPAs, but there are quite a few that it lines right up with.
Lambeer, I thought you had escaped me! I only just discovered its existence east of me when they closed up shop. But then…they announced a reopening! Now they are in Mecado de Prosperidad, not in an independent store, but that’s no reason to complain. It works for La Mundial and La Buena Pinta. Stock had just come in when I arrived, so there were some bare spots on shelves and things out of place, but if you know what you want it isn’t that hard to find. And what I want is stouts! There were several peeking at me, but finally Dichosa De Tranquis was the chosen one. I wasn’t sure, seeing as it proclaims its licorice flavor right on the label, but I was assured it was a tasty and easy drink, in spite of its relatively strong 10%.
It has a sticky raisiny aroma right away, and a pleasing black brown color. Not a lot of head; I might have overchilled again. The first sip is a blend of smoke, dried fruit and breadiness. Despite the complexity of the flavor, the feeling is of a lighter, softer beer, very easy going down. There’s little aftertaste, just a slight feeling of baked goods. I have no regrets, not being overwhelmed with licorice, or coffee candy, as can also happen. Good advice and a good beer!
Another cheeky possibility looking out from somewhat disorderly shelves, Muted Sophisticated got snapped up as soon as I saw it. It turns out its Garage, so good call by my gut. Finback Brewery also participated, although they are less of a draw for me than Garage, simply because I’m less familiar with their products. I can only assume they impress, given the company they keep.
Another sheer beauty in the glass, with a frosty chocolatey kind of whiff to it. A pretty little head sits on top, although it dissolves pretty quickly. The flavor is light and only a little sweet at first, but it develops a punch of both bitter and sweet, while filling out over the tongue, making itself impossible to let just slip by. Although it has a fairly solid mouthfeel, I don’t feel it as very sticky, at least at first. It isn’t excessively sweet, like some pastry stouts can be, or overly reliant on a coffee or chocolate taste to give the drinker a little kick. It’s flavor is almost medicinal, a root beerish sort of taste, with a bitter base and a sweetened coating to make it go down easy. In this case, mission accomplished for sure.
It’s always nice to see a new arrival on the beer shelf, even if the brewery is already well known. Even if the brewery is not exactly craft. Or craft at all. I like to have a Damm in the evening, although what I like is the märzen, and this is an IPA. But it is new for me, a Mediterranean IPA, so I’m intrigued. The can does not look too summery, although the mountains on the shore are green, so maybe there will be a warming feeling for the new cooler temperatures. You never know what will come out of a Complot. The story on the side tells of exploratory agriculture, trying to develop new hops and new farming opportunities near the coast; Complot is actually the name of the hops variety they developed to grow there. While they insist the climate conditions are similar to those of the best hop growing regions in the world, I have the feeling that the Pacific Northwest and certain areas of Bohemia would be displeased at the comparison.
Rich orange, not exceptional head, and a sort of orange cream aroma. A little apple in there too. I think there’s a little citrus trying to get out in the taste, but it leans heavily towards apple/pear. It feels somewhat dusty at first, and like some body is trying to build, but it rapidly disappears after swallowing. It’s a very light feeling beer, and almost disappointingly subtle in flavor. There’s barely any bitterness at all and any hops are very subdued. I guess it has more flavor of its own than the typical Mahou, but there’s enough grainy sweetness that it wouldn’t quite be the perfect hot and spicy food accompaniment. If the food was very bland it could give a little interest to the meal. There are certainly light and subtle beers made from West Coast and Bohemian hops, but I’m just used to a little more oompf, and I miss it when it’s not there. I guess it’s something of a beach beer after all.
A spooky beer for a spooky time, dark as night and full of surprises! Of course, it has to come from a reputable place and Basqueland is one of the most reputable around. This pastry stout has some extras in it, delicious raspberries, “berried alive” in fact. What a way to Live Forever.
A beautiful black beer, with a thick looking cocoa powder head, surprisingly not as heavily scented as I thought. There’s some raspberry in there alright, and a touch of stout punch. It is not a heavy hitter in flavor either, sliding in very gradually with upfront fruity raspberry and only revealing a little bitterness almost in the aftertaste. Some chocolate starts coming up as well, leaving a feeling of a dark chocolate, raspberry jelly treat. Quality too, Lindt or some other fancy Belgian chocolatier. The feeling is a little scratchy after swallowing, like the tartness of a red fruit filling. Close attention also brings out a touch of campfire smoke, tinged with roasted marshmallows and fresh-made s’mores. It’s much more pastry than stout, but a good flavor for the holiday.
Found out there was a beer store I hadn’t visited yet, and after the disappearance of the nearby Cervecista – Hop Hop Hurrah! Yeah, that’s the name, I’m not exclaiming my joy. Not just, anyway. Like La Mundial and Prost Chamberí before, it’s a smallish place in a municipal market. Actually, Barceló has ceased to be a mere market and is now a “polyvalent center” containing a market among other things. I think there’s a gym and at least one other thing that isn’t about food. Although compact, the selection on the shelves was more than adequate; I had to leave a couple of black beers behind, not wanting to lug too many home. First I have a national to try, Yria’s Bauhaus Imperial Stout, whiskey barrel aged. Committed to supporting craft wherever they can obviously, Yria has used Sackman whiskey barrels, another national product.
Didn’t get a very good head on it, but a momentary mat of dark beige bubbles did make it for a photo-op. The beer is highly aromatic, heavy on the chocolate and malt, promising to swamp the mouth in flavor. And indeed, it is exceptionally tasty, more bitter than I was expecting, but well within the lines of a nice stout. There a good head of smoke, a base of earth and the chocolate core whistling its way through everything. It starts out very smooth also, but develops an edge after just a few sips. The fire starts to make its way more to the top, leaving an alcohol burning behind it, more or less extinguishing the earthiness. The chocolate still maintains itself, though. It never gets exactly syrupy, but over time it does build up in weight. Of course, that could also be an effect of the whiskey sneaking in…
One of the other dark beers pulled off the shelf at Hop Hop Hurra, Pohjala’s Cosy Nights Vanilla Porter. The shopkeep was impressed with the choice, saying he was just blown away by it. Pohjala is a very respectable source of beer, especially the dark beers I’ve found, and it looks like there will be some drizzly days ahead. Perfect for a porter at home!
Good color and fizzy head, looking on the slimmer side for feel. It has something of a vanilla ice cream aroma. The first sip is oddly tickly, with a tiny feeler of bitter, but then it smooths out into something more candy-like, and the vanilla is definitely leading the way. It has something more of a coating feel in the mouth, not a beer that slides on and disappears, although not sticky at first. There’s a shadow of licorice and coffee boiling up in the middle, fortunately for me the licorice remains just a whisper. It has a definite warming effect, very appropriate to being a winter porter, and just the thing when you’re suffering a little cold. After a while there’s some kind of banana flavor sneaking in, giving it even more of a pudding sensation. In the end, there’s much to recommend the beer, it’s tasty and it’s calming, it goes perfectly with its own name. A fine choice indeed.
Beermad is back in force, doing its biannual meets, and once again it was in Casa de Campo. The space has been alright, although not quite as well equipped with toilets as Caja Mágica was; still, a bit better than the port-a-potties outside the Railroad Museum. I had been thinking about heading up to the Barcelona Beer Festival sometime soon, but it turns out it was the very same weekend this year. Oh well, another time it shall be…
Being the antisocial introvert that I am, I got my ticket for Sunday morning, since I figured there would be fewer people desperate to get in. I was right, it was pretty calm in the beginning, although I have to say it was a little sadly calm. People did fill in over the next couple of hours, but the space felt empty somehow, like there weren’t as many stands as other times and less movement in general. It could have just been my impression. I will say that they did not have such loud music as last time, which I appreciated.
Another thing I am is a sucker for black beers and I did go looking for one to start with. It was a slow start, relatively, with Leoncia’s Irish Stout. Only 4.5%, but good color and appropriately stouty aroma. Nice head at first, but it dies off quickly. Vaguely bitter-toasty, with a light and fizzy feel, pretty much what I expect from the more moneyed stouts. It’s not a pastry stout or infused with any special flavors or barrel aging, it’s a very plain and straightforward kind of drink. A perfectly fine beer example, and one I would recommend over any number of macros.
Ever since I first saw their logo, I’ve had kind of a soft spot for 28030 Brewing. The tree of knowledge, the play on the symbol of Madrid, it just fit too perfectly. And hey! The beer ain’t bad either. To go to an extreme, I chose Mango Vice Fruit IPA. There were actually a good number of fruity IPAs and the like to choose from, more than dark beers disappointingly, but I am happy to alternate. The appearance is very pleasing, cloudy and juicy, with a slightly herbal scent, and a thickish head that dies back to a thin mat after a few minutes. It has a very juicy taste, natural, like a fresh-crushed mango, and some slight orange juice in the background for some more liquid. It’s rather like a NEIPA at its best, although not using the name. There’s a touch of sweet, a thick but smooth feel, and some grassy/herbal aftertaste. It’s not cilantro exactly, but I feel like it’s in the family.
I go back to black and it’s GO! Gata Negra stout now. It was touted as very smooth, and indeed it is – light hints of chocolate, not as much coffee as you might fear. Some touch of sour lurks, like milk just about to go off, but it’s more yogurty than dangerous. It’s a little more delightful than the Irish stout, more in tune with my picky sensibilities.
I got roped in by La Candaja, ready to provide me with something to my taste. They were pretty sure their Pasión NEIPA would do the trick and by god it did. Super smooth, silky, leaves a feeling of peace down your throat. It’s not exceptionally aromatic, but tastewise it’s perfect – a little juice, a good amount of beer, everything softly blended for an exquisitely refreshing drink.
Still plenty to choose from, and I let my linguistic curiosity point the finger. Ossegg was back and I had to ask about their use of let for their flights, and I was told that it was chosen specifically to reflect the English usage. How about that! Also, apparently, vuelo gets thrown around in Spain, although I have not come across it that I recall. Another Irish style was on the menu, and I was told it was quite a treat, so I end with an Irish Red Ale. It is a nice rounded beer, only mildly bitter, with a whisper of grain and a pleasantly full mouthfeel. It’s a middle-of-the-road kind of red, without extremes of flavor, soothing, not hit over the head with bitter or punched in the gut with sweet. It’s very enjoyable on its own, although it has the feeling of a beer made with the intention of accompanying a meal. Maybe it’s time to look into an end of year dinner.
Beermad is back in force, doing its biannual meets, and once again it was in Casa de Campo. The space has been alright, although not quite as well equipped with toilets as Caja Mágica was; still, a bit better than the port-a-potties outside the Railroad Museum. I had been thinking about heading up to the Barcelona Beer Festival sometime soon, but it turns out it was the very same weekend this year. Oh well, another time it shall be…
Being the antisocial introvert that I am, I got my ticket for Sunday morning, since I figured there would be fewer people desperate to get in. I was right, it was pretty calm in the beginning, although I have to say it was a little sadly calm. People did fill in over the next couple of hours, but the space felt empty somehow, like there weren’t as many stands as other times and less movement in general. It could have just been my impression. I will say that they did not have such loud music as last time, which I appreciated.
Another thing I am is a sucker for black beers and I did go looking for one to start with. It was a slow start, relatively, with Leoncia’s Irish Stout. Only 4.5%, but good color and appropriately stouty aroma. Nice head at first, but it dies off quickly. Vaguely bitter-toasty, with a light and fizzy feel, pretty much what I expect from the more moneyed stouts. It’s not a pastry stout or infused with any special flavors or barrel aging, it’s a very plain and straightforward kind of drink. A perfectly fine beer example, and one I would recommend over any number of macros.
Ever since I first saw their logo, I’ve had kind of a soft spot for 28030 Brewing. The tree of knowledge, the play on the symbol of Madrid, it just fit too perfectly. And hey! The beer ain’t bad either. To go to an extreme, I chose Mango Vice Fruit IPA. There were actually a good number of fruity IPAs and the like to choose from, more than dark beers disappointingly, but I am happy to alternate. The appearance is very pleasing, cloudy and juicy, with a slightly herbal scent, and a thickish head that dies back to a thin mat after a few minutes. It has a very juicy taste, natural, like a fresh-crushed mango, and some slight orange juice in the background for some more liquid. It’s rather like a NEIPA at its best, although not using the name. There’s a touch of sweet, a thick but smooth feel, and some grassy/herbal aftertaste. It’s not cilantro exactly, but I feel like it’s in the family.
I go back to black and it’s GO! Gata Negra stout now. It was touted as very smooth, and indeed it is – light hints of chocolate, not as much coffee as you might fear. Some touch of sour lurks, like milk just about to go off, but it’s more yogurty than dangerous. It’s a little more delightful than the Irish stout, more in tune with my picky sensibilities.
I got roped in by La Candaja, ready to provide me with something to my taste. They were pretty sure their Pasión NEIPA would do the trick and by god it did. Super smooth, silky, leaves a feeling of peace down your throat. It’s not exceptionally aromatic, but tastewise it’s perfect – a little juice, a good amount of beer, everything softly blended for an exquisitely refreshing drink.
Still plenty to choose from, and I let my linguistic curiosity point the finger. Ossegg was back and I had to ask about their use of let for their flights, and I was told that it was chosen specifically to reflect the English usage. How about that! Also, apparently, vuelo gets thrown around in Spain, although I have not come across it that I recall. Another Irish style was on the menu, and I was told it was quite a treat, so I end with an Irish Red Ale. It is a nice rounded beer, only mildly bitter, with a whisper of grain and a pleasantly full mouthfeel. It’s a middle-of-the-road kind of red, without extremes of flavor, soothing, not hit over the head with bitter or punched in the gut with sweet. It’s very enjoyable on its own, although it has the feeling of a beer made with the intention of accompanying a meal. Maybe it’s time to look into an end of year dinner.
One of the other dark beers pulled off the shelf at Hop Hop Hurra, Pohjala’s Cosy Nights Vanilla Porter. The shopkeep was impressed with the choice, saying he was just blown away by it. Pohjala is a very respectable source of beer, especially the dark beers I’ve found, and it looks like there will be some drizzly days ahead. Perfect for a porter at home!
Good color and fizzy head, looking on the slimmer side for feel. It has something of a vanilla ice cream aroma. The first sip is oddly tickly, with a tiny feeler of bitter, but then it smooths out into something more candy-like, and the vanilla is definitely leading the way. It has something more of a coating feel in the mouth, not a beer that slides on and disappears, although not sticky at first. There’s a shadow of licorice and coffee boiling up in the middle, fortunately for me the licorice remains just a whisper. It has a definite warming effect, very appropriate to being a winter porter, and just the thing when you’re suffering a little cold. After a while there’s some kind of banana flavor sneaking in, giving it even more of a pudding sensation. In the end, there’s much to recommend the beer, it’s tasty and it’s calming, it goes perfectly with its own name. A fine choice indeed.
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