Beer in Spain, although not a national drink, is highly valued. It is enough to mention that every day in the country they drink twice as much of it as wine.
Internationally, Spanish beer is not very well known. There are practically no local brands at the top of various ratings. In general, Spain is one of the ten largest beer producers in the world. Every year there are approximately 46 liters of foam per capita. While the Spanish alcohol market is currently dominated by large international brands, more and more domestic producers are emerging every day.Before you go to the bars of the country, you need to remember that beer in Spanish is translated as una cerveza, and two beers in Spanish are dos cervezas.
Famous Spanish beer brands
There are about 400 beer producers in Spain, but more than 80% of the market is divided between Heineken and Damm. Surprisingly, local residents love the products of “globalist” brands no less than domestic craft varieties. And those who decide to try all the beer in Spain will not be ruined by the price: almost all types of foamy beer cost between 2-3 €.
Estrella Damm
Undoubtedly, the most famous Spanish beer is Estrella Damm. If an inexperienced tourist orders “something locally produced” from the bartender, then in 90% of cases Damm will be poured into the glass.
The brand was founded in 1876 and is the oldest in Spain. The beer has a rich hop taste, because the company produces products from natural malt. The most famous variety is Damm Inedit (4.8). It is brewed from a mixture of malted barley and wheat, seasoned with coriander and orange zest. Also famous is
Voll Damm (7.2) made from barley and hops, a successful Spanish variation on the theme of the German Märzenbier beer . In stores, a 0.33 liter bottle costs about 1 €.
Estrella Galicia
Despite the identical name to Estrella, Galicia has nothing in common with Damm. In addition to the fact that the brand symbol is a six-pointed (and not five-pointed, like Damm) star, differences can also be found in the production process itself. The Galicia plant is a little younger and is famous for “only” a hundred years of history. The production is managed by four generations of the same family.
The most interesting and unique is the so-called gluten-free beer Cerveza Sin Gluten. Even people suffering from celiac disease can drink it. During the production process, a special enzyme is added to the wort, which destroys protein chains and gluten. The cost of a 0.33 liter bottle is approximately 2 €. The price of “ordinary” varieties of this Spanish brand is 0.50-0.60 € per 0.33 liter.
Estrella Galicia also brewed the original Spanish seasonal beer Percebes da Costa with the addition of Percebes shellfish. Seafood can only be caught in calm weather, which determines its high cost. The foamy drink itself has a characteristic salty, iodine taste. Unfortunately, only 5 thousand liters of unique beer were brewed. 3 thousand bottles that were put on free sale were sold out in just 2 hours!
Cruzcampo
The Spanish distillery La Fábrica de Cruzcampo, located in Malaga, has been brewing beer since 1904, but these days it is owned by the Heineken corporation. The brand produces over 10 different varieties with alcohol content ranging from 0.9 to 6.4%, including non-alcoholic Cruzcampo Sin.
And Cruzcampo Gran Reserva won the prestigious World Beer Awards in 2009. The price for a 0.33-liter bottle of both dark and light beer in Spanish stores does not exceed 1 €.Cruzcampo is the official sponsor of the Spanish national football team.
Ambar
Classic “Ambar” has a pronounced amber color and a soft, balanced taste. One of the original local varieties is Ambar Negra, a dark Spanish beer made from unrefined cane sugar. The unusual drink is characterized by aromas of chocolate, licorice and toffee.
In total, the Spanish company produces 17 varieties of foam, the main ones being Lager, Ale or Lambic. The beer is brewed in one of the oldest breweries in Spain in the city of Zaragoza. Those interested can come on a guided tour and see the entire production cycle with their own eyes. The price of a 0.33 liter can of beer in supermarkets is 0.85-1.35 €.Ambar received four medals at the 2016 World Beer Championship.
Other famous beer brands in Spain: Mahou, San Miguel, Alhambra, Moritz.