So this is my blog. It’s purpose is to record the long journey towards having my own microbrewery somewhere in the world. I’ll write not just about my progress with homebrewing as I work to develop my own style but also about the beers that inspire me to do this.
I recommend Austin for setting up your microbrewery. Not that the beer here is particularly bad, but I can’t help thinking that a couple of new flavours would be a welcome addition. All the more so since the Shiner brewery has now been taken over by big business.
I’ll not bore anyone with my own feeble efforts at the noble art of homebrewing, as when faced with a prospective horde of semi-professional beer drinkers and brewers discretion is undoubtedly the better part of valour.
However, for those of you who might conceivably be interested I list below the grand total of two microbreweries which I know Madrid to possess.
Naturbier, located slap bang in the middle of Madrid at 9 Plaza de Santa Ana, is expensive but good. They always have a light lager and a more robust bitter on tap. I’ll not clog up this sight by going into their respective merits as you can sample them when you come!
http://es.naturbier.com/presentacion.html
El Magister, right around the corner at 18 Calle Principe, is located next to one of the largest Irish Pubs in Madrid (boo!). This little gem normally has four or five beers on the menu and is, in my opinion, far and away superior to Naturbier. It normally boasts a pilsner-type beer, a mild bitter and an Irish-style stout.
The last time I was in there thay had a sweet, floral Egyptian beer which was curiously flavoured but an excellent tipple to accompany the tapas which come free with your order. Unfortunately, there seems to be no web page for this little beauty.
Hi Al,
There are already at least four breweries or brewpubs in Austin. I think I fancy somewhere a little less competitive.
Wotcha Col,
Nice little review of the Madrid brewpub scene. What type of people do you find at these places ? Are they Madrid locals or tourists ?
Seth, you asked on MY blog where I took a beer appreciation/tasting class – it was last October through San Francisco City College, and it was at Marina Middle School in SF. I’ll bet they’ll do it again this year. It was really just a great excuse to drink high-end beer and listen to a total beer snob & expert spout off about it.
Thanks for the info Jay. It sounds fun. Particularly the drinking beers part.