new corners

A new beer store has snuck in without my notice!  I guess I'm not on a notification list or anything.  La Cervecista is right in Malasaña, along with several craft serving bars and numerous students, tourists and assorted snobs at any given time.  My impression is that, although the craft beer is present, there's a pretty strong connection to the bigger beers too, in particular Mahou.  There is also a large representation of German and Belgian beers that are not, quite exactly, craft...although there is certainly demand for them from the same quarters.  I did manage to pick out a Dougall's from the pack, their DDH IPA 9.

There is a familiar explosion of hoppy citrus as soon as the cap comes off, and the beer has a cloudy straw color that screams refreshment.  It has a surprising lack of bitterness, being very light and tangy, one of those mandarin IPAs.  While not terribly sweet, it's definitely fruity.  I was expecting a double anything to have a heavier feel, but it's vanishingly light.  Practically no aftertaste, although after some time there is a little sticky build-up with a tad bitter lurking under it.

Supplier: La Cervecista
Price: €2.90

a gift!

While out and about experiencing the craft bar scene you meet some nice people.  Some of them like to share stuff with you.  Stuff like more beer!  This particular beverage is a ginger beer, promising a light and complex flavor.  It almost sounds like a tropical drink or cocktail on the bottle.

"Crabbie's"?  It's scary how people know me

The sharp, sweet smell of ginger is evident immediately.  The head is very normal for a beer, although the color is unusual - tannish and transparent rather than the typical yellow.  I think it's darker than other ginger beers I've had, although they all had the vaguely crystalline color.  At first it's on the sweet side, like a ginger ale, but a more natural spiciness comes out soon after.  It's an interesting mix of sugary lightness and limey tang with a somewhat heavier ginger spice and just a hint of bitter at the bottom of it all.  It's more like a cider than a beer, in fact, with more fruit in the taste, very summer and uplifting.  But, the fullness of the ginger warms the soul, even on chilly days.  There could be a place in the seasonal line for such a beer.

possible pirate

So, there's nothing like an Irish stout, is there?  Galway Bay Buried At Sea might be a good example.  It is a milk stout, so a little softer than others might be, but it's still summer.  Even I can weighed down a little with those heavy beers.  There's supposed to be some chocolate in there somewhere, which has been fantastic in Black Velvet and The Mayan, but I know there are some that disappointed me.  I was so disappointed I don't even remember the names right off.  I guess they weren't too bad, if I don't have the urge to warn others off.

Quite strong in aroma, very sweet and sugary.  Makes me think of a maple stout or something like that.  Abundant beige head, not quite black color to the beer itself.  It's a good chocolate brown, though, practically opaque.  Not nearly as sweet as I expected it to be; at first it teases you with some hints of lactose, but a whale's back of beery bitter rises up, with a tail of licorice.  Notes of coffee start to develop, giving some nuance to the bitterness, but a strong sweetness never makes an appearance.  While there's lactose lurking around in there, I would not say there's any milk chocolate.  Perhaps dark chocolate, something more bitter and closer to the coffee that my tongue says is there.  It's not very heavy for a stout, probably not a summer drink for most though.  But fine for me!

Supplier: Cerevisia
Price: €3.30