almost missed it!

Even though it's fantastic to have a constant stream of new beer and stores and celebrations, it also means some of them can sneak up on you.  Or even past you.  I knew about Beermad already in September, but for some reason thought it was going to be the last weekend of October.  Fortunately, I thought to check the flyer - and realized it was the last day!  So, had to hustle down there.  Unlike the beer fairs of old, this one took place in sports facility, the Caja Mágica tennis arena.

Barely open gate, for some reason

First Monasterio caught my eye.  There was a bar nearby that had the beer, but I almost never saw it open, and finally it appears to be closed for good.  This looks like a chance to see what I've been missing.  I wanted to start light, so I got a Rubia to start with.  It isn't very aromatic, but the taste is quite strong, very bitter in fact.  It's also very "natural", harkening back to German helles.  There is an interesting sweet aftertaste.  There were some mostly dried hops at the stand for smell sampling - very pungent.  I was told these were a variety developed by the brewery itself.  As I hadn't had breakfast that day, I thought it would be wise to not drink on a completely empty stomach, and got myself a bratwurst.  As expected, the German style similarities made it a good pairing.

Obviously sipping while waiting on the brat

Next, touching on the Halloween theme, La Calatrava.  Again, backing off from the heavier beers for the time being, I picked up Rossa, an American Wheat.  In spite of the description, it's not a strongly wheaty beer, having a sweet smell, and with that touch of citrus so common in IPAs.  The taste is very standard lager, only mildly bitter, lacking the wheat tang.  It's a little sweet going down, and very easy to get down.  Very refreshing and clean flavor, possibly on the delicate side to go with more sausages.

Finally, I visited an old friend, Sagra.  Again, for the season, I chose their Calabaza y Canela, expecting a smooth and mildly sweet ale type.  It's a lovely orange color, with a bit of a cinnamon aroma.  I was surprised to find it more of a pumpkin pie in a glass than a mere pumpkin smoothed ale or märzen.  The cinnamon really has a kick to it.  While I enjoyed it, I heard another day that it's not at all a favorite for many.  But that day was another day.

A street band entertained us for a couple of hours

Then a DJ set up

I think there was a concert in the evening

green like spring

Various things conspired to occupy my time, and I had to resort to picking up a beer at the supermarket.  Fortunately, as I've mentioned before, there are a couple of places nearby with a reasonable beer stock.  Days are warm and sunny right now, so a light beer seems like the thing.  Sagra's Burro Sancho line has an eye catchingly green label, and the price is right.

Spring - da da!

It's bubbly, clear colored, distinctly lacking in head.  More like a cider in appearance than a beer.  The smell is pretty beery, though.  I was steeling myself for something lagery, but the aroma is more of a light craft ale.  The taste is lagery at first, however.  Not very strong, but mild more than weak.  There's a bit of sweetness, but that dissolves into a more bitter and typical beer flavor.  It's the kind of beer that goes with things, and probably anything you like.  It's a mild enough taste that sweet, salty or spicy foods wouldn't feel drowned out, while the beer itself would remain refreshing.  The label insists there's a floral quality, but I'm not tasting it.  Quite honestly, I don't miss perfume with my beer, though.  There's always Valverde for that.

Supplier: Carrefour
Price: €1.59