Spaniards drink a lot of beer. Most of the beer in Spain is between 4% and 5.5%. Some are stronger, but none are weaker.
What to expect in a Spanish bar
Most bars in Spain will only have one draft beer (although some will have a standard lager and a non-alcoholic version, while others will have a pale and a dark beer). Beer, in general, is sold in very small glasses in Spain. But it is not all bad news. Spaniards like their beer very cold, they can even serve you a glass that has been kept in a freezer!
Spanish beer has a bad reputation that is only partially justified. Spain has two very bad beers. Unfortunately, around 90% of the bars in Spain seem to sell these beers. Read on for information on which beers to go for and which to avoid.
Beer sizes in Spain
- Caña: Invariably the smallest beer a bar normally sells. It could be a wine glass, it could be something like a brandy glass, or it could be a small thing, a little smaller than a half-pint glass. Weights and measures evolved in an interesting way in Spain! In the Basque Country, you can get a little bag that is even smaller than a cane. In León, order a short to get the smallest beer (this is especially helpful if you’re eating the city’s free tapas as you get the same amount of food no matter what size beer you order).
- Tube: a tall, thin glass. About 10 oz.
- Beer bottle: a 10 oz beer bottle.
- Beer bottle: a smaller 6 oz beer bottle. Not available in all bars.
- Pitcher or tank: Usually the largest glass they will have, usually around a pint. Confusingly, a ‘jug’ could mean a jug that is served with glasses and shared (unless you’re really thirsty!). Not available in all bars.
Get good beer
Craft beer has arrived in Spain! Most cities in Spain will now have a craft beer bar, and many more youth-oriented cafes will have a small selection of bottled local beers.
But many bars do not offer much selection. It is not unusual to see a bar with only two taps, and one of the beers will be non-alcoholic! Keep an eye out for Estrella Galicia in the north, Estrella Damm in Barcelona or Mahou Clásica in Madrid. Unfortunately, in the south, you will be stuck with Cruzcampo, one of the worst beers in the world.
Two beers to avoid
These are the culprits for the terrible reputation of beer in Spain.
- The San Miguel standard (not the Nostrum version above) is gassy and unpleasant. It is marketed around the world as a premium ‘continental’ lager, but it is simply Mahou’s ‘other’ brand.
- Cruzcampo is gassier and nastier than San Miguel.
Black beer
More dark beers are appearing in Spain, especially in the north. If you don’t like pale beer and prefer a darker beer, try Amstel Oro, Mahou Negra, Alhambra Negra, Bock Damm, Voll Damm, and San Miguel Nostrum.
Foreign beer
The best place to get foreign beer in Spain is an Irish pub that will always sell Guinness and will often sell a variety of other beers. Belgian beer is popular in some Irish pubs, as well as some international bars. You will find Heineken widely available, while Carlsberg and Kronenberg are quite common in the Basque Country.
