Madrid's craft beer pioneers
Necessity is the mother of invention. And so, it seems, is a healthy thirst. Back in 2011 a couple of Madrid mates couldn’t buy good beer in the Spanish capital. Around the same time they lost their jobs (yes, the crisis). So, in need of both fruitful employment and moreish suds, they opened Cervezorama – the first craft beer shop in Madrid, and the spearhead of the city’s craft beer movement.
“People freak out when they walk in,” they told me, noting that many Spaniards don’t realise there’s such a big wide world of beer beyond Mahou, the local industrial brew. Cervezorama’s shelves groan with over 400 different craft beers from across the planet, and upwards of 20 Spanish brews. So if you’re visiting Madrid and keen to stash a few bottles in your suitcase, this is a top spot to do your shopping. The staff are passionate about their products, and devote a significant amount of time talking to each customer, exploring their beer wants, needs and desires. Something a little more hoppy? Try this… You’re cooking bull’s tail tonight? This will pair nicely…
But it’s not all passion. The Cervezorama team have smarts too, and they’ve turned their going concern into much more than just a beer shop. Sometimes it feels more like a club-house for local beer lovers. On Wednesdays they run tastings, with talks by Spanish craft brewers and if you’re in town a little longer, check out their two-part brewing workshops, (wherein you’ll make your own beer under their watchful eye). Of course, if you decide to go it alone, they also stock home-brew equipment and ingredients.
