Top 5 places to taste local craft beer in Barcelona

Barcelona is a sunny city in Spain, where they love to drink cool drinks after lunch and in the evening, enjoying the sea view. One of the most favorite beverages of the Spaniards is fresh kraft beer. Aperitif culture is very developed in Spain. Many people drink beer during working breaks for lunch, meetings with friends, on weekends or while watching football. Local Kraft beer is especially popular. Indeed, this Spanish drink is worth tasting if you travel to Barcelona. So, what are the best places to taste kraft beer in Barcelona?

Craft beer in Spain

There is a growing movement in Barcelona that features an everyday item so common that most people didn’t even notice the movement began: beer. Spain is a country that is usually associated with wine, this is true. And rightly so, given that no other country in Europe has as many acres of planted vineyards. But beer has always been a big part of the spanish culture as well. Sitting on a patio or in a plaza and tasting a cold beer with friends is an easy way to spend a sunny afternoon. And there are a lot of sunny afternoons in Barcelona. But over the past few years there has been a growing movement away from the commercial breweries like Estrella and San Miguel, and towards craft brews. The movement is especially noticeable in Barcelona, where there are more microbrewers than anywhere else in Spain. Earlier they held a Barcelona Beer Festival at the Arenas Shopping Centre, and it was extremely popular. But for those people who missed it, don’t despair! There are still a number of great places that have sprung up or been redone toward this emerging sector.

Where to taste craft beer in Barcelona

The following list is by no means exhaustive - there are lots of great places to delve into the exploding craft beer culture in and around Barcelona. But here is my list of the top 5 places to get your hands on some truly delicious local beers in the city:

5) La Cerveteca

One of the first and perhaps most well-known of the beer bars, it’s located right next to the Correos bulding at the end of Via Laietana. It’s small, and the lack of table space and seats can make it seem crowded, but it has a great atmosphere and the bartenders are always willing to help. A good selection from both abroad and local beers to take home as well. Light food is served, but it’s location makes it ideal for a stop before, during or after going out for tapas in the city.

Adresse : Carrer d'en Gignàs, 25, 08002 Barcelona, Espagne
Tel.: +34 933 15 04 07

4) 2D2D Spuma

A bit off the beaten track; it’s name refers to the two fingers of head a properly poured pint should have. This combination beer store/homebrewing shop and bar (only open in the evening) may be a little out of the way, but it is easy to get to and their selection to take home is the best in the city. This is the kind of place you want to go to if you are serious about getting some of the best local beers. They also have a lot of information about the goings-on in the world of craft beer in Barcelona.

Adresse : Carrer de la Manigua, 8, 08027 Barcelona, Espagne
Tel.: +34 654 24 15 81

3) La Cervesera Artesana

Barcelona’s only brewpub. Just off the Passeig de Gracia on a street heading up into the Gracia district is Barcelona's own Cervesera Artesana Brewpub, La Cervesera Artesana. Tucked into a quiet street and boasting a line of beers produced onsite, including one “berwer’s special” beer that rotates with the other styles. The food is good too, although a little more expensive than I was hoping to pay.

Adresse : Carrer de Sant Agustí, 14, 08012 Barcelona, Espagne
Tel.: +34 932 37 95 94

2) George and Dragon

Yes, it’s got an English name. And at first glance it seems like a standard pub. Until you realize that they have 20 different beers on tap, not to mention a fantastic selection of local and imported craft beers. They do tastings as well. Just off Passeig de Gracia on Carrer Diputacion, it is easy to get to from anywhere in the city, and the bartenders are happy to help you decide which beer to drink next. Oh, and my food experience was really good here too.

Adresse : Carrer de la Diputació, 269, 08007 Barcelona, Espagne
Tel.: +34 934 88 17 65

1) The Drunk Monk

Okay, technically this is not in Barcelona proper. Nor is it specifically for local beer. It’s in the town of Mataro, about 30 minutes north of the city on the train and it's a Belgian beer bar. But no list of quality craft beer establishments is complete without it. The Drunk Monk may not be in the city, but it is definitely worth the trip out on the bus or the train for any lover of quality beer. The owner, Sven, is a Belgian expat who has put together a spectacular place that has been voted the best in Spain, and for good reason. The bar is a meeting place for local industry insiders, afficionados, homebrewers, and people who love great beer. All this without the pretentiousness that might come They have a range of activities from tastings to food and wine pairings and their beer menu is the best I've seen in Spain.

Adresse : Via Europa, 30, 08303 Mataró, Barcelona, Espagne
Tél.: +34 616 04 71 70

The Spanish Touch is a US-based tour operator specializing in private, small group tours. Eric Hersey runs the Spanish operations and has been living in Spain on and off for the last decade, first in Andalusia and now in Barcelona. I believe that culture is not something you can just take a picture of, and love the feeling of being able to bring visitors up close and personal with the culture, history and people of the regions we explore.