Spain & Craft beer
Spain has long been a beer country, gulping down twice as much beer as wine per year. But up until the past few years just about all 800+ million gallons of beer drank here each year came from the same handful of industrial brands.
Not anymore. Craft beer fever has finally spread to the Iberian Peninsula. For the first time, Spain’s beer behemoths are being challenged by the diverse and intense flavors of the little guys. From major cities to tiny villages, craft breweries are giving the Spanish beer scene a booster shot of flavour.
We visited Malaga recently and found the city home to one of the best beer scenes in the whole of Spain. You are never far from an establishment selling traditional ales, stout or wheat beer. This increased choice, combined with the fact, that Malaga is now the fourth cheapest place in the world to have a beer, just behind Bratislava, Slovakia, make the city a beer lover's paradise.
Here are some of our favourite bars to drink craft beer in Malaga.
1. Arte & Saña was opened in 2013 and is situated right on the Plaza de Merced.
Within a year of opening, Arte & Saña established itself as the place to have a beer in Malaga. The feel is distinctively minimalist with wooden paneling and seating.
The choice is most definitely yours, with over 750 beers from all over the world. Including the locally brewed La Kernel Panic from Málaga beers and the renowned Danish beer Mikkeller.
They also offer tapas and have a selection of Malaga’s wines.
Address: Plaza de la Merced 5 Tel: 951 00 42 00 www.arteysana.com/
2. Central Beers is a cosmopolitan and trendy bar located in the centre of Malaga.
They have a fairly wide selection of beers with 15 on tap and over a hundred more in bottles. The bar provides detailed information on the different names, production methods, alcohol content, colour and style of each beer. Like most of the other bars on this list, they also offer a basic food menu. With a selection of cheeses, hummus, nachos, burgers and salads. Address:C/ Cárcer 6,29006, MálagaTel: 952 22 77 86 Opening hours: Daily from 13:00 onwards.
3. Hop Scotch was opened by Javier (Javi) Toledano and Ana Nuñez and quickly developed into one of Malaga’s most popular bars.
The beers are carefully selected and regularly changed.At last count, they had over 200 different kinds, with six on tap. People don’t just come for the beers. Hop Scotch is also home to some fantastic food. House specialities include vegan and vegetarian dishes and some surprisingly good Thai curries. The place is small but cozy. The walls are decorated with photographs and local art expositions. The atmosphere is what really sets Hop Scotch apart. The owners are super friendly and speak English. A visit is highly recommended.Address:Calle Correo de Andalucía, 629004 MálagaTel: 627 08 35 24Opening hours:From Wednesday to Sunday, 18:00 onwards
