Leave it to me playing on my cell phone to uncover something new in the Mercado de Triana. As we went for takeout sushi, I led the Novio down the wrong aisle in the iconic food market and ended up right in front of a craft beer bar.
I’d heard rumors of Spain upping their hops ante, and even though craft brews had caught on in Madrid and along the Mediterranean coast, sevillanos has remained pretty loyal to their local brand, Cruzcampo.
Don’t get me wrong – I love Cruzcampo, but more than the taste, I love what it means to me: sharing a sunny day with friends and stopping to take a break once in a while – but it doesn’t hold a candle to the midwestern beers I drank all summer. Taifa is more than an adult beverage – it’s the dream its socios had to bring a new product to the market, and one that surprises in a one-beer sort of town.
The Novio grabbed a 5€ snack of chicarrones, or fried pig’s skin, while I chatted up Jacobo, the founder and half of the bilingual pair who own and market Taifa. He told me that they brew close to twelve thousand litres of beer each year and have two varieties – a blonde and a toasted malt – with a third, and IPA, on the way.
The beers are reminiscent of those from the Sam Adams family, an intermediary between the mass-produced brands and the over-the-top flavored brews, all made from natural ingredients and brewed within the Triana Market. Jacobo and his American-born socio, Marcos, have plans to start pairings and tastings as soon as their new beer is out.
For more information about Taifa, visit their website or stop by the shop at puesto number 36. One bottle costs 2,20€. You can also read about Spain’s craft beer movement on Vaya Madrid!
What are your favorite Spanish beers?
So cool to hear that Sevilla is gettin’ in on the craft beer movement…I prefer wine to beer but my American housemate is a big beer connoisseur so I’ve gotten to try some really nice stuff brewed here in Spain. There’s a microbrewery in Ourense (SE Galicia) called Keltius that makes some really nice stuff…they even have their own “brewpub” in town!
Trevor Huxham recently posted..Photo Post: Impressions of Lisbon, Portugal
OOh, on my list! And good on Noé – tell him I said that!
I’ve been on the look out for craft brews in Spain but haven’t spotted any in Logroño yet. I’ll have to check it out when I’m in Sevilla visiting!
Mike of Mapless Mike recently posted..San Mateo Festival in Logroño
Why drink beer when you have wine?! If you have a Carrefour or an Alcampo, they sell more international brands, including some German weissebiers.
Great post Cat! I love Taifa, but I am a little biased, living with the craft brewer himself 🙂
Kim recently posted..What’s on in October
How cool, Kim! Sounds like a great deal…!
you know what? i didn’t even know what “it doesn’t hold a candle” meant, so i’ve had to look it up…you’re really like a fountain of new expressions and idioms!
because you are asking about Spain’s favourite beers..well mine are of course Mahou and Estrella, the two most traditional beers that have been on the tables at banquets of weddings, baptizms and first communions as long as i remember since the late 80’s when i was a little boy.
honestly i think that one of the best pleasures that men, and women can enjoy is a cold Mahou while you are eating fried fish and chips along with chopitos in front of a sea promenade with the sea breeze kissing your hair 🙂
there are other beers like Amstel or Estrella Galicia, etc that seem to get some attention as well, but they are not traditional at all….at least not like Mahou and Estrella along the Mediterranean coastline.
I happen to like Estrella Galicia and Alhambra quite a bit, but they’re very different from what I’d drink in the US!
Alhambra is a great beer that i enjoy as well……i’ve never tried Estrella Galicia nor do i feel to do it yet…..perhaps one of these days.
having Estrella Levante makes you refuse any other beer…by the way Estrella Galicia should be fined as they have taken the name from the real and only authentic Estrella, haha
It was no accident you two walked down the wrong isle, it was divine intervention. LOL!
Now I love me some ice cold Cruzcampo; however, craft brews make me swoon. Good to know it is catching on there… hmmm good excuse to come back for a visit?!?!
As much as craft beers are nice and interesting, I really just enjoy a simple – well, simple beer. I acutally dont mind Cruzcampo either, and I think the locally brewed Spanish beers are much better than locally brewed beers in Australia. I am going to miss just “ordering a beer” and being happy with what I am served when I am back in Australia in a couple of months.
I will have to go check out the bar when I am in Seville in a couple of weeks. I love the Mercado de Triana.
Ahhh, a girl after my own heart! My boyfriend’s reply was, “Why can’t all of this expensive, fancy beer just taste like beer?!”
Let me know when you’re in town – I live up the street!
Haha, why can’t beer taste like beer, I love it!
Okay great! I will be around next week on Tuesday & Wednesday so I will get in touch.
Cyra of Gastronomic Nomad recently posted..12 Things I’ve Learnt Thanks to 12 Months of Blogging
A bit late, but I love the craft-brew movement here! Of course, in the Midwest we have so much craft brewing. Ever heard of/been to 3 Floyds (NW Indiana near Chicago)?
My favorite favorite is probably Domus Summa/Regia. I also really like some I’ve tried from Zamora, one called Viriato (named in honor of the Lusitanian warrior who tried to fight off the Romans and whom many different regions/countries try to claim as their own) is particularly good.
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Adding it to my list!
Beer in Andalucia? Cool. Need to check that out when I head back over there next year. Had some great wine there, but I love me some craft. Thanks for sharing!
Lance recently posted..Craft Beers from Northwest Indiana Breweries
Spain is finally coming around! My favorite is Er Boquerón from the Costa Blanca, filtered with sea water.
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Taïfa sounds certainly worth trying, but i can’t find it online, do you have a link to find some to buy online?
Jessica @ Margaret RIver Wine Tours recently posted..Margaret River Beer Bible
Hi Jessica, I don’t know that they’re still in business, sadly! A real shame but thankfully a lot of other microbreweries are popping up.