The 2010s witnessed an immense boom in the craft beer industry. Microbreweries in just about every cosmopolitan city across the planet engaged in a battle of the brews. Whose craft beer concoction could smack with the kind of sought-after taste and distinct brand design that would land it on one of the internet’s seemingly endless supply of must-try lists? Think Sriracha Hot Stout Beer, David Lynch Twin Peaks beer or Yellow Belly Peanut Butter Biscuit Imperial Stout. Tough choice in a landscape offering endless varieties.
Drinking beer became less about the alcoholic content and more about the quality and experience. Barcelona stepped through for a piece of the action, with it nurturing its own booming, independent brewing scene. Toward the latter half of the decade, more specialist microbreweries and beer bars were shooting up around the city, bringing a greater range of craft beers, IPAs, porters, ales, stouts and lagers.
Take a dive into our curated list below for a few of the best craft beer pubs in Barcelona.
Garage Beer Co.
No better place to kick off this list than with a bar that has a reputation for pioneering Barcelona’s beer revolution. Opening in 2015 in the Eixample district, it’s up with the best of them as a central stop for quality brews. Launching with three beers, they now produce over ten, carefully adding varieties one at a time. One of their most recently produced is Circus Tears, an imperial stout with vanilla pods and pistachios. Check out their website and consider signing up for a club subscription if you live in Spain.
BlackLab Brewhouse
Another that’s done big things for the city’s scene is family business BlackLab Brewhouse. Hitting the ground running since it opening in 2014, it’s run by Matt, a brewer from Minnesota and Jing, a second generation Chinese Spaniard. Down by the port, it’s location packs major appeal. The beers on tap include the Island Trip, a strong and dark imperial stout; and best seller Claudio Passion, packed with passion fruit. Make sure you go in hungry because the menu offering feel-good Western pub grub and all the ingredients for an Asian feast.
Cervecería Jazz
Considered the granddaddy of beer bars in the city, doors opened in 1992 which might exclude this entry from the recent craft beer boom, but you can’t disregard history and the legacy that comes with it – strong associations with pioneering force Mr. Steve Huxley will put this one on the map with craft beer connoisseurs. To sample his legacy, go for a pint of ‘Steve’s Best Bitter’. Their burgers are top-notch, so make sure to leave some space for a feed.
Ølgod
Head off Las Ramblas and into Raval for this one. Ølgod means “beer god” in Danish, and with over 30 draught lines on the bar, it does more than live up to its name. A delicious tapas menu brings in the regulars, and is especially appealing to vegans and vegetarians. On the beer menu, names like Beer Pirinha, Ølgod Shandy and Nordic Sour should pique your interest. Also check out their events schedule as they often line up the DJs for a boot to the sound system.
