Summer is approaching
and temperatures are sky-rising. “Terrazas” are crowded with people. Many of
them are there for just one thing: have a cold beer!
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| Estrella: the best selling brand in Barcelona |
But having
a beer in Barcelona (and, by extension, in Spain) has some little tricks and
its own language.
First thing
you must decide: Do you want a “cerveza” (beer) “de botella” (bottled) or “de
barril” (vom Fass or draft beer)?
If you
choose “de botella”, in a bar there are two main sizes: “mediana” (it is the
most common size and is 33 cl.) or “quinto” (AKA “botellín”, it is smaller than
mediana, 25 cl.). Some places may also have cans of beer but that is not common
in bars or restaurants. Cans are more often sold on the street or on the beach by
“lateros”. The choice there is only how much do you want to bargain over the
price so there is little to talk about.
Next thing
with “cerveza de botella” is to choose a brand. Best-selling brand in Barcelona
is Estrella (a brand of manufacturer Damm). Similar beers are San Miguel or
Mahou (which is far more common in Madrid). If you prefer foreign beers, most
bars will have Heineken. Some may also have Mexican “Coronita” or “Sol”. Other brands
may be more difficult to find in “common corner-bars”.
There is also
a local beer called Moritz, which is quite good. And “cervezas artesanas” (made
by small producers) are becoming more fashionable, Cervessa Montseny, for
instance, is a very good one.
If you
choose “cerveza de barril”, the main thing to think about is size, as there is
a limited choice of brands in most bars (very often as limited as just one type
of beer).
Smaller
possible size is popular “caña” which is about 25 cl. Then, you may have “copa”
in some bars (it’s bigger than “caña”) or “jarra”. “Copas” and “jarras” may
also vary wildly in size depending on the bar. Most common size is half litre “jarras”
(ask them by saying “una jarra de medio”) but in some places there are smaller
jarras.
Other bars,
specially the tourist traps in Las Ramblas, will directly serve one litre “jarras”
as if it was the common size of beer in Spain. It is not. And if you don’t want
to have as much beer, feel very comfortable to ask the waiter for a smaller
size or complain.
If feel
like drinking a less alcoholic mixture, you may try “una clara” (beer and lemon
soft drink).
And
finally, you may hear someone call “birra” to “cerveza”. If they are not Italian,
remember “birra” is slang for “cerveza”.
