Friendly craft beer brewery in Altea
The quiet coastal village of Altea might seem like an unlikely spot for a craft beer brewery (and it is), but ve's complaining? After a few hours out in the hot Spanish sun, you could use a cold, tasty beer and Cervezas Althaia Artesana is definitely the best places around.
We stopped by the store Saturday morning and were greeted by Jorge, the brewery young, passionate owner and head brewmaster. He welcomed us in and gave us a full tour of the facilities (they're small, so the informal tour only takes around 15 or 20 minutes) including the fermentation tanks, the boilers, and the supply rooms, and also gave us an overview of how the beers were made and ingredients they use (exclusively Belgian malts, American and British hops, etc.). He even showed us a special batch of smoked ale he was making for himself in the back!
Afterwards came the good part: sampling the beer. Cervezas Althaia Artesana has three main beers available: a Blonde Ale, a Brown Ale, and an IPA. The IPA, in typical Spanish style, was super-aromatic and refreshing without going overboard on the bitterness while the ales were refreshing and smooth, perfect for a post-beach pint. We sampled a few of the brews while chatting with Jorge about life in Altea, the reception of his beers among the locals, and the best local spots to hit the beach.
