With many drinkers tiring of the generic beer pumped out by industrial-sized brewers, micro-breweries producing small-batch craft ales have been springing up all over the place. And Mallorca is happily no exception, with an excellent range of artisan beer producers dotted around the Balearic isle. From crisp Pilsners to hoppy IPAs, here’s our selection of the best beers and brewers from around the island.
Beer Lovers Mallorca (also known as the rather more cumbersome Companyia Cervesera del Nord de Mallorca) is a microbrewery located in the centre of the pretty town of Alcúdia. With roots in the area stretching back three centuries, this brewery opened in 2013 in a traditional stone building in which the founder’s grandparents used to live. And the fruit of their labour is a excellent range of craft beers, ales including pale ale and IPAs plus a wheat beer and an award-winning stout. You can find their beer in dozens of bars and outlets around the island, or just head to the brewery itself and enjoy a cold one on their patio.
Located in the foot of the mighty Tramuntana mountain range in the small town of Alaró, this brewery and taproom was established in 2013 by East Berliner Sven Gohdes. You can choose from an impressive selection of craft beers, from the refreshing Summer Ale to the punchy Another F***ing IPA, and you can either sit down and sample or take away a few bottles from Forastera’s brew pub. They also offer a travelling craft beer stand for street festivals or you can buy a keg for parties.
Meaning ‘brewery house’ in Mallorquin, Cas Cerveser is a couple-run artisan brewery that puts a real emphasis on natural products and eco-friendly practices. And the beers aren’t half bad either. There are three main Galilea ales (golden, red and American amber) plus three limited-run products that include a sour-cherry fruit beer and a dark IPA. Beer is made by hand without any non-organic chemicals in their microbrewery in Puigpunyent, which you can visit on Fridays, sample a beer or two and of course take some home with you.
Starting in 2016, the Cervesa de Maria produces just two, high-quality ales at its brewery in the small town of Maria de la Salut. The beer is Cerveza Ralf (named after one of the two founders): one is a dry hopped pale ale using US hops for a citrusy edge (Tuareg) and the other a darker and stronger amber ale with toasted malt (Comandante). You can find these excellent quality craft ales in most of the larger supermarkets around the island, plus they open their doors Fridays and Tuesdays to sell direct to the public.
The founder of the Sullerica brewery, Guillem Coll, began small-scale brewing for personal consumption, but with the encouragement of friends and family soon decided to expand production. Now five distinct beers are produced, all with 100% natural ingredients, unfiltered and unpasteurised and made using traditional brewing processes. There is one unique touch: the subtle addition of orange blossom, a scent closely associated with the Sóller valley, where the brewery is situated. The beers are available in countless bars, shops and restaurants throughout Mallorca, as well as their outlet in the town of Sóller.
Instantly recognisable for its distinctive and elegant bottle, the Nau brewery produces just two unfiltered beers: Rubia Bohemia (Pils lager) and Dama Blanca (wheat beer). Both are handcrafted using processes that meet the standards of the Germany Beer Purity Law, using natural island sourced ingredients and spring water from the Tramuntana mountains. You won’t find their beer in any shops on the island, as it is only available in select bars and restaurants and at their brewery, located in the market town of Santa Maria. It opens to the public every Sunday and has a beer garden where you can enjoy a drink with some German sausage.
While first and foremost a pub serving craft beer, the Cerveceria Tramuntana also brews their own more-than-drinkable ale. As well as their home brew, you’re sure to find all the others brewed on the island (not to mention from all corners of the world) as there are over 200 beers available. The vibe is friendly, the beer is reasonably priced and the bar is located in Palma’s trendy Santa Catalina neighbourhood, so is within easy stumbling distance of the city centre.
