Barcelona on a Saturday night

There was fine but overcast weather at Barcelona airport at 6pm on Saturday 27 January, 2018.

Barcelona airport - view from bridge linking terminal 1 with station.

On arrival, a long queue for face to face passport control was bypassed thanks to the alternative of a lane of automated passport readers with cameras. Terminal 2, used by EasyJet, is the furthest from the station but free shuttle buses to the closer terminal are available. From terminal 1 a bridge crosses car parks to the station.

An adult single fare on the half-hourly RENFE Rodalies (Cercanias) service to central Barcelona (4 zones) cost 4.20 euros with ticket machines accepting coins, notes and cards.

The ticket is needed again to exit through barriers at Barcelona Sants station. This is a short distance from Hotel Transit which provided good value accommodation for my basic requirements.

My research, backed up by Richard Lock's advice, suggested a visit to nearby Homo Sibaris at Plaça Osca 4.

Inside the only space left was near the door with a good view of the bar. Draught beers were marked on individual blackboards behind the bar. The list included beers from the UK (Vibrant Forest & Moor), Germany (Ayinger, Camba), Belgium (St Feuillen & Oud Beersel) and Spain / Catalonia (Barbas Beer Project, Holz, La Pirata, Populus).

The Populus Citra IPA in the top left position corresponded with the first handpump at the window side of the bar. A second handpump served Cambrian Root (Vibrant Forest stout). I ordered a pint of Citra IPA for 5.75 euros. This 6.2% ABV IPA was full flavoured and not too bitter. There was no need to pay on ordering and I would later remember to pay before leaving.

The staff were kept busy pouring and serving beers as well as preparing snacks in the miniature open kitchen at the far end of the bar. I would return to this bar in three days time and a companion blog post will include further photos.

Homo Sibaris bottle shop - Carrer de Riego 16

Most of the other bars researched in advance were in the Eixample district and this is where I headed after passing the sister bottle shop for Homo Sibaris.

BrewDog, Barcelona

BrewDog Barcelona, Carrer de Casanova 69, was reached after walking for 2km and crossing multiple road junctions. As there were no obvious Spanish or Catalonian beers in pale ale or IPA styles available, this brief visit was simply for a look around the bar which opened in 2015.

BierCaB

A block away, BierCaB, at Carrer de Muntaner 55, was busy but, I was impressed that the barman caught my eye as I walked past the bar and immediately took my order. Some quick thinking was needed but Naparbier was the local brewery name I recognised on the screen listing 30 taps so my choice was Mad Clown, a 5.7% ABV extra pale ale on tap 16. The small 25 cl glass cost 4 euros and after paying I took it to a standing spot as all the tables were occupied. It was interesting to note that there were beers from several UK breweries including Mad Hatter, Wild Beer and Beavertown.

This gave me a chance to look around and admire the style of the large room which was furnished with custom made high metal tables and decorated in a theme involving planks of wood at higher and ceiling levels.

Before leaving I was glad to have a chance to hand Manuel, the expert barman who had served me, a copy of Ullage, the West Berkshire CAMRA magazine. As with Homo Sibaris, I would return to this bar in three days time and a companion blog post will include further photos.

Garage Beer Co

Less than a block away. Garage Beer Co at Carrer del Consell de Cent 261 was lively.

The list of beers was displayed in industrial style. I was lucky to find a seat at the bar. My first question about a beer from the handpump was answered in the negative.

Choosing from the 11 house beers I picked Soup (6% ABV). This small glass cost 3.5 euros. Appropriately murky the style could be described as New England IPA and was a good example.

The decor behind the bar includes an animal's skull and a shelf of cans. This is a bar to recommend for anyone whose favourite style is pale ales and IPA which seem to be the preferred Garage styles. A guest wheat beer was also available - Anno 25 from Bavaria's Aktienbrauerei Kaufbeuren.

It was getting late and I was getting hungry so it was lucky to walk past Mussol (Aragó) restaurant at Carrer d'Aragó 261 and discover it was possible to enjoy a glass of Penedes white wine, Catalan style BBQ Chicken with mushroom sauce and chips for less than 10 euros (2.60 + 6.90).

CocoVail Beer Hall

CocoVail Beer Hall is only one block further east at Carrer d'Aragó 284. Cocovail opened in August 2016 as a 'beach culture' Americana beer hall with Argentinian and American influences.

There was a choice of beers from 24 taps. A big blackboard behind the bar listed name, brewery, style, ABV, IBU and price for half and pint glasses. 

Looking for another local pale ale I chose Edge Brewing Panacea (5.5% ABV, 6 euro pint) and took my glass to the end of a long high table which had aome spare seats. 

The colourful decor inside the beer hall includes beach scenes and surf boards.

A final treat before catching the late night Metro from Paseig de Gracia station was to see Antoni Gaudi's Casa Battlo theatrically lit at Paseig de Gracia 43.

The Metro fare to get back to my hotel in Sants via Tarragona metro station on (green) line 3 was 2.20 euros.