It seems that the brewers of Basqueland Brewing , in Hernani (Basque Country) have the recipe for the success of the best European beer. For the second consecutive year they have won the "Best Brewer of the Year" contest at the Barcelona Beer Challenge, one of the most prestigious beer competitions in Europe in which this year 215 brewers have participated, presenting 1,315 different varieties.
This edition, the seventh already, has featured more beers than ever. So the 50 judges have not had an easy time choosing the winner. Basqueland Brewing has obtained eight medals (two gold, five silver and one bronze) for its Santo Tomas, Tiki Idol, Cat Skills, Matryoshka, S'mores, A Lager a Day, Live Forever and Barrel Works Cognac beers.
A gold and a silver have fallen to the IPA hoppy beers , hallmark of Basqueland, although other styles such as lager, stout or sour have also been recognized. Among the winners, it is worth highlighting Tiki Idol and Live Forever, gold and silver in the most experimental category of Beer with fruit or spices, or Barrel Works Cognac, the result of the barrel program initiated by Basqueland in winter 2020 and whose results are coming out to light little by little.
Created to pair with Basque cuisine.
“This distinction comes to endorse our ability to make different premium beers , where we apply innovation and creativity, beers made to surprise craft lovers, some of them made in collaboration with other breweries in the sector. Limited editions where you can taste the good work and the creativity of our brewers, through which we invite the public to open their minds and discover the world of beer from another point of view”, says Kevin Patricio, CEO of Basqueland in a statement.
In this sense, the brewer launched more than 80 limited edition beers in 2021 and has brewed some 300 different beers since its inception. Thanks to a significant economic investment in its current factory in Hernani, Basqueland hopes to be able to produce 1.25 million liters in 2023 , thus doubling the production of 2021.
In addition, the company has incorporated in recent years machinery and infrastructure such as fermentation tanks, a whirlpool tank, a canning line, a filling line for stainless steel barrels, a quality control laboratory, as well as more than 80 wooden barrels for the Barrel Works aging program.
The company currently exports 30% of its production both to countries with a long brewing tradition and to those with great prestige in the craft sector. Among them, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland or Austria.
France is its second market, representing 15% of exported beer . It is the main brewer in the Basque Country, both in terms of volume and quality, and it is increasingly present in Catalonia and Madrid, the most mature national markets in this sector together with the Basque Country.
Its factory is located in Hernani.
THE STORY OF BASQUELAND
The project was born in 2015 when Kevin Patricio and Ben Rozzi, two North Americans based in San Sebastian, decided to launch a craft brewery with the aim of accompanying Basque cuisine. They were looking for a good beer that could be up to the task... It seems that they have achieved it. Nowadays, the company has 25 workers and produces 600,000 liters per year.
The beer supply has a base range of six references , in which Unstoppable IPA is its best seller -it represents 30% of all sales-. Added to these are Santa Clara, a crystal clear and crisp Helles Lager, a gluten-free IPA, Freebird, or Juice, a Hazy IPA, a cloudy beer with a silky body and fruity aromas that has been widely accepted, as well as the aforementioned editions. limited releases every week.
WHERE CAN YOU TRY IT
Basqueland has a gastronomic tavern in San Sebastián (Gipuzkoa), Izakaia where you can taste asian cuisine street-casual paired with their craft beers and organic wines. In addition, this year the company will add a new location in the Gipuzkoan capital and plans new openings in other cities in the medium term.
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