BierCab
OVERVIEWTYPE: Beer Bar & Bottle Shop (BB/BS)
HOOD: Eixample STREET: Carrer de Muntaner, 55 HOMEPAGE: BierCaB TRANSIT: Metro Map TAPS: Yes FOOD: Yes |
THE FULL POUR
The Eixample (expansion) District of Barcelona is well-known for the Modernista architects that made their mark on the area over a century ago. It's consequently a big draw for visitors looking to tour some of Antoni Gaudí's famed buildings, such as Casa Batlló and Casa Milà. While a sunny walk down the Passeig de Gràcia is highly recommended, for some historical context on this section of the city, you should also know that our target destination sits in the center of an exploding beer corridor just to the southwest. As it turns out, BierCaB has a unique significance in the beery fabric of said corridor and was one of the very first to set up shop. Today, it's quite amazing to see how many breweries, bottle shops and bars are collectively transforming this quarter of Barcelona into a significant beer destination. It demands closer inspection.
With that brief historical context out of the way, let's get to the task at hand. Where, oh where, to begin with an appropriate narrative for BierCaB? Let it be known up front that any words conveyed here may fall short in revealing just how charmed one will feel during a visit here. This indeed will be a tough measure of The Hop Leaves, but this is what they do and let's see what new heights can be reached. With superb subject matter along the lines of BierCaB, this baby should write itself, right? No pressure...
BierCaB is one of those mystical places one consistently hears about in European beer-travel folklore. A quick interweb search also tells us so, as it seems to routinely surface alongside other list-toppers from all around the continent. But what is truly behind all of the buzz and why might one feel as if there's no way it could possibly live up to the hype in person? After further inspection, it's a multi-faceted affair and you truly begin to feel it as soon as you walk in the door.
There is an energy at BierCaB, not of a stressful variety, just...an energy. The unique design, stunning attention to details, out-of-this-world beer selection and warm staff collectively appear to put you on notice. There will be nothing ordinary about your stay here, and all of your senses are now under assault in the very best of ways.
With that brief historical context out of the way, let's get to the task at hand. Where, oh where, to begin with an appropriate narrative for BierCaB? Let it be known up front that any words conveyed here may fall short in revealing just how charmed one will feel during a visit here. This indeed will be a tough measure of The Hop Leaves, but this is what they do and let's see what new heights can be reached. With superb subject matter along the lines of BierCaB, this baby should write itself, right? No pressure...
BierCaB is one of those mystical places one consistently hears about in European beer-travel folklore. A quick interweb search also tells us so, as it seems to routinely surface alongside other list-toppers from all around the continent. But what is truly behind all of the buzz and why might one feel as if there's no way it could possibly live up to the hype in person? After further inspection, it's a multi-faceted affair and you truly begin to feel it as soon as you walk in the door.
There is an energy at BierCaB, not of a stressful variety, just...an energy. The unique design, stunning attention to details, out-of-this-world beer selection and warm staff collectively appear to put you on notice. There will be nothing ordinary about your stay here, and all of your senses are now under assault in the very best of ways.
WHY IS THIS ON THL?
Manolo is the talisman of BierCaB's wonders. So much so, in fact, that the place might lose some of it's magical powers if he were somehow not at the helm. Not only is he an expert host, but he is continually attending to all of those little things that keep the place humming along (insert spinning plates on poles visual here). To be clear, however, his contributions to the whole are only the beginning. His positive energy is clearly contagious to those around him. The staff has just as much enthusiasm and passion as he does, it's evident everywhere you look. No matter your walk of life, they somehow make you feel as if you've known them well before this visit.
Something else that clearly needs to be addressed straightaway, is the food at BierCaB. You are in Barcelona, this city by the sea is overrun with extremely scrumptious foodie restaurants, tapas bars and everything in between. So why on earth would you spend one of those finite and precious meal opportunities in a beer bar? Well, here's the thing, it's not really just a beer bar. While their beer options squash many others out there, The Hop Leaves are onto them and know fully well that it is a high-quality tapas bar masquerading as a world-class beer bar. Or, is it a high-quality beer bar masquerading as a world-class tapas bar? I digress, the point is that everything is quite consistent in the level of quality. If you're not in the mood for tapas, how do you feel about 9 different Wagyu burger options? Mind blown...
And then there's the beer culture. Wow, no discussion of beer yet. How is that possible on a beer-travel website? Well, let's just say we've saved the best for last. This is where BierCaB continues to delight in all directions. Are you looking for global variety? Are you looking for attention to rare beers? Lambics? Stouts? Hazy IPAs? It's all here and it's all carefully curated by an evidently very well-traveled palate. They even feature delicious beer brewed by their nearby partner, and equally impressive entity to experience, NaparBcn. If you're feeling blue at the end of your time here, be sure to pop into the bottle shop next door on your way out. The same tastes have been applied to the takeaway selection and now you can recreate some semblance of your BierCaB experience on the next leg of your travels.
A close friend once made this statement: "The day you rank a beer at a perfect 5 on Untappd, is the day that it's game over." Thus claiming that you've successfully made it to beer heaven and you've full-filled your beer destiny. While that profound observation is perhaps a topic to be debated on another day, it does spring to mind in the context of beer experiences as well. Given everything that we've learned, could it be that BierCaB is BierHeaveN? Is it really game over after this? Respectfully, let's just score it at 4.95 (theoretically, as Untappd would never allow such a nuanced entry) so the quest can continue on for another day. Who knows, you may have to already reconsider your position when you visit their partner's location just around the corner. That didn't last long at all now, did it.
Something else that clearly needs to be addressed straightaway, is the food at BierCaB. You are in Barcelona, this city by the sea is overrun with extremely scrumptious foodie restaurants, tapas bars and everything in between. So why on earth would you spend one of those finite and precious meal opportunities in a beer bar? Well, here's the thing, it's not really just a beer bar. While their beer options squash many others out there, The Hop Leaves are onto them and know fully well that it is a high-quality tapas bar masquerading as a world-class beer bar. Or, is it a high-quality beer bar masquerading as a world-class tapas bar? I digress, the point is that everything is quite consistent in the level of quality. If you're not in the mood for tapas, how do you feel about 9 different Wagyu burger options? Mind blown...
And then there's the beer culture. Wow, no discussion of beer yet. How is that possible on a beer-travel website? Well, let's just say we've saved the best for last. This is where BierCaB continues to delight in all directions. Are you looking for global variety? Are you looking for attention to rare beers? Lambics? Stouts? Hazy IPAs? It's all here and it's all carefully curated by an evidently very well-traveled palate. They even feature delicious beer brewed by their nearby partner, and equally impressive entity to experience, NaparBcn. If you're feeling blue at the end of your time here, be sure to pop into the bottle shop next door on your way out. The same tastes have been applied to the takeaway selection and now you can recreate some semblance of your BierCaB experience on the next leg of your travels.
A close friend once made this statement: "The day you rank a beer at a perfect 5 on Untappd, is the day that it's game over." Thus claiming that you've successfully made it to beer heaven and you've full-filled your beer destiny. While that profound observation is perhaps a topic to be debated on another day, it does spring to mind in the context of beer experiences as well. Given everything that we've learned, could it be that BierCaB is BierHeaveN? Is it really game over after this? Respectfully, let's just score it at 4.95 (theoretically, as Untappd would never allow such a nuanced entry) so the quest can continue on for another day. Who knows, you may have to already reconsider your position when you visit their partner's location just around the corner. That didn't last long at all now, did it.
WHAT'S NEARBY?
(<2k/1.25m)
MORE HOP LEAVES:
NaparBCN
NaparBCN
SIGHTS/WALKS:
Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter)
Casa Batlló
Casa Milà
La Boqueria
Museum of Contemporary Art
Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter)
Casa Batlló
Casa Milà
La Boqueria
Museum of Contemporary Art