Although there are various beers native to Barcelona and Spain in general, the city is not very well known for craft beers when compared to nearby countries such as Germany or Belgium. However, we are proud to say that a change may be on the horizon, starting with the new bar opened by UK sensation Brewdog. Although the brewery has only been in service for about 9 years, they are continually growing throughout the United Kingdom and have expanded into several cities around the world, including Brussels, Florence, Hong Kong, Rome, São Paolo, and more.
The History
In 2007, brewery founders Martin Dickie and James Watt decided they were done with the industrially brewed lagers and ales that primarily made up the UK beer market. They wanted to make craft beers a bigger sensation. In April of that year, the two (plus their dog that the brewery is named after) leased a building in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and brewed tiny batches of their craft beers at local markets and in their van. At the time, their only goal was to create passion about craft beer and have people become more interested in them.
After one year, the company expanded to 9 employees and was able to purchase more tanks and a bottling machine to speed up the manufacturing process. It was in this year that Brewdog created the UK’s strongest ever beer (at the time), called Tokyo at 16.5% ABV. Because of this feat, the company was flocked with media, creating a ton of publicity that even included an interview with Oz Clark. It was during their second year of existence that they became Scotland’s largest independent brewery.
In 2009 they had a total of 24 employees and more brewery equipment, due to the need to keep up with the demand for Brewdog’s craft beers. The brewery also produced the world’s strongest beer (again, at the time) of 32% ABV with the name of Tactical Nuclear Penguin. It was around this time where Martin and James began to show the more ridiculous (and hilarious) side of the brewery through their promotion and brewing methods, including aging beer on the deck of a fishing boat and smashing industrial beers with golf clubs. However, possibly the most important thing that happened this year was the creation of Equity for Punks, a share-holding option online that is open to the public. Over 1,300 shareholders invested in the company due to this business method, allowing the company to expand even more with the funds received. The company was starting to grow bigger than anyone had ever imagined.
In 2010, 39 employees celebrated the opening of Brewdog’s first craft beer bar in Aberdeen. In terms of accomplishments, Brewdog received the Gold Medal for Hardcore IPA at the World Beer Cup, and James became Scotland’s youngest ever Entrepreneur of the Year. In keeping with the eccentric styles of the founders, Brewdog also created The End of History, a 55% abv beer that is inside squirrels and other roadkill that the two had stuffed. The End of History was the world’s most expensive beer ever, costing €675/330ml (including the taxidermy).
Three more bars in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London were opened following the initial success of the first in 2011, and Brewdog contined to expand. A few of the highlights of 2011: they brewed beer at the bottom of the ocean, dispensed 28% beer from a deer’s head, dressed up as the Queen for one of their promotional videos, and launched Equity for Punks ll, raising over £2.2 million from over 5,000 new shareholders.
Over the last few years, Brewdog has been becoming larger and more popular not only throughout their home in the UK but all around the world. They even started their own TV show in the US in 2013, with plans now to start their 3rd season. As of 2015, Brewdog had 540 employees, 32,000 shareholders, and 44 bars, and look set to keep growing steadily.
Barcelona
Our lovely city by the sea became host to Brewdog’s first new bar of 2015. With 20 taps over two floors, including 9 of their own craft beers, this is a fantastic location to try some of the drinks that made this brewery famous. Located at Carrer de Casanova, 69 near the Universitat stop, it’s easily accessible and is great for a night of drinking. For more information on the bar and how to get there, visit the official Brewdog Barcelona page.
