Beer tourism in the Balearic Islands
As happens around the globe, islanders often have difficulty accessing supplies to brew beer. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible to brew beer on an island, but it does require a bit of extra boldness. A good example is the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera). In the middle of the Mediterranean they also brew good beer. The Balearics are not just the cultural backdrop for Estrella Damm’s #Mediterraneamente campaign; they also offer craft beer.
Across the Islands you’ll find a number of projects with extra charm thanks to their deep roots in the land, all boosted by a key factor: the Balearic Islands are a summer destination for many Europeans who enjoy a wide variety of beers. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the breweries you can visit to enjoy genuine beer tourism in the Balearic Islands. Using this list, you can map out your own route around the archipelago to get to know its culture in more depth.
- Adalt Brewing: craft brewery and taproom in Mallorca
- Sa Cerviseria: brewpub located in Palma de Mallorca
- Ralf: craft brewery located in Mallorca
- 4 Alqueries Cervesa Artesana: craft brewery in Mallorca
- Toutatis: craft brewery in Mallorca
- Talaiòtika: craft brewery in Mallorca
- Forastera: craft brewery in Mallorca
- Es Molí de Foc: restaurant with its own range of beers in Mallorca
- Ibosim: craft brewery with taproom in Ibiza
- Beer Lovers: craft brewery in Mallorca
- Cervesa Sullerica: craft brewery in Mallorca
- Cervesa Illa: craft brewery in Menorca
As we can see, in the Balearic Islands only twelve breweries remain active out of the nearly thirty that have opened in the last decade. What’s more, the vast majority of breweries are located in Mallorca. In this sense, we’re talking about a genuinely local product due to geographical barriers. Many of these microbreweries rely on creativity to incorporate local fruits into their recipes and to adapt their brews to the availability of ingredients.
It’s also striking that the craft beer boom started slightly earlier in the Islands than on the mainland, most likely driven by demand from European tourists (British, German, Belgian, among others) whose tastes go beyond an ice-cold pale lager and who look for beers with more personality.
En todo caso, anímate a descubrir la auténtica cultura cervecera balear de la mano de los pequeños obradores repartidos por el archipiélago. Verás que el Mediterráneo tiene muchas sensaciones únicas que ofrecer y cervezas con las que ni soñabas.
