Beer Tourism in Cantabria

Cantabria deserves a visit not only for its lush nature and rich cultural heritage, but also for beer-related reasons. This region in northern Spain is home to just under twenty microbreweries—about half of them gypsy breweries—where you can discover how tradition coexists in harmony with innovation. Despite its cold, damp climate, it is not a region known for its production of “oil” beers (imperial stouts or Baltic porters). Their Basque neighbors are the experts in that. In Cantabria you’ll find a whole range of options to explore, without any clear specialization. Could it be that they just do everything well?

Before the pandemic, small breweries often offered guided tours, as well as tastings and other interesting experiences around the concept of craft beer. Although the current situation makes these initiatives extremely difficult, keep them in mind for a more hopeful future. In the following list, we present in no particular order the production sites that will delight the most dedicated beer lovers:

• El Camino: brewery located in Santa Cruz de Bezana.
• El Ayla: brewery in Santoña. They also have a brewpub in the nearby town of Laredo.
• Smach: brewery in Camargo.
• Cervezas La Grúa: brewery located in Pontejos.
• Portus Blendium: brewery located in Hinojedo, Suances.
• Colegiata de Cantabria: brewery in Reocín.
• Dougall's: brewery located in Liérganes.
• Redneck Brewery: brewery based in Reocín.

As we have seen, the list corresponds to beer producers that own their own breweries. There are also many gypsy brewers, meaning they brew at third-party facilities. Nevertheless, you will surely be able to enjoy their beers as well in bars, pubs and specialty shops in the region.

To highlight one among many—though all are unique—Dougall’s deserves special attention. It is one of the first microbreweries in Spain and continues to thrive today. Since 2006 it has demonstrated a clear inclination toward English tradition. Not for nothing, one of its founders comes from the British Isles. If Dougall’s stands out for anything, it’s for its line of IPAs (India Pale Ale), which have earned it a strong reputation among craft beer enthusiasts for its exquisite command of hops.

If you want to visit any of the breweries listed here, you just need to get in touch with the brewery in question. Discovering the production process first‑hand is an exceptional experience that lets you enjoy the finished product even more. Besides, each brewery has its own recipe, so why not plan a beer route across Cantabria?