The Poble Nou Fair. The Craft Beer Festival next to the beach
The most anticipated time of the year in the city comes with one of the Craft Beer events that has gained the most strength in recent years. The Fira del Poble Nou reached its seventh consecutive year of good beers and good vibes at Parc del Poblenou, with an incredible set-up next to Bogatell beach and very close to the district's boulevard gives the festival its name.
This year the fair had the participation of more than 45 national and international breweries. Brewers from 12 countries came together this weekend to share, along with colleagues, young people and families in attendance, the great passion for craft beer. The event is consolidated as one of the largest fairs in the sector, managing to bring together more than 25,000 craft beer lovers.
This year's gastronomic offer included 15 food trucks that for this edition offered a joint proposal that allowed tasting a selection of dishes paired with the best references of the more than 200 beers present at the festival.
The tastings were one of the most popular activities and this year, as a novelty, they allowed several brewers to gather at the same time that they not only presented their proposals but also tasted the products of others. This dynamic allowed both the brewers and the attendees to learn much more closely about the inspiration and processes behind each beer.
The largest international presence this year was in charge of Russia, participating with 5 breweries. The special guests of this edition were the organizers of the Berlin Beer Week, who presented the novelties that are succeeding in Germany (at the end of July, representatives of La Fira will make the trip to return to the Berlin event to bring Catalan beers).
The contest hosted the National Beer Championship for the 4th consecutive year, in which prizes are awarded to the best commercially produced ones in Spain. This year Edge Brewing, with 3 Gold and 2 Silver medals, was the most awarded brewery, taking the title of Best Brewery of 2018. The Best Beer award went to Akelarre from Almogàver .
Three days of very good vibes, excellent beers, good food, all in a zero-waste set-up next to the beach and in Barcelona's fashionable district, Poblenou. The local beer community is becoming more and more consolidated and events such as La Fira del Poble Nou are a good example of evolution, passion and creativity inspired by craft beer.
Text: Gaby D'Aloia Photography: Andy Dicks