My little black book of beer notes covering the summer months has disappeared, meaning that my last post about Sardinia is a bit shorter than planned.
I went to the historical centre of Alghero on my own one evening, looking for pubs and beer bars. There are a few nice places in the small streets and alleys, some more pretentious, some probably springing into life around midnight. The prices fluctuate quite a bit, but some of the bars with more expensive German beers on tap tend to serve quite substantial bar snacks, almost like tapas, at least early in the evening.
I had been in touch with the most renown micro brewer of the island, Nicola Perra, who runs the Barley brewery. He recommended that I’d visit Al Refettorio, a restaurant int he heart of the old town. Sure, they had one of the Barley beers on offer, as well as a mystery beer.
MenHir
The mystery beer first – Men Hir. This must be brewed with a wild yeast strain, with associations to lambic and cider. Pale yellow, low carbonation, crisp citrus dryness without ending up as vinegar. The label proclaims that this is a Birra Artiginale, the back label informs me that it is brewed on malted barley, hops and water.
And that’s it. No info about the brewery at all.
The other beer on the menu was Friska, which proudly states that is brewed by Barley. This is a wheat beer. This also has some citrus, peaches. Fine balance between the fruity and the sour. Lemon sorbet finish. Well balanced, not falling into the banana trap some other wheat beers tend to do.
And there was splendid food on offer, too. I had an outstanding tuna carpaccio with herbs and strawberries, followed by a pasta dish with ragù of lamb with peas and basil. It was so good I brought my family the next evening to try out more of the inventive menu, including paella and local fish.
The restaurant is not too hard to find, but a word of advice. If you sit outside, the benches are hard and uncomfortable – much better to go inside and be seated properly.
I’m glad to read you found some interesting craft beer during your vacation after all
Did you visit the Barley brewery after meeting the owner ?
No, I did not actually go to Barley – or the other micro breweries on the island. Being with my family, I did not have the time for that.
Now I’m scared of the banana trap; though heartened to learn that if it gets me, there will be wheat beer.
Not in Cuba, probably.
Anybody can run a restaurant, but only the professionals will be able to run it well. I’m glad to read you found some thing interesting.
Hei. Interessant å se at det brygges på Sardinia. Skal dit i sommer og er over gjennomsnittet interessert i å besøke mikrobryggeri/ steder man serverer godt øl.
Har du adresser/ anbefalinger ut over det som jeg har lest på bloggen din?
PE
Nei, det har jeg i grunnen ikke. Men prøv å google litt, det har sikkert skjedd ting siden i fjor sommer. Det finnes også en italiensk nettside som gir oversikt over mikrobryggerier, jeg skal finne den til deg.
Hei.
Takk for svar.
Da det begynner å nærme seg tur til Sardinia lurer jeg på om du har svaret som du lovet meg ?!!
Er også interessert i å vite om du har oversikt over om mikrobryggeriet i Cagliari fortsatt produserer og eventuelt om det er mulig å få tak i disse varene i Bosa distriktet.
Venter spent å høre fra deg
hilsen
Per Einar
Se på denne: http://www.microbirrifici.org/. Jeg har dessverre ikke noe oppdatert informasjon, du må prøve deg frem med Google Translator.