It really was pretty simple to arrange; a question of deciding a date, booking tickets online and locating the brewery (I can't claim credit for any of it; my husband did everything)
Well, it was yesterday and apart from one of the group not being able to come, it was a brilliant two hours, totally successful and well-organised.
Cervezas Ambar, La Zaragozana is currently right in the city of Zaragoza; we pass it without realising it every time we walk to church on a Sunday, but if you don't know it's there you wouldn't guess. I say currently because in a few months the main brewery will leave the hundred-plus-year-old works to their out-of-town location in La Cartuja. They are not abandoning the site completely, however. It will be dedicated to small, specialist brewing, tasting and as an industrial museum.
The first thing we had to do on arrival was to put on overalls.
Brown coats, like the brewers!
And then we had to cover our hair.
For an hour we were taken round the works. We sampled malt and hops, saw the various machines and vats.
The last part of the tour was the outside tanks.
After that came the really fun bit: the tasting. Our guide, Daniela set up a bottle display on the bar.
The bottles on the left are the standard beers; that's what we tried first, but not like in a wine tasting where you swill and spit: proper glasses filled from the bottles, and snacks to line the stomach with.
The IPA (India pale ale) was delicious, and the dark beer was a bit caramel flavoured.
Last and certainly not least came the "Ambiciosas" -half litre designer beers. These are limited edition, some a bit wierd, but we chose a really nice rye beer.
In the photo you can just see the postcards and bottle-openers we were all given.
A thoroughly recommendable visit!
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