Yesterday, a friend of mine told me that a new beer was made, here in Algeciras. Its name is “Levantera” and , now , I am going to explain you the reason of this name.
The history tells that, back in the seventeenth century and, above all, the XVIII, Algeciras gained some fame, because, in their land, were cultivated vineyards, that gave wines of excellent quality, to the point that exported, by sea, to Flanders, England, France and many parts of Spain. This burgeoning viticulture activity was driven by the excellent wines, that were removed from vines, which gave some peculiarity of the winds lashing. It is said that they were called “special”. Now, three centuries later, there are not wines, but its place is being occupied by a handmade beer, which has been baptized with the name, that here, is precisely given to the characteristic east wind, blowing with special virulence the day when you have decided to go to the beach. “Levantera” is an author beer, with a firm from Algeciras, “especial” as the nickname of the people, whom it is addressed; but, also, with a clear regional vocation.
The rubric is put by Manuel Martin, a businessman wine distribution, who appreciated the rise of handmade beer and wanted to launch a land, with which the region was identified. Manuel told the following: "After deciding to develop our own handmade beer, to analyze consumer behavior and new trends, in the market, and to detect more and more handmade beer consumed, in relation to industrial, still in time of crisis, but products are demanded more exclusive". A beer from here, for people from here. You can say that it is on the right track. A year after undertaking the complicated challenge, you can buy or take ”Levantera”, in about fifty establishments. Its driver, the owner of the recipe, is going to establish the factory in the region (now he has to make it in the province of Sevilla, 1,000 liters, 3,000 little bottles, each time) and intends to continue being introduced, with new types --now, there is blond, toast and black, but there is in project, for example, a Mexican-- and more points of sale. Now, it can be found in Algeciras, La Linea, Los Barrios, San Roque Station, Palmones, Guadacorte, Tarifa, Sotogrande and San Roque village.
Manuel Martin dealed (and deals) with wine distribution, in the region, and, some years ago, he realised the incipient rise of gin and tonic. He began to sell, in the region, premium gin, until the market experienced an explosion unparalleled and the competition grew to overtake it. When he realised the interest that began to awaken handmade beers, he said he would not fall into the same mistake. It would not still be good to start bringing other brands, in order that, when the market grew, he left behind himself again. Then, it came to his mind: "If the recipe and brand is mine, nobody can take it away from me", he thought. And no sooner said than done. With the help of a brewer master and the advantage given by his years of experience and contacts with the hospitality, he devised “Levantera”. A beer for the region, that has been very well received, although Martin expects that it still rootes more on people, who bet more, for a local product, that strives for excellence and is constantly evolving. Because, one of the virtues, of this type of beer, is its versatility. There are plenty of flavours, colors, aromas, that vary during the preparation and causing fans have become genuine jewelry hunters. The Surprise factor versus the industrial beer standard flavour of lifetime.
Gema Vargas-Machuca and Manuel Martín
Initially "Levantera" is presented, in 33cl format. The price is about 2 € and they come in boxes of 12 units. In the labeled, you can read the logo, with a kind of moved letter, giving the feeling of wind and sea waves background a silhouette of the Rock of Gibraltar.
The beer of the region contains water, yeast, barley, hops and point. That is, there is no additive, it is unpasteurized and carbonless added, it suffices that arising from the second fermentation in the bottle, resulting in a completely natural product. The fermentation, in bottle, makes it sometimes may contain turbidity or natural sediment.
First, there was the blonde, fresher, less dense, with which searches the customer accustom the palate this type of drink, which, in Spain, is just conforming to the point that many experts speculate that, eventually, it shall replace the other alcoholic drinks; and the poor sister of wine shall cease to be it.
The boom began, in the USA, where eight out of every hundred beers are handmade. From there, it came to Europe and, then, begins to enter Spain, with enormous force. There are already more than 150 brands, in the country, where there is no specific regulation, except health control, that any drink, that is sold, is subjected. In Spain, beer became Queen, back in 1987, but the consumer is accustomed to a standard drink, less dense, more refreshing, more affordable than the handmade, that does not just take of the looks of gourmet product.
The blonde of “Levantera” is the bridge product to the star of the home: the toast. From there to the black, with a kind of double roasting, that makes it less dense than the industrial standard of the major brands.
There is a special edition commemorating the centennial of Algeciras CF, that may become one of the modalities of the home.
The “Levantera” beer was presented, the last November-13 – 2014, in the restaurant “Cepas”, in “Getares” beach, in Algeciras.
The presentation of "Levantera" in the restaurant "Cepas"
This fact shows that this beer, which was born in the social networks, is being accepted by people, through bares and restaurants.
Well, I hope that you have liked the idea and hope that you can taste this beer.
Until my next post, kind regards,
Luis.
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