Thanks to PerfectDraft, you've already discovered Beer Monsieur Chouette, from a Dutch brewery and Beer Darcy, from the Thornbridge brewery. Today, learn more about a Spanish beer !

La Virgen brewery in the heart of Madrid

Located in the centre of the Spanish capital, La Virgen brewery is a craft brewery known for satisfying beer lovers with refreshing lagers in summer and richer, stronger beers in winter. Before winning the hearts of Spanish craft beer fans, La Virgen began as the project of three beer enthusiasts: Ana, César and Jaime. Nothing initially destined them for a career in brewing, as they first met while working at an advertising agency in San Francisco.

The idea of launching a craft brewery started to take shape in 2009, and in 2010 they left the United States for Madrid to bring their beer vision to life. From that point on, everything moved quickly: within a year they founded their brewery and opened their first brewpub.

In 2011, they released their first beer — a light, malty, thirst-quenching lager with low alcohol content. In 2012, they opened their first production facility, brewing 1,000 litres. Just two years later, output exceeded 200,000 litres. Rapid growth led them to relocate again in 2015 to a larger brewery capable of producing more than one million litres annually. Today, La Virgen craft beers are widely distributed and exported, with production approaching 4 million litres per year.

La Virgen now employs more than 50 people dedicated to developing and sharing quality craft beer with enthusiasts around the world. For the tenth edition of the Beery Christmas Advent Calendar, the brewery created a unique Rauchbier that leaves a lasting impression.

La Virgen Rauchbier tasting notes and flavour profile

If you have never tasted a smoked beer in the traditional Rauchbier style, expect a bold and surprising experience. Smoked beers get their distinctive character from malt dried over beechwood smoke, delivering deep, savoury aromas often compared to smoked meats and roasted foods.

La Virgen’s Rauchbier is a smoked, malty and slightly sweet lager. While Rauchbier is typically based on Dunkel or Märzen styles, this version uses a Maibock base — a pale, low-fermentation beer — which makes it smoother and more approachable.

In the glass, it shows a clear amber colour with orange highlights and a fine white head. The aroma is smoky and woody, supported by notes of caramel malt, bitter almond, hazelnut, roasted chestnut and gentle spices such as cinnamon and vanilla, with subtle hints reminiscent of aged rum. On the palate, the texture is light yet highly aromatic. Fresh and easy-drinking, it delivers lingering malt sweetness with flavours of rapadura sugar, dark honey, molasses and a touch of liquorice on the finish. The silky body carries praline and hazelnut tones, while the smoky character persists from start to finish.

Some tasters may also notice light fruity notes, similar to cherry in brandy or kirsch, without strong alcohol warmth. Overall, it is a well-balanced, easy-to-enjoy smoked craft beer with a round, refreshing finish. Best served at around 8°C, it pairs perfectly with Black Forest cake or cheesecake for dessert lovers. For savoury pairings, try it with Gruyère cheese, a barbecue burger or roast chicken.

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