Guinea Pigs ´95
Cervezas Yria

 

Being my first foray into the Spanish craft beer scene, I can't really say that I'm overwhelmed; It is notwithstanding a strong step in the right direction.

At odds with It's own domestic culture the Spanish - and Portuguese, while we are at it - brewers seemed to have learned to cope with - among other things - difficult logistics, mainly where it concerns ingredients; Most of these breweries, share the hindrance of having to import all the ingredients all the way from Belgium, with solely the water as a differentiator for 'terroir'.

For this reason, how they approach brewing philosophy seems ever more important, if they are to ever leave their mark.
At the moment there is no clear directing philosophy, but Yria seems to be the closest to unveiling a winning formula:

Guinea Pigs '95 is irreverent enough as to evoke interest but not to the point of becoming gimmicky or unfocused. It's much darker than most (I)IPAs, with a hue closer to what you'd find in some traditional English Barley Wine.

The aroma is pretty complex but also refreshing, luxurious and candyish. One other interesting aspect of the aroma is how neatly you can tell apart the influence of each ingredient.

It's also very rounded at the mouth, with a soft yeast bite and hop bitterness and pleasant earthy and ashy notes

A different take on the style for sure, to the point it kind of feels more like a hopped up Dubbel. Regardless, this beer serves to show that it isn't all fizzy soda beer in Iberian land.

 

On tap. Tumbler glass. Enjoyed on may´12. Dark amber color. Foggy. Off-white in color, close, small sized bubbled, lasting crown. Caramel malt, sweet toasted malts & pine aroma to the nose. Gentle bitter upfront followed by toasted malt moderate flavor. Then increasing hops provide resins on to the palate. Flavorful, fruity mouthfeel. Sensation is creamy while woody notes linger into the finish. Medlar, resins & toasted malts on the aftertaste. Delightful, refreshing beer where ABV is well hidden. Malts keep under control a heavy IBU profile in a very well balanced beer.