February 14th is just around the corner, and once again St. Valentine’s day will be the perfect excuse for lovers to celebrate this Cupid of the Christian Saints Calendar, as has been tradition in different ways annually since year 494.
Legend has it that St. Valentine lived in the 3rd Century of our age, and in spite of Christianity being persecuted by the Roman Empire at that time, he secretly officiated the weddings of many couples who shared his faith. As we can imagine it did not end well for him, as he literally went head over heels but not for love. Or maybe he did, it all depends on how you look at it.
We really don’t know if St. Valentine loved beer as much as we do, or even if some of the other saints on the Saints Calendar did. For example, St. Hildegard of Bingen was a great lobbyist of the use of hops in the 12th century, and St. Arnulf of Metz who lived in the 6th and 7th centuries, who it is said advised his followers to drink beer rather than water to avoid water-borne diseases.
Given that St. Valentine lived in Imperial Rome, he most likely favoured wine. Roman patricians thought that beer was a drink more suitable for the barbarian peoples of central and northern Europe, much less refined than the finer tastes in the metropolis. As we can see, prejudices against beer are nothing new.
Despite those prejudices, and even though beer lovers are really unable to boast that it is the first thing that comes into our heads when thinking about a romantic candle-lit dinner, the time has come to set things straight and give it the protagonism it deserves for these occasions. We are therefore going to suggest a choice of beers from our aisles either to give or share at those celebrations, which beer lovers are sure to enjoy on their palates.
- Rosa Blanca (4.8%) > If giving flowers is romantic and the person you have fallen in love with is a beer lover, why not show them your love with a “bunch” of this lager featuring a taste of Citra hops. An extremely fresh beer in the mouth.
- Alhambra Reserva 1925 (6.4%) > A balanced flavour that is as highly appreciated as is its green embossed bottle, an icon in the brewing world which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. What better harbinger to forge a long-lasting love.
- Hoppy Flower (7.5%) > An IPA Double for jilted love, who understand that even the bitterest moments can be part of love, but even more a part of beer. Its floral aroma and intensity in the mouth break away from preconceived ideas about what a romantic date should be.
Salud!
