The increasingly oppressive heat is leading to a significant increase in beer consumption, which is firmly anchored at the top of the soft drinks list.. Despite figures showing that each Spaniard drinks 58 liters per year, significantly less than the 80 that each European citizen consumes on average, Spain has become the second largest beer producer in Europe with 41 million hectoliters, surpassed only by Germany in the world moved up to ninth place, having overtaken Poland and the United Kingdom, in a ranking led by China (360 million hl), followed by the United States (203), Brazil (143) and Mexico (135).
Such data was the basis of the conference held at the headquarters of the Wechselas Foundation: The contribution of beer to the Spanish and EU economies. Among the most interesting global data are the more than 10,000 breweries based in Europe, including 491 in Spain, which provide 2.5 million jobs and have a notable impact on one of the most crucial chapters, especially for the Mediterranean countries: tourism. In fact, the 58 liters/year that appears in Spanish statistics is largely due to the reception of foreign tourists. Another major Spanish peculiarity is the rapid emergence of non-alcoholic beer, which already accounts for 13% of sales. In the words of Jacobo Olalla, General Director of the Spanish Brewers Association: “This trademark is the symptom that the Spanish consumer is not looking for the (low) alcohol content of this drink, but for its freshness and its taste, without sacrificing any compromises.” Socialization course.”
The consumption figures are considered moderate within the context of Mediterranean consumption behavior: more than 90% of the occasions, whether at home or on the go, were associated with moments of consuming other foods. Of the 300,000 bars that exist in Spain, between 20 and 40% of their turnover is linked to beer consumption, a percentage that can reach up to 80% in establishments in particularly hot rural areas.
The added value of the beer sector in Spain now exceeds 9,000 million euros created by the 450,000 jobs that the sector offers, 87% of them in hospitality, with a tax contribution of 5,840 million euros, and where the VAT collection has increased by 31%.
Simon Spillman, director of Cerveceros de Europa, congratulated himself on the great appeal that has generated in Spain the Binomial Tapa/Pintxo beer, a banner taken up by Jacobo Olalla, who proposes to promote a distinctive seal that taken into account the “Spanish tapas” as an intangible cultural asset.
Throughout the day there was a lot of reference to hops, the characteristic element of this drink and the plant that gives the beer its bitterness and characteristic aroma.. This climbing plant, which requires moisture and sun, offers great profitability to farmers and is called “green gold”. In León, and especially on the banks of the Órbigo River, 90% of the thousand tons of hop flowers produced in Spain are collected, which barely cover half of the needs of Spanish factories. For this reason, new hop plantations are being established in Galicia, Catalonia, La Rioja, Navarra, the Basque Country and Andalusia. Its cultivation requires great specialization, which contributes to the establishment of well-trained farmers in such areas.
The day, moderated by former Agriculture Minister Elena Espinosa, also looked at the industry’s goals for 2025, many of which are already in an advanced stage of completion.: reach 80% of beer volume sold in reusable packaging; use 100% renewable electricity in production; Reduce water consumption per hl of beer produced by 10% and achieve zero waste in production.
