Ok, so our first time in Madrid. I walked past this bar that offered craft beer and slow food, so today (Sunday) we went along. Mark runs the bar and is very knowledgeable about the beer and food he offers - so is his team (and apologies team, but I didn't get your names. ) Don't worry about what beer to have - Mark or his team will guide you. Not sure what food? Let them suggest! Seriously! Great beer (pity there was only one imperial stout, but all the others were drunk the night before, so sucks to be us!) ... Ruachbier which I would not have chosen, but Mark recommended, was an excellent balance of smoke and malt. Food? Simple and complex. Does that make sense? Pulled pork was to die for. Black pepper, but lots of underlying complex flavours. Kimchi croquettes - delicate ginger and clean, not "clarty" as my granny would have said. I'll be trying to replicate the pulled pork for the next six and I'll fail miserably 😊 Service? It felt like being at home and being entertained by friends. Not pushy, but more drinks arrive as and when you need them, with a smile and good humour. Next time we'll be there on a Saturday! We'll be back, but in the meantime, we wish Mark and his team all the success! If you're not sure about beer, or drink mainstream lager, visit this bar and you'll be helped on your path to righteousness. If you like beer then make sure you visit this bar. Either way, make sure you have some food ... Oh, and if you really don't like beer, then they do a wonderful home made lemonade... Full of...
Read moreI have visited nearly 200 breweries, tap rooms, and, brewpubs in the U.S.A. As well as in a half-dozen European countries over the years, and I have several things that I look for in a visit. When I visited The Toast Taproom in Madrid I instantly felt welcomed by the staff. This always sets me at ease, especially when visiting a pub outside of the states. Check 1! The staff was very educated on their offerings and made excellent suggestions. I am often frustrated when approached by servers that have no knowledge of the beers on offer. Check 2! The beer board sported 24 taps, though five were marked as “on vacation “, which was not surprising given the time of my visit (August 2024), a truly vast selection, check 3! Bonus point (in my book) for focusing on Euro-local beers. I ate only one dish, the chilaquiles, but they turned out to be the best chilaquiles I have had outside of Mexico and the Mexico-adjacent U.S. states of California, Arizona, and Texas. Overall, the visit was excellent, and The Toast Taproom will remain a target for future visits to...
Read moreExcellent place to try very nice and tasty beers and if you don’t know what to pick or you don’t know much about beers, no worries! You are in great hands! Marc will give you great advice and you’ll leave not only satisfied with your choice but also with a little bit of knowledge of the beers you have tried. Another star in this place is Diego, Marc’s wingman. He will make you feel like you been a regular for ages on your first night, he’ll make you laugh, while giving you recommendations which are always the best, trust him! In terms of food, all I have to write is, delicious! Brunch was great, I had the Huevos Rancheros with pulled pork and please don’t leave without trying the Chilaquiles!! Tip: if you dare, add some spicy sauce. Beers you must try: the Leffe Rouge, the Weihen Vitus and the...
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