Welcome back to the 18th edition of The Midweek Drink for another history lesson and review of my chosen beverage. We are now ‘smack-bang’ in the middle of February, with two important dates of the month for pancake lovers and romantic couples. The former I can relate; the latter not so much - maybe next year I will strike lucky, right?…Right?!
Okay, okay, lets move on from all this lovey-dovey stuff and feeling sorry for myself, so we can get back on track on why we are here, today.
Aigua de Moritz, also known as Moritz Water, is today’s choice of alcohol-free beer. This beer is produced and sold by the Catalan-based company, Cervezas Moritz. So before I go on explaining the drink, I believe it’s time for you to take a seat (don’t get too comfortable, this wont take long) and focus on the brief history lesson that I’m about to dish out!
A brief history on Cerveses Moritz
In 1851, an Alsatian immigrant called Louis Moritz Trautmann moved to Barcelona and began to brew his own beer five years after his arrival. By 1859, Louis knew he was onto something, and so, purchased a brewery in the Raval district of Barcelona. As business boomed and demand from the public increased, it was time for the company to move to a larger facility close to Ronda de Sant Antoni, outside the city’s walls.
When Louis died in 1920, his heirs took control of the family business and renamed it as “Fábrica de Cervezas Moritz, S.A.”. But during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, production had ceased and the company was taken off the families hands by the state until the end of the war in 1939. During the early 50s, the company flourished and continued to until the energy crisis of 1978, forcing the company to go into administration. Thankfully in 2004, the descendants of Louis revived the business with great succession and continues to this day to grow through sales and popularity with their alcohol and alcohol-free brands.
Three senses and a beverage
The ingredients used in this beer are: Water, Malted Barley, Rice, Dietary Fibre and Hops.
It comes in a 330ml bottle and is the only beer brand that uses the Catalan language on their labels. It has a pale blonde colour as you pour into a glass with moderate carbonation, a foamy white head that does not dissipate rapidly and a light body.
At first, it starts of sweet and then turns to a light bitter aftertaste, which is pleasing on the tastebuds, whilst still keeping its crisp and refreshing taste. For the aroma, you can pick out sweet and citric notes; it also has a resemblance of a beer that you would normally find in a pub or bar - just not containing the high strength of alcohol of a typical beer.
Where to buy Aigua de Moritz Alcohol Free Beer
Want to try Aigua de Moritz Alcohol Free Beer? Here at LightDrinks, we sell in single bottles, packs of 6 and 12.