¿¿Can you Caña?? How to Order a Beer in Spain

A short but comprehensive guide on how to order a beer in Spain: the country of cañas and tapas.

Useful Vocab

• Una caña: small glass of beer, 200-350mL

• Una doble: double, a glass of beer double the size of a caña

• Un cañón: another word for una doble in northern Spanish regions

• Una copa: goblet or chalice, normally used for wine, can be used for beer the size of a doble

• Un tubo: tall, narrow glass

• Una jarra: mug

• Una pinta: pint

• Un corto, un zurito, un pentalti: a glass of beer, smaller than a caña

• Una clara: a small beer mixed with lemonade (limón) or soda water (gas)

• Botellín, quinto, or botijo: small bottle of beer (200mL)

• Tercio, media, or mediana: large bottle of beer (333mL)

Handy Phrases

• Ponme, Tírame, Échame...: different ways to say give me or pour me (something). Usually used in bars or cafeterías. In informal settings these expressions aren't seen as rude or curt, but rather a friendly, typical way to ask.

• Un par: a pair, two (2)

• ¿Para beber?: Asked by a bartender or waiter, what would you like to drink?

Links

• https://www.traveler.es/gastronomia/articulos/cana-zurito-doble-pedir-cerveza-en-espana/12147

• http://www.estovadetapas.com/7-formas-de-pedir-cerveza-en-espana/

Somewhere throughout the history of the English language, cerveza made its way into our everyday lexicon. Whether it was your cheeky university Spanish professor or preparation for a weekend in Cancún, cerveza is the Spanish word all English speakers treasure. However, our trusty phrase "Una cerveza, por favor" might not get you very far in Spain.

La Caña

Even before moving to Madrid, I already had people inviting me to go out for cañas. After fútbol, going out for drinks is a Spaniard’s favorite sport. In the big cities, instead of invites to homes, friends meet almost exclusively in bars and cafeterías. Tinto de verano, wine, or vermut aside, your safest bet is always la caña.

How to define the caña? Most of Spain agrees that a caña is a small glass of beer at the bar. You can trust a caña will always be cold, soul-quenching, and fresh from the draught.

The size varies depending on the region—between 200 and 350mL (seven to twelve ounces). For example, a caña at a bar in Bilbao is almost double that of Madrid. The real trouble though is if you prefer a different size since Spaniards haven't decided how to collectively call anything else.

For example, when I sit down for a drink in Madrid, I know one caña won’t be enough so I ask for una doble—double the size. However, ordering a doble in other regions of Spain could get you arched eyebrows and a request for clarification.

While not foolproof, and until Spaniards reach a national consensus, the association Cerveceros de España has created the following map to save you some confusion or embarrassment while ordering a beer.

Image via https://cerveceros.org/

Let’s break it down:

Una caña

The Spanish pièce de résistance. You can never go wrong ordering a caña. As mentioned before, the quantity may vary but more useful is knowing how to properly order one. Opt for something more colloquial:

“Ponme una caña.”

“Échame dos cañas.”

“Tírame un par (2) de cañas.”

Or, after the waiter asks, "¿Para beber?”

“Dos cañas.”

(Por favor optional)

Cortos, zuritos, penaltis and claras

Whether you’re driving or just drinking less, some regions offer an option smaller than the caña. In Castilla y León and La Rioja, they serve un corto, in País Vasco un zurito, and in Aragón un penalti.

Another lighter option is una clara. A clara is a beer served in a caña glass but diluted with lemonade or soda water. You can order una clara con limón (lemonade) or con gas (soda water).

Una doble

If you're especially thirsty, things get messy depending on the region. In Madrid, you can ask for a doble, which is double the size of a caña, around 400mL.

“Una doble, por favor.”

Another option is to ask for una copa de cerveza. The size is the same as a doble but will come in a goblet or chalice.

Some northern regions, like País Vasco or Navarra, serve a cañón. In Zaragoza, un tubo. If you prefer a mug with a handle, the word is una jarra, which is closer to half a liter.

Finally, when in doubt, you can always ask for una caña grande, or, as craft beer culture increasingly invades Spain, una pinta (pint).

Las botellas (bottles)

Lastly, moving on from tap beer to bottled beer. Here, Spaniards seem to have met on the same page.

You can order the smallest size of bottles by asking for a botellín. Not uncommonly, especially in the northeast, they call it un quinto. The name means a fifth since the bottles are one-fifth of a liter (200 mL). Around Madrid, they are also called botijos.

For the bigger bottles, everyone agrees on un tercio. Again, the name refers to one-third of a liter (333 mL). In Asturias or Cantabria, you may call it una media, or in Cataluña una mediana.

Whew.

Forget the books. If you can keep this vocabulary straight, you’ve earned yourself una caña.