Spain: Caña

I’m not a huge alcohol drinker but in Spain there is virtually no way to escape the occasional caña (literally ‘cane’). When going to a bar or restaurant, there is almost always a ‘house’ beer on tap. This beer served in a small glass is referred to as a “caña” and the most typical way to order a beer. It’s not common to ask what kind of beer you want, rather there is only a small variation in the type of cañas. You can also get a caña con limón (with lemon fanta) or clara (beer with gaseosa). I know that most bars have other beers available, but I’ve never been with a Spaniard who orders a beer and asks for anything other than a caña.

Like wine, cañas typically come with tapas. Cañas are also very small, usually 200-250ml. Coincidentally, they come in the same cup (vaso) that a morning café con leche would come in. The price for a caña is a bit expensive for the amount of beer but keep in mind that with every round will be another round of tapas! At most places a caña will be 1€, though they can reach 2€ in upscale locations. Also, in a bar, it is not commonplace to tip like in America, rather you can choose to leave small change (10-50 cent coins). Cañas are taken at nearly anytime of the day, but certainly very popular between lunch and dinner, at around 7pm. Caña time can frequently morph into dinner time, a common sight in Spain.