Murex artisanal beer honours Axarquia sweet past

An artisan brewer from the Axarquia has come up with a one of a kind beer.

Velez-Malaga based Murex has crafted a beer which has a 20 per cent content of sugar cane juice.

While other brands apparently use sugar coming from sugarcanes to colour their drink, Murex is reportedly the only brewer to actually use the ingredient during the fermentation process.

“We obtain a very interesting flavour while paying homage to the industrial past of the Axarquia, traditionally linked to sugar production,” the creators said.

Their name is also a reminder of the region’s past as it is the name of a mollusc from which the Phoenician civilisation that settled in Velez-Malaga obtained a dye.

The product has earned a ‘Sabor a Malaga’ seal issued by the Malaga provincial government to promote local products.

Plans to open a brewery tour

But the company aims for a bigger promotion and has plans to open a sales point where clients would be able to see the brewing process before tasting the beer.

“We would like people to enjoy the smell of malt and the whole brewing process,” co-founder Israel Berjillos said.

Murex brews five beer varieties in its factory, which has the capacity to produce an estimated 390,000 litres per year.

For the time being, the company is producing 1,000 litres of beer per week to be distributed in gourmet shops and catering businesses in Malaga.