Laugar Brewery

Laugar Brewery is a Spanish craft brewery rooted in the Basque Country. It was founded in 2011 in Barakaldo by Eneko Neira, Txus Cabrera, Sergio Valiente and Aingeru del Campo. The name refers to the Basque expression for “four beers,” reflecting the four original founders. Neira had previously worked at the Bleder brewery in Barcelona beginning in 2008, and his brewing experience helped motivate the group to move from homebrewing into commercial production. Eder García, a former classmate of Neira with substantial homebrewing experience, subsequently joined the group. The founders initially produced small batches for local bars in Bilbao. Their visibility increased after they attended the Birrasana beer festival in 2013, where they were invited to participate in Borefts, an influential European craft-beer festival. This exposure helped establish Laugar within the specialist beer community and contributed to the founders’ decision in 2014 to formalize their operation as a brewery. The brewery was established in Gordexola, approximately 18 kilometres from Bilbao, giving the brand a production base in the wider Biscay area while retaining a strong connection to Basque beer culture. Laugar’s portfolio is associated with contemporary craft-brewing styles, especially robust and strongly flavored beers. Its best-known beers include imperial stout variants such as Aupa Tovarisch, as well as other specialty ales released under names including Laugar Aurrera Stanitsa, Laugar Funeralópolis and Laugar Braskadi. The brewery has also collaborated with European breweries such as De Molen, Alvinne and Naparbier. These collaborations and its presence at specialist festivals have positioned Laugar as a brewery oriented toward beer enthusiasts rather than mass-market lager production. The brewery combines production with an events-led taproom culture. Since 2014 it has organized Rock & Beer at its Gordexola taproom, an event that connects craft beer with live music and community activity. It also holds an annual Tovarisch Day, during which several versions of its Aupa Tovarisch imperial stout are served. This recurring programming helps reinforce Laugar’s identity as a destination brewery and gives the brand a platform for presenting seasonal or variant releases. Laugar has received recognition in online beer rankings and international competitions. Laugar Aurrera Stanitsa was described as the best Spanish beer in RateBeer’s 2019 ranking, while Laugar Funeralópolis was ranked second among Spanish beers on Untappd. Laugar Braskadi won a gold medal at the 2016 Mondial de la Bière in Montreal. In 2017, the brewery was reported to be producing approximately 1,500 hectolitres annually. Available reference material does not establish a current production volume, ownership structure, executive roster or official website, so those details remain unspecified here.

Laugar Brewery emerged from a homebrewing group formed in the Basque Country. Eneko Neira, who had begun working at Barcelona’s Bleder brewery in 2008, encouraged Txus Cabrera, Sergio Valiente and Aingeru del Campo to begin brewing together. The group adopted the name Laugar, a reference to “four beers” in Basque and to the four founding members. Eder García, a former classmate of Neira with extensive homebrewing experience, later joined the project. The early operation was small in scale. The brewers supplied batches to local bars in Bilbao, using the local pub network to test beers and build an audience. A significant step came in 2013, when the group attended the Birrasana beer festival. Following that appearance, they were invited to Borefts, a European festival associated with independent and specialist breweries. The invitation expanded Laugar’s exposure beyond its immediate local market and helped demonstrate that the brewery could compete within the wider European craft-beer scene. In 2014, the founders decided to establish a dedicated brewery. The facility was located in Gordexola, around 18 kilometres from Bilbao, in the Biscay area of the Basque Country. The brewery also developed a taproom and an events program, using the site not only for production but as a venue for community engagement. Since 2014, Laugar has organized Rock & Beer, combining the brewery’s beers with music. It also established Tovarisch Day, an annual event centered on multiple versions of its Aupa Tovarisch imperial stout. Laugar’s brewing identity has been shaped by strong, distinctive and technically ambitious beers. Its portfolio includes imperial stouts and other specialty ales, with releases such as Aupa Tovarisch, Aurrera Stanitsa, Funeralópolis and Braskadi receiving attention from beer-rating communities and competition judges. The brewery has also worked with European producers including De Molen, Alvinne and Naparbier, extending its network through collaboration beers. The brewery’s recognition includes a gold medal for Laugar Braskadi at the 2016 Mondial de la Bière in Montreal. In 2017, reported output reached approximately 1,500 hectolitres per year. Later recognition included Aurrera Stanitsa being described as Spain’s best beer in RateBeer’s 2019 ranking and Funeralópolis being described as the second-best Spanish beer on Untappd. These accolades strengthened Laugar’s reputation among specialist beer consumers. The available reference material does not provide a current production figure, detailed distribution information, ownership data, a named management team or a verified official web address. Accordingly, the documented history is strongest for the brewery’s founding, early development, Gordexola facility, events, collaborations and beer awards.

1. 2019Aurrera Stanitsa receives RateBeer recognition

   Laugar Aurrera Stanitsa was described as the best Spanish beer in the cited RateBeer ranking.

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2. 2017Reported annual production reaches 1,500 hectolitres

   The brewery was reported to be producing approximately 1,500 hectolitres annually.

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3. 2016Braskadi wins a gold medal in Montreal

   Laugar Braskadi won a gold medal at the Mondial de la Bière in Montreal.

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4. 2014Dedicated brewery established in Gordexola

   The founders established a brewery in Gordexola near Bilbao and began organizing the Rock & Beer event at the brewery’s taproom.

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5. 2013Festival exposure leads to Borefts invitation

   After attending the Birrasana festival, the brewery was invited to participate in Borefts, increasing its visibility within the European craft-beer community.

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6. 2011Laugar Brewery is founded in Barakaldo

   Eneko Neira, Txus Cabrera, Sergio Valiente and Aingeru del Campo founded Laugar Brewery in Barakaldo, Basque Country.

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7. 2008Eneko Neira gains professional brewing experience at Bleder

   Before Laugar was founded, Eneko Neira began working at the Bleder brewery in Barcelona, experience that helped lead to the later homebrewing project.

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A Basque craft brewery focused on expressive, specialist-oriented beers, collaboration brewing and taproom-based beer culture.

• Aupa TovarischImperial stout

  Aupa Tovarisch is one of Laugar’s best-known imperial stout lines and the focus of the brewery’s annual Tovarisch Day. The event presents several versions of the beer, indicating a platform for variants and specialty releases rather than a single static product. Its prominence reflects Laugar’s emphasis on intense, substantial beers aimed at experienced craft-beer drinkers.

• Laugar Aurrera StanitsaSpecialty craft beer

  Aurrera Stanitsa is a Laugar beer that received significant recognition in online beer rankings. It was described as the best Spanish beer in RateBeer’s 2019 ranking. The available reference does not specify its exact style, recipe or current availability, but its ranking suggests that it is regarded as one of the brewery’s notable specialist releases.

• Laugar FuneralópolisSpecialty craft beer

  Funeralópolis is a Laugar beer recognized in the Untappd community, where it was described as the second-best Spanish beer in the cited ranking. The available material does not identify its precise beer style, recipe or current production status, so it is best understood as a prominent specialty release within Laugar’s broader craft portfolio.

• Laugar BraskadiSpecialty craft beer

  Braskadi is a Laugar beer that won a gold medal at the 2016 Mondial de la Bière in Montreal. The award gave the brewery international competition recognition. No reliable information in the supplied material establishes the beer’s exact style, ingredients, release date or whether it remains in the current range.

• 2014Rock & Beer

  Spain · Basque Country

  Laugar began organizing Rock & Beer at its Gordexola taproom in 2014. The recurring event connects the brewery with live music and local beer culture, helping make the taproom a destination as well as a point of sale.

  Outcome. The event became an ongoing part of Laugar’s community and taproom identity.

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• Tovarisch Day

  Spain · Basque Country

  Laugar holds an annual Tovarisch Day focused on serving several versions of its Aupa Tovarisch imperial stout.

  Outcome. The event provides a recurring platform for showcasing variants of one of the brewery’s signature beers.

  Source

• 2019Aurrera Stanitsa recognized as Spain’s top beer in RateBeer ranking

  Laugar Aurrera Stanitsa was described as the best Spanish beer in the cited RateBeer ranking.

  Other
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• 2017Laugar reported annual production of approximately 1,500 hectolitres

  Reference material reported that Laugar Brewery was producing approximately 1,500 hectolitres of beer per year.

  Other
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• 2016Laugar Braskadi wins gold at Mondial de la Bière

  Laugar Braskadi received a gold medal at the Mondial de la Bière competition in Montreal.

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• Laugar Funeralópolis ranked among Spain’s leading beers on Untappd

  Laugar Funeralópolis was described as the second-best Spanish beer in the cited Untappd ranking.

  Other
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1. Laugar Brewery