Beercelona

Louis Moritz (source (.doc)) was an Alsatian who settled in Barcelona in 1851 and, two years later, started working for a local brewer, Ernest Ganivet. In 1856 he started his own business, and in 1859 Luis Moritz y Compañía bought Joan Maurer’s brewery at the Santa Madrona gate. In 1864 a new brewery was opened at Casanova 2, and in 1894 Louis/Luis built a house for himself at Ronda Sant Antoni 41, with features like a Gambrinus and hop (Catalan vernacular synonym: boca de llop, wolf’s mouth) and malt motifs. In the early 70s the business got into severe difficulties, blamed on the oil price hikes. I hope this doesn’t mean they were cutting costs by using industrial ethanol.

Google has helpfully digitised (literally) the 1857 Municipal Ordinances (Ordenanzas Municipales de la Ciudad de Barcelona), Articles 170-1 of which say:

I guess the 1864 brewery must have got round this by being situated on the Montjuïc side of Ronda Sant Antoni, outside the walls. Ah! how the world has altered: contemporary evil, in the shape of hordes of prostitutes, is all to be found on the city side, while you can walk down the Moritz side with nary a “Hello darling.”

However, this may all change quite soon. When Moritz went belly-up the family hung onto the brand, and they now intend to open a monstrous drinking hole–Fàbrica Moritz–in the restored Sant Antoni buildings, out-Oirishing the Oirish theme bars and the legendary local turn of the century Drink Hall (Rambla+Nou). This clearly fits in perfectly with the mayor’s belated stop-them-pis$$ing-in-the-streets–(vomiting’s-OK) ordinance.

(The ordinances are worth a read. Some highlights: the articles dealing with nude bathing (inc horses, dogs and soldiers), nightwatchmen and something else which I’ve forgotten but do remind me when you find it.)

Trevor @ 16 December 2005 8:55 AM

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