Destru-Yes

From Eating Asturias, the Encyclopedia of Asturian Gastronomy



There is a lot to unpack in the name of this beer alone, so hold tight. Destruyes is Castellano for “you destroy” or “you’re tearing”. “Ye” is Asturiano for “it”. So with the addition of a single dash, we go from You Destroy, to You Destroy It. A linguistic turn makes for a very clever name. Destru-Yes indeed.

The Background

The images from the label are primarily taken from the 2012 Asturian miner’s strike. It was the largest mass action against austerity in Europe since 1934. Spain had announced it would be ending support for coal mining with little to no notice. Coal mining unions rightly were fearful that this would lead to the complete abandonment of an entire sector, with no recourse for the workers. Beginning with armed attacks on police departments and the ruling party (PP) offices, the miners struck. The miners repelled multiple attempts by the Guardia Civil and National Police to remove roadblocks and arrest strikers. 60 roads (almost all the roads leading into Asturias) were barricaded. The striking miners manned them 24/7, using rocket launchers and other weapons to maintain control.

A general strike on 18 June 2012 brought the entire working class of Asturias to the barricades in support of the miners.[1] Additionally the neighboring communities of León and Galicia, as well as Aragon called general strikes. This and further industrial action worked. It resulted in miners affected by mine closures receiving full pensions regardless of years of service. Additionally the governments of Asturias and Spain earmarking money for the transformation for the Asturian economy away from extractive industries and towards a greener basis.[2]

The Beer

Destru-Yes is an Ordinary Bitter that does not shy away from the profile. This is a proper low-alcohol, low-gravity beer. More commonly called a “session ale” in the States, it happens to be one of my favorite styles. I like to drink beer more than I like to sample beer. This necessitates a nice easy drinking beer that won’t leave me drunk after two pints.

Destru-Yes hits all the proper Bitter notes: minimal head retention, earthy and floral hops, crystal clarity, and a smooth easy-drinking character. Were it not a limited run, I would drink a lot more of this one.

Style Guidelines

  • Color: Copper (15 SRM)
    • Standard: Gold to copper-colored (5-12(10-24 EBC) SRM)
  • Clarity: Slight chill haze
    • Standard: Chill haze is allowable at cold temperatures
  • Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: Low mildly sweet malt flavors, with a biscuity aftertaste
    • Standard: Low to medium residual malt sweetness should be present
  • Perceived Hop Aroma & Flavor: Medium-low hop aromas, low hop flavors
    • Standard: Low to medium residual malt sweetness should be present
  • Perceived Bitterness: Medium (35 IBUs)
    • Standard: Medium (20-35 IBUs)
  • Fermentation Characteristics: Mild / Low carbonation. Little bit of fruity aroma.
    • Standard: Mild carbonation traditionally characterizes draft-cask versions, but in bottled versions, a slight increase in carbon dioxide content is acceptable. Fruity esters are acceptable. Diacetyl is usually absent in these beers but may be present at low levels.
  • Body: Medium
    • Standard: Low to medium

Tasting Notes

Silky smooth mouth feel with a hint of herbal hops notes.

  1. Amaranta Herrero & Louis Lemkow (2015) Environmentally Blind Discourses on Coal Extraction and the Idealization of the Miner in Spain, Capitalism Nature Socialism, 26:4, 215-235, DOI: 10.1080/10455752.2015.1054849
  2. David Featherstone (2015) Thinking the crisis politically: lineages of resistance to neo-liberalism and the politics of the present conjuncture, Space and Polity, 19:1, 12-30, DOI: 10.1080/13562576.2014.992253