Gravity, Budapest

As always, my blogging drags behind my travels. It’s high time for my second Budapestian #beersaturday post—another one I promised to share with the brewery crew. And yet, this visit was pure serendipity rather than planned. I had other plans nearby that fell through at the last minute, leaving me free to explore the neighborhood. I stopped by the Great Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok) for a snack, equipped with a handwritten list of spots preferred by locals, because this landmark, popular with tourists, is rife with traps. Unfortunately, I arrived too late and had to find another place to eat. And what did I spot on the map? The nearest brewery: Gravity.

It happened to be my first proper evening in Budapest—I don’t really count the night I arrived close to midnight and went straight to the hotel—and I wasn’t yet familiar with the local beer scene; Hungary is better known for its wines. The sign glowing in the early evening looked promising, and as soon as I stepped into the taproom, I knew I’d made the right choice. They didn’t serve snacks, but the beer list included several nutritious specialties, ensuring I wouldn’t go hungry.

Despite its name, Gravity has nothing to do with physics, although beer names here often refer to space objects. For beer buffs, and anyone else curious: gravity in brewing reflects the concentration of dissolved solids in the wort, expressed as a percentage by weight—usually in degrees Plato (no relation to the philosopher), so much for theory.

Gravity opened in 2018 and currently produces about 6,000 liters a month, so a thirsty Czech like me can put a noticeable dent in their stock. The brewery sits right beside the bar, offering daily tours in both Hungarian and English.

The Brews

Exoplanet, Single Origin Coffee Stout
My first beer is usually the one recommended by the staff, and since I didn’t want to start off with the renowned Imperial Stouts, they brought me this specialty—brewed in part with Ethiopian coffee from a nearby roastery. It’s a lightly caramel stout with a sweet aroma that really lets the coffee shine in the middle of each sip. The roasted notes in the finish gradually shift into a creamy flavor with a hint of roasted chocolate. This beer set the bar really, really high.

Lunasa, Oaked Irish Ale
Gravity collaborates with Irish breweries, as you can probably tell from the beer menu, and Lunasa is the result of one such collab. It’s a sweet, fizzy beer with a pronounced taste of plums and raisins, plus a hint of caramelized nuts. It matured in oak barrels, which is most noticeable in the subtle woody flavor in the aftertaste. It’s like a beer lollipop—great to try, but I probably couldn’t drink it all evening.

Solar Wind, Blood Orange Wheat
I have a weakness for wheat beers, so I just couldn’t miss this one—especially since by mid-April it already felt like summer in Budapest. And it really is a fine Weissbier, prominently featuring blood orange, at times reminiscent of orange peel. The beer isn’t bitter; later in the sip, the wheat malt comes through along with honeyed notes. A perfect summer refresher.

Spásaire, Imperial Caramel Stout
My last beer of the day, and it was a fantastic choice. Dense, robust, creamy-chocolaty, and at the same time powerfully aromatic with salted caramel. You could practically feast on this beer, though you need to be mindful of its high alcohol content—10%. The absolute star of the evening. Definitely give Spásaire a try!

I believe it’s time for @incublus to step up to the plate (or glass) and take the #beersaturday challenge! Perhaps with more photos and less text, but still. See the challenge announcement published regularly by @detlev and join us!