Mahou pronounced MAO like cow, a very easy drinking lager that cools you off in the 31 degrees celsius heat. For you American readers thats the low 90's, and keep in mind air conditioning is typically reserved for stores here in Madrid. To escape the heat we ducked into El Neru, near Plaza Mayor in Madrid. This is a tapas bar in the style of the region of Asturias in the north of Spain. We enjoyed more than a few glasses of Mahou and with every round they bring you pinchos (a small order of tapas on the house). We ate queso de cabrales, a stinky, salty, spreadable sheep's milk cheese, the most amazing chorizo that either of us have ever consumed (chorizo a la sidra), slightly salty and incredibly flavorful, and as a special treat our friend Alberto treated us to a bottle of sidra. This amazingly fun drink to pour is also refreshing. Although made from apples it's not overly sweet like most other ciders i've had.
