Spanish Breweries
styles - history - beers


Introduction
This page lists all the breweries currently active in Spain and all the beers they brew.
Index
Spanish brewing industry
Spanish beer satistics
Spanish beer styles
Spanish Breweries
The Spanish brewing industry

Three companies generously take care of most of the brewing in Spain: Heineken, Mahou-San Miguel and Damm. Surprisingly, in these globalist times, the last two are both Spanish-owned. Between them they have over 80% of the Spanish beer market.

In an unusual surge against the multinational tide, much of the brewing industry swapped back into Spanish ownership in recent years. Coors, Danone and Guinness have all pulled out of Spain.

This is how the 28 active breweries can be classified:

Brewery No. Details
Heineken 5 Heineken España, in its current form, was created in 1999 when Heineken bought the five breweries of the Cruzcampo group from Diageo (Guinness) to add to the two El Águila breweries it already owned. It was then forced to sell on its two duplicates (in Madrid and Valencia) to Damm.
Mahou-San Miguel 4 Spanish-owned. Formed when Madrid-based Mahou bought San Miguel from Danone (Kronenbourg).
Damm 4 Spanish-owned. Originally Barcelona-based, but bought two breweries from Heineken when Spanish regulators stepped in over their Cruzcampo takeover.
Independents    
Brewpubs    
Microbreweries 0 No new micros.

Spanish beer styles

As in most of the world, lager is king in Spain. Pale lager, of course, though there is a smattering of the darker stuff, too. Generously wide tax bands have left Spanish pale lagers a touch stronger than most of their European counterparts.

The stronger types Especial and Extra together account for 44% of sales, Clásica for about 40%.


Style alc. Plato description
Cerveza Clásica 4.6-4.8% 11º Pils - the standard very pale, slightly hoppy sort of crap sold everywhere.
Cerveza Especial 5.5% 13º A beefier version of pils. Approximates to a German Export or Spezial.
Cerveza Negra 5.5% 13º Dark, malty, lightly-hopped lagers roughly in the münchener style.
Cerveza Extra 6.1-6.4% 15º Strong pale lagers of indeterminate style, lying somewhere between an Oktoberfest and a pale Bock. The strength is obviously determined by the Spanish beer tax bands.

Brewers' Trade Organisation

Cerveceros de Espana
Almagro, 24 2º Izqda,
28010 Madrid.
Tel: 91 308 67 70
Fax: 91 308 66 61
info@cerveceros.org
http://www.cerveceros.org/index.jsp



Spanish Breweries
Statistics


1976 1980 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
production (1,000 hl) 15,400 20,027a       23,510# 24,788# 26,141# 27,337 27,315 26,447 26,082 24,278 25,024 25,313 24,716 24,773 24,991 25,852 26,414 27,742 27,860 30,677
exports (1,000 hl)                               358 493 539 619 635 625 728 845
imports (1,000 hl)                               1,850 1,968 2,226 2,539 3,373 4,010 3,626 3,626
consumption (1,000 hl)   20,065a                         26,963a 26,199a 26,238a 26,677a 27,772a 29,152a 31,126a 30,758* 33,458*
consumption per head (litres)   53.7a 58.4b 59b 61b 62b 67b 69b 71b   70.7 70.45 65.92 66.22 66.64 66.04 66.68 66.94 69.08 71.98 75.7 73.5 78
Sources:
Cerveceros de Espana
# - United Nations Statistics Department
a The Brewers of Europe (2003)
b Bier in Belgie, Geert van Lierde

Notes:
* calculated from the other figures


Beer sales by package
  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
bottles   53.9%   50.3%     48%
- returnable   30.6%   27.7%     26.5%
- non-returnable   23.3%   22.6%     21.5%
draught   33.1%   32.3%     30.5%
cans   13%   17.4%     21.5%
total 100% 100% 100%
Source:
Cerveceros de Espana
1998 - Brauwelt Brevier 2000, Brauwelt 31-32/2002
2001 - The Brewers of Europe (2003)


Beer sales by location
  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
home             26%
pub/restaurant             74%
Source:
Cerveceros de Espana


Spanish beer tax
  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
1.2 - 2.8% ABV €2.32/hl €2.32/hl €2.32/hl €2.32/hl €2.45/hl €2.45/hl
2.8% ABV - 11º Plato €5.34/hl €5.34/hl €5.34/hl €5.34/hl €6.67/hl €6.67/hl
11-15º Plato €8.38/hl €8.38/hl €8.38/hl €8.38/hl €8.87/hl €8.87/hl
15-19º Plato €11.43/hl €11.43/hl €11.43/hl €11.43/hl €12.09/hl €12.09/hl
>19º Plato €0.77/hl/º Plato €0.77/hl/º Plato €0.77/hl/º Plato €0.77/hl/º Plato €0.81/hl/º Plato €0.81/hl/º Plato
Source:
Cerveceros de Espana

Notes:
pre-2001 amounts converted from pesetas.
VAT is an additional 16%.






What do my scores mean?
< 25 positively unpleasant
25 - 40 has its faults
40-50 OK
50-60 reasonably good
60-70 above average - definitely worth trying
70-80 excellent - worth hunting for
80 > world class - you must try it


Spanish Breweries
Listings


San Miguel
Compte DUrgel, 240-8º,
08036 Barcelona.
Tel: 093 - 227 23 00
http://www.sanmiguel.es/

Founded: 1957
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
San Miguel Especial 5.4%   Pale lager - Especial.  
San Miguel Nostrum 6.1% 15º Pale lager - Extra.  
San Miguel 1516 4.2%   Pale lager. Brewed to the Reinheitsgebot. Hence the name.  
San Miguel Eco 4.2%   Pale lager. Organic.  

Part of Mahou-San Miguel. Bought by Mahou from Danone (Kronenbourg) in 2000.


Mahou
Paseo Imperial 32,
28005 Madrid.
Tel.: 091 526 91 00
http://www.mahou.es
http://www.mahou-sanmiguel.com/

Founded: 1890
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Mahou Clásica 4.8%   Pale lager - Clásica.  
Mahou Cinco Estrellas 5.5%   Pale lager - Especial.  
Mahou Negra 5.5%   Dark lager.  
Mahou Ice 5.5%   Pale lager.  
Carlsberg     Pils. Brewed under licence.  
Reina 5.5%   Pale lager - Especial. Brewed to the Reinheitsgebot. Hence the name (it means "pure").  
Kronenbourg 1664     Pils. Brewed under licence.  

Part of Mahou-San Miguel.

Output of Mahou group
year output (hl.)
2000 8,479,000
2001 9,309,000
2002 9,500,000
2003 10,295,000
Source:
Mahou website


Damm
Roselló 515,
08025 Barcelona.
Tel.: 093 290 92 00
http://www.damm.es/

Founded: 1876
Annual production: 5,000,000 hl.

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Xibeca Damm Classic 4.6%   Pale lager - Clásica.  
Estrella Damm 5.4%   Pale lager - Especial.  
Voll-Damm Extra 7.2%   Amber lager - Extra.  
Bock-Damm 5.4%   Dark lager - Münchener. Despite the name, not a bock.  
AK Damm 4.8%   Pale lager - Clásica. This is one AK that does get its name from someone's initials - August Kuentzmann Damm.  

The founder, August Kuentzmann Damm, moved to Barcelona from the Alsace at the end of the 19th century. He seems to have borne an extraordinary resemblence to Josef Stalin.


Estrella de Levante
Calle Mayor 171,
30100 Espinardo.
Tel.: 0968 879 800
Fax: 0968 879 869
http://www.estrellalevante.es/

Founded: 1963
Annual production: 1,000,000 hl (2004, capacity)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Estrella Levante Clasica 4.8% 11.6º Pale lager - Clásica.  
Estrella Levante Especial 5.4% 13º Pale lager - Especial.  

Owned by Damm.


Mahou
Carretera N-II, km 47
19208 Alovera.
Tel.: 0949 270 138
http://www.mahou.es
http://www.mahou-sanmiguel.com/

Founded: 1993
Annual production: 12,000,000 hl (capacity, 2004)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Mahou Clásica 4.8%   Pale lager - Clásica.  
Mahou Cinco Estrellas 5.5%   Pale lager - Especial.  
Mahou Negra 5.5%   Dark lager.  
Mahou Ice 5.5%   Pale lager.  
Carlsberg     Pils. Brewed under licence.  
Reina 5.5%   Pale lager - Especial. Brewed to the Reinheitsgebot. Hence the name (it means "pure").  
Kronenbourg 1664     Pils. Brewed under licence.  

Part of Mahou-San Miguel. Supposedly the second largest brewery in Europe.


San Miguel
Carretera Logrono,
90070 Burgos.
Tel: 0947 282 200
http://www.sanmiguel.es/

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
San Miguel Especial 5.4%   Pale lager - Especial.  
San Miguel Nostrum 6.1% 15º Pale lager - Extra.  
San Miguel 1516 4.2%   Pale lager. Brewed to the Reinheitsgebot. Hence the name.  
San Miguel Eco 4.2%   Pale lager. Organic.  

Part of Mahou-San Miguel. Bought by San Miguel in 1970.


Cervezas Alhambra
Avenida de Murcia 1,
18012 Granada.
Tel: 0958 185 050
Fax: 0958 163 162
comercial@CervezasAlhambra.com
http://www.cervezasalhambra.com/

Founded: 1925
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Alhambra Premium Lager 4.6% 10.8º Pale lager - Clásica.  
Alhambra Reserva 1925 6.4% 15º Pale lager - Extra.  
Alhambra Especial 5.4% 13º Pale lager - Especial.  
Alhambra Negra 5.4% 13º Dark lager.  
Star 4.6% 10.8º Pils.  

Independent. Bought by private investors in 1995. In 1999 they bought the Compañía Andaluza de Cervezas in Córdoba and still operate the brewery there.



Compañía Andaluza de Cervezas
Poligono Las Quemadas,
Carretera Nacional IV,
14014 Córdoba.
Tel.: 0957 499 400
Fax: 0957 325 372
comercial@CervezasAlhambra.com
http://www.cervezasalhambra.com/

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Sureña 4.6%   Pale lager - Clásica.  
Mezquita 7.2%   Amber bock.  

Owned by Cervezas Alhambra.


Heineken España (formerly El Alcázar)
Carretera Córdoba,
23005 Jaén.
Tel: 0953 250 947
http://www.heineken.es

Founded: 1928
Annual production: 900,000 hl (2000)

Heineken España (formerly Juan y Teodor Kutz)
Polígono Irakurri,
Arano.

Founded:
Annual production:


Heineken España
Madrid.

Founded:
Annual production:


Heineken España (formerly La Cruz del Campo)
40180 Sevilla.
http://www.cruzcampo.es/

Founded: 1904
Annual production:


Heineken España
Carretera Nacional num. III Km. 338,
Cuart de Poblet,
Valencia.

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Cruz Del Sur 4.5%   Pale lager - Clásica.  
Cruzcampo Pilsner 4.8%   Pale lager - Clásica.  
Cruzcampo Seleccion Especial 5.7%   Pale lager - Especial.  
Amstel Reserva 6%   Pale lager.  
Amstel Águila 5%   Pale lager - Clásica.  
Amstel Oro     Pale lager.  
Amstel 1870     Pils.  
Alcázar 5.4%   Pale lager - Especial.  
Legado de Yuste 6.5%   Amber abbey beer. "The first Spanish abbey beer" according to Heineken. They give no indication, sadly, as to whether it's top- or bottom-fermented.  
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

Owned by Heineken. In 1999 Heineken bought the five breweries of the Cruzcampo group from Diageo (Guinness). Spanish regulators made it sell two of the breweries in then owned - in Madrid and Valencia - (along with certain brands) to Damm.

As is usual with globalists, there's no indication where any particular beer is brewed. Which is why I have a single list of beers here. In fact, Heineken seem to want to keep the number and location of their breweries a secret, too.

Heineken España output (hl)
year output
2000 10,500,000
2001 10,410,000
2002 9,930,000
2003 10,800,000
Source:
Heineken website



Output of the Cruzcampo group (hl)
year output year output year output year output
1905 7,308 1929 79,188 1953 174,185 1977 1,832,758
1906 12,533 1930 78,164 1954 212,926 1978 1,959,711
1907 15,375 1931 62,352 1955 231,717 1979 2,112,095
1908 16,522 1932 57,370 1956 247,472 1980 2,224,742
1909 14,184 1933 64,118 1957 331,038 1981 3,122,040
1910 14,331 1934 63,375 1958 371,531 1982 3,088,980
1911 15,061 1935 70,608 1959 389,994 1983 3,197,548
1912 18,645 1936 69,625 1960 411,381 1984 3,359,341
1913 20,746 1937 110,921 1961 527,417 1985 4,096,342
1914 20,618 1938 123,796 1962 562,067 1986 4,635,189
1915 19,734 1939 131,097 1963 650,987 1987 5,053,182
1916 23,992 1940 89,954 1964 722,899 1988 5,394,535
1917 28,314 1941 2,167 1965 751,384 1989 5,727,007
1918 24,853 1942 65,616 1966 846,929 1990 5,816,220
1919 26,195 1943 63,642 1967 945,560 1991 7,256,789
1920 31,608 1944 61,437 1968 1,082,657 1992 6,933,181
1921 32,265 1945 89,526 1969 1,128,810 1993 6,404,240
1922 32,030 1946 44,788 1970 1,282,508 1994 6,479,835
1923 37,847 1947 128,027 1971 1,218,107 1995 6,348,196
1924 43,749 1948 65,098 1972 1,228,066 1996 6,168,496
1925 41,872 1949 47,160 1973 1,486,455 1997 6,087,475
1926 55,481 1950 64,073 1974 1,641,004 1998 6,002,832
1927 56,845 1951 86,632 1975 1,786,903 1999 6,500,000
1928 62,640 1952 136,605 1976 1,828,516    
Source:
Cruzcampo website



Hijos De Rivera
Gambrinus 2,
15008 La Coruña.
Tel: 0981 - 16 80 17
Fax: 0981 - 16 80 45
comercial@estrellagalicia.es
http://www.estrellagalicia.es

Founded: 1906
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
River     Pale lager.  
HR 4.7%   Pale lager - Clásica.
Ingredients: malt, maize, hops and E-300.
Boiled sweet and syrup aroma; neutral taste with coriander aroma; bitterish finish with grass aroma.
Has a slightly sickly smell (from the maize? - it reminds me of Cuban beer), is very bland in the mouth. The finish has the slightest trace of hops. 		27
Estrella Galicia 5.5% 13º Pale lager - Especial.
Ingredients: malt, maize, hops and E-300.
Cardboard and dust aroma; sweetish taste with a cardboard aroma; bitter finish with herbal, pepper and cardboard aromas.
Tastes like a commercial Dutch pils - and that isn't a compliment. The bitterness in the finish garners it a few points. One for the sink. 		19
1906 6.5%   Pale lager - Extra.  

Independent brewery.


Compañía Cervecería de Canarias
Crtra. Gral. La Cuesta-Taco, Km. 0,5
38000 La Laguna - Tenerife.
Tel: +34 22661338
http://www.ccc.es/

Founded: 1948
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Dorado Pilsen     Pale lager - Clásica.  
Dorado Especial     Pale lager - Especial.  
       
       





Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
       
       
       
       





Questions? Suggestions? Click to email me.


© Ron Pattinson 2004