When you visit Spain, trying the local food and drinks is essential. Probably, you’ve heard of the most famous Spanish beer brands. Good news, now you can get some of the best Spanish beers at home too!
People who go to Spain almost always want to drink a beer while they’re there because it’s one of the best places in Europe to make beer. Where do you start? You can get the local beer at many places, so we’ve chosen a few of the best. Spain’s craft beer market is also growing. Check out the best Spanish beers to drink on your next trip to Spain, from well-known brews to new microbrews.
Spain’s Best 11 Beers
1. Alhambra Reserva 1925
Granada is famous for its beautiful Moorish citadel that stands above the city in southern Spain. This pale lager was first produced there in 1925. Since 2007, it has been under the control of Mahou-San Miguel, which was founded in 1890.
Beers from the Alhambra brand range from Alhambra Traditional, a nice premium lager, to Alhambra Reserva 1925, the most artisanal beer. This one is based on the brewery’s first brews, made in 1925.
If you visit Andalusia between April and July, you may find yourself in need of a bottle of beer since the summers are pretty hot and dry. When it comes to Andalusian beers, Alhambra Reserva 1925 is an excellent choice.
2. Mahou Cinco Estrella
In 1936, the Mahou distillery made Mahou Cinco Estrellam a high-quality lager. Every bar in Madrid has this brand next to the San Miguel 1516. Spanish snacks called “tapas,” which can be served hot or cold, go well with this beer.
The lager looks golden or blonde in a glass, and it’s also lovely and smooth to drink. The ale is made with yeast, standing water, soda water, and malted hops, which gives it a well-balanced taste. Real Madrid’s official beer is Mahou Cinco Estrella, and for the right reasons.
3. Ámbar Especial
Ambar Especial comes from one of the oldest breweries on the Spanish beer list, located in Zaragoza. It’s an easy-to-drink beer with a dark amber color from roasted malt.
This one is sweet instead of harsh. During the summer, it’s a great drink, given the smooth finish and full-bodied texture. When served at room temperature, the creamy part of the beer comes out, making it a good drink for the winter.
4. Moritz
Catalan is the only language on the label of this beer, and it is a Pilsner lager made in the Catalan capital of Barcelona. In the last few years, it has become a one of most popular Spanish beers all over the country.
Louis Moritz, who came up with this fantastic beer, moved to Barcelona to start his brewery. For more than 150 years, the low-fermentation lager has symbolized the city’s modern culture. Floral hops make this beer less bitter and give it a high-quality smell.
5. Libre Trigo
The Libre or Libre Trigo is one of the few local breweries in Seville. It gives tough competition to some of the well-known beer brands in the surrounding region. If you see one on a menu in your area, be sure to get it! It is possible to purchase Libre Trigo, a gluten-free variant of the Libre beer, in shops and on the internet.
The Libre tastes citrusy, refreshing, and soft with an intense yellow shade. The moderate hops, refreshing flavor, and hints of orange leave a soothing aftertaste.
6. Cruz Campo
Heineken, the world’s largest brewing corporation, is now the owner of Spain’s most popular beer brand.
Two brothers from the Osborne sherry dynasty founded Cruz Campo in Seville in 1904. Osborne and Sons were the first enterprises to produce sherry globally (creator of the iconic Osborne bulls). The company manufactures many distinct types of beer, which are especially popular in Andalusia.
The Cruz Compo has a clear golden color with a nice foamy head. The taste is a subtle mix of grassy, earthy hops and bready malts that leaves a dry but slightly bitter aftertaste. It is light-bodied and perfect for easy drinking.
7. Cerveceria de Canaris Tropical Premium
Several types of the Cerveceria de Campus Tropical Premium, which is made by the Compania Cervecera de Canarias in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, are available.
The beer is classified as a “European Pale Lager.” It comes in a long-necked bottle of green color. This pale lager pours a beautiful golden hue and has an aroma of a blend of wet cardboard, sweet malt, and fading citrus notes. Nearing the conclusion, the beer turns creamy and bitter, with a lingering hops flavor that lasts for quite some time.
8. La Pirata Tremenda
This Barcelona-based craft beer company started brewing this India Pale Ale long before IPAs became widely renowned. Along with its dark amber color, La Pirata Tremenda boasts a toasted malty flavor, a fruity finish, and a bittersweet aftertaste, as well as a fruity finish and bittersweet aftertaste.
This black brew boasts a robust malt taste followed by hints of fruit in the end. It’s one of the few beers accessible across the nation and is supplied from Barcelona to merchants and restaurants all around the country, including Madrid.
9. Estrella Galicia 1906
Estrella Galicia 1906 is made with high-quality hops and malts, as well as high-quality barley. Toasted malts give the beer a rich golden color and strong smells that stay in your mouth even after you’ve had a drink.
The Hijos de Rivera brewery in Spain makes Estrella Galicia, a well-known neutral beer that many people like to drink. This is a bit extra oversized, which means it has a little more alcohol than most other beers on the market. The beer is full-bodied and bitter with unique aromas of botanicals and toffee.
10. San Miguel 1516
If you happen to find yourself in Spain, you will probably see San Miguel 1516 in every tavern.
This highly remarkable and one-of-a-kind beer comprises just three ingredients: water, malted barley, and hops, which are all combined in the brewing process.
This light brew with traces of botanics and cereal in the background is best enjoyed with a meal. This beer’s journey concludes an aftertaste of bitterness, reminiscent of a well-made lager.
11. La Virgin
This brilliantly golden pilsner is a fan favorite, especially during the summer months when it’s boiling outside.
A trace of mild bitterness is present on the tongue because of the high quantity of hops in this beverage, making it highly drinkable. It is recommended for those who want lighter beers, and you may compare it to the well-known Corona beer from Mexico.
It is available in cans or bottles. Because of the combination of these three ingredients, beer is produced that has a nice, balanced flavor with barely a touch of bitterness to it.
Final Thoughts on the Best Spanish Beers
Beer is a year-round drink in the warm Iberian environment, and Spain has made sure that every beer goes with each season. Because beer is cheap in Spain, most people enjoy it. There are many different types of Spanish beers, and these are some of the best that you should try.
Take a look at the top beers from Poland if you want to learn more about various types of beer from across the globe.
