To which groups do the most popular beer brands in Spain belong? (2023)

In Spainwe really like beer, and its consumption has only increased in recent years. Although the figures have suffered in recent months due to the atypical situation brought about by the pandemic, the latest reports issued byBrewers of Spainand theMinistry of Consumptionso they certify it,breaking the record in 2019of consumption. We especially likedrink in company, with an aperitif or tapas, and we almost always link it to moments of leisure.

This increase in consumption has also brought a diversification of the catalog of beers available, both in specialized stores and in the supermarket itself. The rise of craft beers, international brands, IPAs, and more or less exotic varietiesthey seem to have multiplied the offeralthough, in reality, the market is dominated by a few large groups.

They are giants in the sector that mostly had aorigen familiarvery humble, but who have been expanding and diversifying their business, creating new brands and absorbing others, or acquiring the rights to produce and/or sell other people's beers. Many of these groups have even added other products to their catalogue, from water and soft drinks to coffee shops or restaurant franchises.

Mahou San Miguel Group

is theSpain's leading company, both in number of brands -not only beer- and in total production and presence in other international markets. Its origins go back to the mid-19th century, when Casimiro Mahou arrived in Madrid and began to undertake various businesses with a view to creating a brewery, a project that his widow and his children would finally materialize, founding El Barril in 1890. .

Currently the group covers approximately32% of the production quotaof beer in Spain, with its own beer brands and also with the constant acquisition of distribution rights from others. Thus, in 2019 it signed a collaboration agreement with AB InBev, a Belgian company, to produce and distribute in Spain -excluding the Canary Islands- brands as popular as Corona, Franziskaner, Budweiser or Leffe. In 2019 they produced 12.73 million hectoliters,according to the latest reportof Brewers of Spain.

• Mahou, including the entire range of the family: Cinco Estrellas, Cinco Estrellas Gluten Free, Cinco Estrellas Session IPA, Classic, Without, 0.0 Toasted, Mixed, Radler, Maestra, Maestra Dunkel, Maestra Wheat, Barrel Original, Barrel 12 Months, Bourbon Barrel, Alma de Viña Barrel,
• Casimiro Mahou, including the varieties: Ale, Lager, Extra, Wheat.
• San Miguel, including the entire range of the family: Special, Special Gluten Free, Radler, Magna, Magna Roja 0.0, 0.0, Radler 0.0, Manzana 0.0, Selecta XV, Manila, Yakima Valley IPA, 1516, Echo, Fresh.
• Alhambra, including the entire range of the family: Traditional, Special, Special Radler, Special Without, Reserve 1925, Red, Baltic Porter, Citra IPA, Granadino Rum Barrel, Pedro Ximénez, Palo Cortado, Amontillado.
• La Salve, including the Original, Authentic and Munich varieties.
• Nomad, including the Passiflora, Hanami, Petricor and Marabunta varieties.
• Founders, including All Day IPA, Centennial IPA, Dirty Bastard, and Porter varieties.
• Reina.
• Corona.
• Budweiser.
• Stella Artois.
• Leffe, including the Blonde, Brune and Triple varieties.
• Franziskaner, including the Naturtrub, Kristall, Dunkel and Alcohol Free varieties.
• Warsteiner Premium Verum and Premium Fresh.
• König Ludwig wheat beer y dark.
• Hoegaarden.
• Club Colombia.
• Beck's.
• Spade.
• Löwenbräu.
• Peaceful.
• Special Model and Black Model.
• Cubanist.

Damm Group

Hot on the heels of Heineken with 10.59 million hectoliters of beer produced in 2019, the foundation of theDamm groupdates back to 1876, when theAlsatians August Kuentzmann Damm and his cousin Joseph Damm, exiled from the Franco-Prussian war, opened the first brewery in the heart of Barcelona. It was in 1910 when the company was incorporated as a Public Limited Company, and since then it has not stopped growing, promoting market diversification since the 1990s.

The name of its flagship product, Estrella Dorada beer, was changed toStar, and have gradually acquired the rights to produce and distribute various brands, not just beverages, also penetrating thecatering sector, horeca channel and other activities. The Carceller family, one of the largest fortunes in Spain, came to control 49% of the company in 2006, and today Demetrio Carceller Coll is in charge of it.

• Estrella Damm, including the entire range of the family: Voll-Damm, Damm Lemon, Bock Damm, Free Damm, Free Damm Lemon, Free Damm Tostada.
• Conspiracy.
• Unique.
• Spoiled.
• Equilater.
• Daura y Daura Märzen.
• A.K. Damm.
• Xibeca
• Christmas beer.
• Estrella de Levante, and its entire range: Verna with lemon, 0.0%, Puta Este.
• Victoria Málaga and its entire range: Sin, Pasos Largos, Marengo, Malacatí.
• All Bilbao.
• Coming.
• Turkey.
• Calatrava and Calatrava Pilsen.
• White Rose.
• Star of the South and Star of the South Special.
• School.
• Tags.
• Radeberger.
• Pabst Blue Ribbon.
• Schofferhofer Grapefruit.

Heineken Spain

It is usually the second largest group in the production, distribution and sale of beers in Spain, although according to the aforementioned report by Cerveceros de España, its total production in 2019 was one step below Damm, with10.49 million hectoliterstotal produced.

This international giant belongs to the Dutch company Heineken International founded in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken in Amsterdam. The Spanish branch originates in the year 2000, as a result of themerger of Crossfield Group and El Águila-Heineken. The original El Águila beer began its journey in 1903 on a street in Madrid, and just the following year the La Cruz del Campo factory was inaugurated in Seville, marketing the first Cruzcampo.

El Águila inaugurated its first factory in the Valencian Community in 1941, and would be acquired by Heineken International in 1984. Meanwhile, Cruzcampo experienced a great expansion diversifying its production, becoming part of Guinness Brewing Worldwide in 1991. Since 2000Heineken Spain, continues to grow with the production ofown brands and the distribution rights of othersnational and international beers.

• Heinekeny Heineken 0.0%.
• crossfield, including the entire range of the family: Special, Special gluten-free, Pilsen, 0.0%, Radler, Gran Reserva, Cruz del Sur, Andalusian IPA, Trigo.
• Amstel, including the entire range of the family: Gold, Radler, 0.0% and Gold 0.0%.
• The Eagle, including the Lager and Unfiltered varieties.
• La Fábrica Cruzcampo de Málaga, including the entire range: Malagueta, IPA, Trigo, Seasonal, Strong Ale and limited temporary editions.
• Shandy.
• Desperados, including the Mojito and Sangré varieties.
• Paulaner.
• Lagoon
• Guinness.
• Affligem, including Double, Triple and Blonde varieties.
• The quarterdeck.
• The Cybele, including the entire range of the brand: Blonde, IPA Dry Hopping, Wheat, Barley Wine, Chestnut, David's Ale, Imperial IPA, Stout, Strong Ale, Old Madrid, Morena, SIN,
• Buckler 0,0, y Buckler Radler.
• Sol.
• Sudden death.
• Moretti beer.
• Judas.
• Maes Pils.
• NewCastle Brown Ale.
• Fosters Lager y Fosters Premium Ale.
• Murphy's.
• John Smith.
• Tiger.
• Dos Equis Amber and Dos Equis Lager Especial.
• Falker 0.0%.

Sons of Rivera Corporation

Galician companywhich, although its total beer production is notably behind the three that top this list, occupies a very prominent place in the Spanish market with 3.47 million hectoliters in 2019, and thanks to its leading product,Estrella Galicia.

It's afamily-owned businesswhich is currently in the hands of the family itself, with Santiago Ojea Rivera at the helm, fourth generation. Founded in 1906 by José María Rivera Corral in La Coruña after emigrating to Mexico for a few years, the company began as a factory for ice and La Estrella de Galicia blonde beer, in reference to its founder's previous Mexican business, 'La Estrella of gold'.

The corporationhas been expanding and increasing thediversificationof the business with other products such as cider, spirits or wine, and also betting on the international presence.

• Estrella Galicia, including the entire range of the family: Special, La Estrella de Galicia, Christmas Editions, 0.0, 0.0 Black, 0.0 Toasted, Gluten Free.
• brewery, including the entire range of the family: Chestnuts, Galician Irish La Pelirroja, Barnacles, Padrón Peppers, Pumpkin and Vanilla, Honey, Smoked.
• 1906 Special Reserve, including the entire range of the family: Red Vintage, Black Coupage, Galician Irish Red Ale.
• O’Hara’s Irish Stout y Irish Red.
• Budejovice Budvar.
• Erdinger wheat beer and alcohol
• Brewdog, including Punk IPA, Elvis Juice, and Hazy Jane varieties.
• Grolsch Premium Lager y Radler.
• Stiff Hendrik Tripel.
• Brugse Zot Double.

Canary Islands Brewing Company

Perhaps little known in the rest of the country, this company nonetheless plays a not insignificant role in the national market thanks to the fact that it is the leader in the Canary Islands, in addition to thefirst manufacturing industry of the islands. With 1.09 million hectoliters of beer produced in 2019, they also have the distribution rights in their territory for very popular international brands.

Its history dates back toyear 1924, when beer consumption was still very anecdotal on the islands. Complementing a local chocolate factory, the modest factory of the inaugural beer in the area, La Tropical, was inaugurated. Already in 1939 the first brewing company would be founded as such,Canary Islands Brewing Company(NEAR) in Tenerife. 1946 would mark a milestone with the traffic jam ofthe first gilt, the company's key beer.

• golden, including the entire range of the family: Original Special, Red Special, Wheat Special, Black Essence Special.
• Dorada Pilsen, including the varieties Without, With Lemon and Without Gluten.
• Tropical, including the Pilsen, Limón and 0.0 varieties.
• Corona.
• Budweiser.
• Stella Artois.
• Beck's.
• Coward.
• Franciscan.
• Guinness.

Agora Group

Sepresents as"the oldest independent brewing group in Spain", made up ofseveral family businessesthat encompass several generations and more than a century of brewing on a more modest scale. In 2019 they produced 0.98 million hectoliters of beer, with revenue of 185 million euros in 2016. They also currently include brands of other products such as coffee or water.

The most prominent brand of the group is theAragonese beer Ambar, founded in the year 1900 in Zaragoza, and which maintains a family tradition in its production, having multiplied the catalog of its varieties in recent years, following the trends of the sector. It also stands outMoritz, the first beer from Barcelona, ​​created in 1856 by Louis Moritz.

• Ambar, including the entire range of the family: Especial, 0.0, Export, IPA, Negra, Caesar Augusta, 1900 Pale Ale, Radler, Radler Lemon 0.0, Radler Manzana 0.0.
• Moritz, including the entire range of the family: Original, 7, Epidor, 0.0, Radler, Red IPA.
• Marlen Dortmunder and Marlen 0,0.

Photos | Unsplash - Pixabay -juantiages-QMS's photo
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