Mahou San Miguel is a Spanish
brewing company
A brewery or brewing company is a business that makes and sells beer. The place at which beer is commercially made is either called a brewery or a beerhouse, where distinct sets of brewing equipment are called plant. The commercial brewing of bee ...
, founded in
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
in 1890 under the name of ''Hijos de Casimiro Mahou, fábrica de hielo y cerveza'' (The Sons of Casimiro Mahou, production of ice and
beer
Beer is one of the oldest and the most widely consumed type of alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from ce ...
).
Mahou San Miguel is the leading brand in the Spanish beer market.
History
In 1890, Enrique, Luis, and Carolina, the children of a French entrepreneur born in Lorraine, founded Hijos de Casimiro Mahou in Madrid. The French surname was to become the flagship name of one of Spain's most famous beers.
Mahou beer was first produced at the brewery on Amaniel Street, Madrid in 1891. Casimiro Mahou García played an active role in founding the Association of Beer Producers in 1922, of which he was appointed chairman. After the death of Casimiro Mahou García in 1943, his son Alfredo Mahou de la Fuente assumed responsibility for the company.
The shareholders of La Segarra signed the "Manila Agreement" in 1953 with the Chairman of the
San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation, abbreviated as SMC, is a Philippine Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified congl ...
of the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
,
Andrés Soriano
Andrés Soriano Sr. (February 8, 1898 – December 30, 1964) was a Spanish Filipino industrialist. Described by ''The New York Times'' in 1964 as "one of the most dominant business personalities in the western Pacific area," he was best known for ...
. The agreement granted a branding rights for San Miguel Spain. A new Spanish brewery was born, bearing the name of La Segarra, S.A., independent of its Philippine parent company. La Segarra would later change its name in 1957 to San Miguel, Fábricas de Cerveza y Malta, S.A. and produced its first bottle of San Miguel Especial at its Lerida brewery. That same year the company, Hijos de Casimiro Mahou became Mahou, S.A..
As sales figures rose the company moved to a new and bigger building. In 1962 the exportation of San Miguel beer began; with Mahou brewing its first beer at the Paseo Imperial Brewery in Madrid, work on which had begun the previous year. Francisco Gervás Cabrero was appointed joint managing director together with Alfredo Mahou. Some time later, the Mahou brewery on Amaniel Street shut down. Francisco Gervás Cabrero died in 1964.
In 1966, San Miguel opened a second brewery in
Málaga
Málaga (, ) is a municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 578,460 in 2020, it is the second-most populous city in Andalusia after Seville and the sixth most pop ...
and Mahou introduced new independent draught beer devices. Germán Gervás Diez was appointed chairman of Mahou in 1979. The
Danone
Danone S.A. () is a French multinational corporation, multinational food-products corporation based in Paris. It was founded in Barcelona, Spain. It is listed on Euronext Paris where it is a component of the CAC 40 stock market index. Some of t ...
Group would then acquire a one-third stake in Mahou. Mahou ran its first television ad in 1984. Work began on the new Mahou brewery in
Alovera
Alovera is a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2015 census ( INE), the municipality has a population of 12,247 inhabitants.
History
Since the discovery of a Roman ''cupae'' (a tomb ...
, in the
province of Guadalajara
Guadalajara () is a province of Spain, belonging to the autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha. As of 2013 it had a population of 257,723 people. The population of the province has grown in the last 10 years. It is located in the centre of ...
in 1990. In 1992, The Danone Group began the process of acquiring San Miguel.
In 2000, Mahou bought 70% of San Miguel from the Danone Group, adding to the 30% stake it already held, thereby creating a wholly
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
-owned brewery group. After the purchase of San Miguel, Fábricas de Cerveza y Malta, S.A. by Mahou, S.A. at the end of 2000, the company was renamed Grupo Mahou-San Miguel.
In 2014 the company simplified its name to Mahou San Miguel and it acquired a 100% stake in the Indian company Arian Breweries & Distilleries. A month later, Philippines'
San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation, abbreviated as SMC, is a Philippine Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified congl ...
and Mahou San Miguel agreed to work together to unify and expand the beer brand's global footprint.
Also in 2014, it acquired a 30 percent stake in
Founders Brewing
Canal Street Brewing Co., L.L.C., doing business as Founders Brewing Company, is a brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, known for producing several highly rated and award-winning craft-style ales, including KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout), Centenn ...
, the
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the List of municipalities in Mi ...
-based craft brewery and maker of popular brews like All Day IPA and Breakfast Stout.
In 2017, Mahou acquired a 30 percent stake in
Avery Brewing Company
Avery Brewing Company is a regional brewery located in Boulder, Colorado, founded in 1993. The brewery produces year round beers as well as seasonal beers, some of which have received praise from brewing competitions and festivals such as White ...
, a
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is a home rule city that is the county seat and most populous municipality of Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 108,250 at the 2020 United States census, making it the 12th most populous city in Color ...
-based craft brewery founded in 1993, known for beers such as White Rascal Belgian-Style White Ale, which received acclaim at the 2015
Great American Beer Festival
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is an annual beer festival hosted by the Brewers Association, held in Denver, Colorado. Typically held in late September or early October, the event is currently held at Denver's Colorado Convention Center. ...
. In April 2019 Mahou increased its stake in
Avery Brewing Company
Avery Brewing Company is a regional brewery located in Boulder, Colorado, founded in 1993. The brewery produces year round beers as well as seasonal beers, some of which have received praise from brewing competitions and festivals such as White ...
to 70 percent.
In 2019, Mahou purchased a majority share in
Founders Brewing
Canal Street Brewing Co., L.L.C., doing business as Founders Brewing Company, is a brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, known for producing several highly rated and award-winning craft-style ales, including KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout), Centenn ...
. Mahou will own a 90% share in the brewery, with the remaining 10% being equally shared between the two founders of the brewery, Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers.
Products
* 1890 '' Mahou Clásica''
* 1957 ''San Miguel Especial''
* 1969 ''Mahou Cinco Estrellas''
* 1990 ''Laiker'' (Mahou's alcohol-free beer) Renamed as Mahou Sin
* 2001 ''San Miguel 0,0'' (non-alcoholic beer)
* 2003 ''Mahou Negra'', ''San Miguel 1516'', and ''San Miguel ECO''
* 2005 ''Mixta'', ''Mahou shandy'', and ''San Miguel 0,0% Manzana'' (apple-flavoured)
* 2007 ''San Miguel 0,0%, con Té sabor Limón'' (with tea lemon flavor)
* 2007 ''Alhambra Especial'', ''Alhambra Reserva 1925'', ''Mezquita'', ''Alhambra Premium Lager'', ''Alhambra Negra'' and ''Alhambra Sin''
* ''Selecta XV''
References
External links
Mahou San MiguelRateBeer
{{Authority control
1890 establishments in Spain
Beer in Spain
Food and drink companies established in 1890
Food and drink companies based in Madrid
Manufacturing companies based in Madrid
Spanish brands
fr:Mahou (bière)