Dilip Kuner
THE best beers in the world are Spanish.
This is the conclusion of the British-run World Beer Challenge where the best brews are ranked according to type.
Of the 355 drinks assessed, just 20 were awarded a gold medal, with Spain dominating the list by scooping 13 of the coveted awards.
And of the seven beers to get the top score of 100 points, six were Spanish, with only one German brew breaking the Spanish monopoly.
In the 2020 edition of the awards, held in Estoril, Portugal, beers from all over the world were judged.
Spain’s top-scoring beers – all with 100 points – were: 1906 Reserva Especial, by Hijos de Rivera (better known as La Estrella de Galicia), whose 1906 Red Vintage and 1906 Black Coupage also got top marks. The date refers to the year the brewery was set up.
The other three 100-point scoring brews were from Mahou San Miguel – Manila de San Miguel, San Miguel Radler and Selecta de San Miguel.
Mahou, founded in 1890, has an HQ in Madrid and bought 70% of the San Miguel business in 2000. It also owns the Alhambra brand. San Miguel was founded in the Philippines, also in 1890, and opened a Spanish arm to its business in 1947. It is still headquartered in Malaga.
Spanish beers also won 12 of the 31 silver medals awarded.
