Best Specialty Spanish Beers

Of the Märzen/Oktoberfest type, it is one of the best specialty Spanish beers. The Hijos de Rivera company that owns Estrella Galicia is responsible for its production. Its alcohol content is 6.5%. The 1906 Reserva Especial 1906 by Estrella Galicia stands out for its toasted notes and great character. It balances a slight bitterness with caramel flavors and roasted maltiness.

Brewed in Zaragoza by Cervezas Ambar, this is a type of double-fermented beer of the German Oktoberfest type with an alcohol content of 7%. It is made with double fermentation and three types of malt. It is a German-style toasted lager, with patient maturation in the cellar. It stands out for its intense flavor, a pronounced character and a long aftertaste.

Ambar Centeno beer is produced by Cervezas Ambar. It originates in Zaragoza and is a Roggenbier, meaning it is a German-type beer made with malted rye in addition to barley. Its alcohol content is 6.4% and it represents the Aragonese company's collection of ambitious, top-market beers.

Ambar Centeno is a rare example of specialty Spanish beer made with rye. In fact, this is not very common practice in the beer industry as a whole. The result is surprising. It is a beer with a cloudy appearance, great complexity and a silky mouthfeel. Its flavor is reminiscent of pumpernickel bread thanks to this special grain.

This is another specialty Spanish beer made by Estrella Galicia. Its alcohol volume is 7.2% and it is a European Style Dark/Münchener Dunkel type. It is possibly the boldest bet of all the beers belonging to the 1906 ‘family’, with a lot of body, hefty flavor and a creamy texture.

Coupage is a process better known in wine making where different grapes are blended together to create a wine with certain pre-selected characteristics. This beer is made by a similar process, except it mixes roasted malts with two varieties of hops known as Sladek and Nugget. The result is a dark elixir, with a complex aromatic expression and a deep and intense flavor.

Another beer brewed in Galicia by the Estrella Galicia brand. It has an alcohol content of 8% and is a traditional German Bock-style beer. Bock is a strong type of lager which is usually dark in color. This is a classic recently recovered by Estrella Galicia after a long hiatus. Its profile is toasted and intense, with hints of caramel and little hoppy flavor, as is characteristic of Bock-style beers.

Originally from Guadalajara, this beer is produced by the Mahou San Miguel group. It is a German-style Bock/Maibock type beer with an alcohol content of 7.5%. It was created for Mahou's 125th anniversary.

Mahou Maestra is a toasted beer with a character defined by the combination of two types of hops, one aromatic and one bitter. Its color is amber and has nuances of malted cereal, honey and coffee, with an elegant bitterness at the end of the mouth.

While these beers are great when paired with various food dishes, they are too special for cooking. Learn more about cooking with beer in our article asking how long do you cook beer to remove alcohol.

This is another beer from Zaragoza made by Ambar. It is a European-style pilsner beer with an alcohol content of 5.2%. Ambar Especial is the result of a balanced combination of barley malts and aromatic and bitter hops. It is a rounded and refreshing beer, capable of seducing all palates.

So far, all of our specialty Spanish beers have been from major brewers, but this next option is from a smaller brewery with a growing presence in the market. Made by Cervezas Monkey in Toledo, it has an alcohol content of 7.8% and is an American stout-type beer. It is a dark beer, intense in flavor and very aromatic. It leaves toasted, spicy and sweet sensations on the palate. It has a creamy texture and ample body.

Mahou Barrica is brewed in Guadalajara by Mahou San Miguel. It has an alcohol content of 6.1% and is a European wood and barrel-aged beer that is pale amber in color. It is an unusual barrel-aged beer, created by master brewers working in a micro-factory installed in the heart of the Mahou factory in Alovera (Guadalajara).

This beer is aged in oak and has hints of vanilla, cereals and almond. It is a distinct, dry lager that is very versatile on the table. Its golden color is intense and bright. It also stands out for its creamy and consistent head.

Cervezas Mica is responsible for brewing this beer in Aranda de Duero (Burgos). It has a golden color, appearing intense and bright yellow. It stands out for its intense flavor, but with a low alcohol content at only 4.7%. While specialty beers have a reputation for their strong alcohol content, Mica is indicative of a growing trend to provide options which are not as strong. It is a balanced beer that is very fresh with a soft toasted feel in the mouth. It has a sweetness that is quickly balanced by a citrus aftertaste, especially lime.

Learn more about how to care for your beer in our article asking does beer go bad in the refrigerator?

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