Where is San Miguel Especial brewed?
San Miguel Especial is sold as a beer from Spain. It is brewed in Britain, at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire.
What to drink instead 6 beers on the same shelves that are what they say
In short
Everything about the packaging of San Miguel Especial says Spain: Spanish name, Iberian imagery, 'Spain's original premium lager' positioning. Since 2025 it has been brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire by AB InBev UK Limited; before that Carlsberg UK made it at Northampton. In Spain the same beer is 5.4%. Here it is 5.0%, which is 0.4 percentage points weaker. The brand belongs to Mahou San Miguel. On the recipe: Brewed in Britain under licence at a lower strength than the Spanish original.
Who has brewed it here
| Years | Brewer | Site | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 to 2020 | Carlsberg UK | Northampton | carlsbergmarstons.co.uk |
| 2009 to 2024 | Carlsberg UK, later Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company | Northampton | carlsbergmarstons.co.uk |
| 2020 to 2024 | Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company | Northampton and Wolverhampton | carlsbergbritvic.co.uk |
| 2025 to now | AB InBev UK Limited (Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I) | AB InBev UK breweries (Magor / Samlesbury) | mahou-sanmiguel.com |
| 2025 to now | Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I (AB InBev) | not established in this research | morningadvertiser.co.uk |
Questions people ask
Where is San Miguel Especial brewed?
The beer sold in the UK is brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire by AB InBev UK Limited.
Is San Miguel Especial brewed in the UK?
Yes. It is brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire.
Is San Miguel Especial really Spanish?
The branding is Spanish, but the beer sold in Britain is brewed in the UK at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire.
Who owns San Miguel Especial?
San Miguel Especial is owned by Mahou San Miguel, headquartered in Madrid, Spain. In the UK the brand is handled by Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I under licence.
What strength is San Miguel Especial in the UK?
San Miguel Especial is 5.0% ABV in the UK. In Spain it is 5.4%.
Is San Miguel Especial weaker in the UK than in Spain?
Yes. The UK version is 5.0% against 5.4% in Spain, 0.4 percentage points weaker.
See also
Side by side with Madrí Excepcional.
Every beer sold as Spain · What else is brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire · Every brand owned by Mahou San Miguel
Sources
- Mahou San Miguel (mahou-sanmiguel.com), 2 July 2024: agreement announced 2 July 2024, effective 1 January 2025, covering San Miguel Especial, 0.0 and Gluten Free
- Just Drinks (just-drinks.com), July 2024: CMBC licence ends 31 December 2024; AB InBev takes UK production and distribution from 1 January 2025; AB InBev already had Mahou since 2021
- Food Manufacture (foodmanufacture.co.uk), 3 July 2024: CMBC produced and distributed San Miguel in the UK under exclusive licence for more than 15 years, ending 31 December 2024
- Morrisons (groceries.morrisons.com), 5 September 2026: 5.0% ABV, country of origin United Kingdom, brewed by AB InBev UK Limited on behalf of Cervezas San Miguel S.L.U.
- Morrisons (groceries.morrisons.com), 5 September 2026: same AB InBev UK brewing statement on a second SKU
- Sainsbury's (sainsburys.co.uk), 5 September 2026: legacy data: 'Carlsberg UK Ltd, Northampton, NN1 1PZ', country of origin United Kingdom, 5.0% ABV
- second research pass (carlsbergbritvic.co.uk): cited by second research pass
- second research pass (thedrinksbusiness.com): cited by second research pass
- second research pass (petebrown.net): cited by second research pass
- second research pass (tesco.com): cited by second research pass