Spain is the country that produces the second largest volume of beer in the European Union, behind Germany, with 41.1 million hectoliters per year. Taking into account that the statistics indicate that the average consumption in the country is 58 liters per person, it is not surprising that the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has analyzed this product to determine which are the best supermarket beers.
In the report they published, they determined, after analyzing 17 “classic” beers in 33 cl cans, that the two best, combining quality and price, are the Xibeca Suave and the classic Mahou beer, but the best supermarket ones are Aurum Lager from Eroski and Aldi’s Karlsquell Lager. The list was closed by Steinburg (Mercadona) and Cruzcampo.
To prepare its list, the OCU took several parameters into account. First of all, and in accordance with Spanish legislation, “classic” beers have an alcohol content between 4.5 and 5% vol. They also carefully examined the labels, since it is necessary to ensure that they have “all the mandatory parameters”, and “they reviewed the primitive dry extract”. That is to say, “the quantity of fermentable sugars that the must has before its fermentation”, as the OCU explained in its report.
The ingredients were also reviewed in detail, and they highlighted that, despite the fact that there are beers that claim to be 100% malt, there are only three that tell the truth: Amstel, Heineken and Perlenbacher (Lidl). And there are some that use hop extract instead of flower, Cruzcampo, Heineken, Ramblers (Dia) and Saerbrau; and two that combine hops and hop extract, Amstel and Steinburg (Mercadona).
Overall, the Xibeca Suave is the best valued in the analysis with 80 global rating points. “It is characterized by being a slightly bitter beer (hence its nickname soft), with a medium-low body and a high sensation of gas that achieves the best tasting note in the analysis. It incorporates corn and rice in its recipe,” the OCU pointed out in its report.
The Mahou Clásica is the second best valued, with 76 points in the overall rating. However, it is Eroski’s Aurum Lager and Aldi’s Karlsquell Lager that received the master purchase label. As for the Eroski beer, the study indicated that it is “made with barley malt and corn, very slightly bitter, with a high sensation of gas and little body that achieves a good tasting note and has one of the lowest prices.” low of the analysis.
As for the one from the German supermarket chain, it is the cheapest in the test and “has a good tasting note”. “It is characterized by a medium bitterness, a low medium body and a low medium gas sensation. It has corn and unmalted barley as adjuncts,” the document added. The OCU emphasized that, despite the ranking positions, all the beers passed the expert tasting.
