BEER REVIEW: 462

BREWER: Mahou-San Miguel, Andalusia, Spain

STYLE: Premium European Lager

ABV: 6.4%

VESSEL: 11.2 FL. OZ. green bottle

DATE OF POST: 14th August 2026

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Alhambra Reserva feels like Granada in a glass, the kind of lager that carries the warmth of the city’s evenings and the quiet majesty of the palace it’s named after. I’ve always had a soft spot for Alhambra, both the beer and the palace, and so I’m glad this Reserva really does come across as their super extra special offering. The bottle alone sets the tone: that miniature wine‑bottle silhouette, the outward‑embossed glass, the green‑on‑green ingredients list that’s unreadable but somehow adds to the charm. It’s class, the sort of packaging that makes you pause for a moment before opening it.  But don’t pause too long because things only get better…

In the glass it pours a dark amber, richer than you expect from a lager, catching the light in a way that feels almost theatrical. The nose leans towards a French style: gentle fermentation notes, soft malts, and a floral grassy bitterness that lifts everything. It’s restrained but confident, the kind of aroma that promises refreshment without sacrificing character.

The taste follows through beautifully. Cold, it’s incredibly refreshing, with that same floral bitterness lingering just long enough to make you want another sip. It mirrors the nose almost exactly, which is rare for a lager, and the mouthfeel is clean and satisfying. There’s something nostalgic about it, something that feels like a memory of European summers, even though it’s unmistakably Spanish. It has the elegance of a great French lager but with a depth that feels rooted in Andalusian sun and stone.

Alhambra Reserva is a very good lager indeed, one for special occasions, one you drink when you want a moment to feel a little elevated. It’s the kind of beer that earns its place at the table not through loudness but through quiet, confident quality. Drink it cold and you won’t be disappointed.

Sammy’s Rating: 85%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Way back when, when life was a wee bit simpler, Sammy and I, along with some other pals on occasion used to travel to Spain for a week’s break each year. We used to stay at a swimming pooled villa around an hour drive east from the delightful Granada, the home of THE Alhambra. Located in a teeny tiny village that contained maybe seven villas and a bar, it was pretty much in the middle of nowhere. The ultimate peace, quiet and tranquillity. Utterly glorious. Once settled in, the tradition was to head to the nearest town, Baza, for meats to grill, brandy to savour and beers to swig. Beer wise we always just got a varied selection of 66cl big boys to share out in pre chilled small glasses when the time was right (the time was right A LOT! #smallbeerplease). All brewed in Spain, the likes of Cruz Campo (a team favourite), Mahou, San Miguel and Alhambra were always amongst the selection. All were just sensational sipping from ice cold glasses in the Spanish sun. However, out of all of these, Alhambra was always my least favourite.

But it is not the standard Alhambra we are testing today. It is the stunningly bottled Alhambra Reserva, coming in at a whopping 6.4%!

Ok, let’s lift the lid and see what this is all about…

Well, put simply, this beer is fantastic! But not coming across like you would expect a continental brew to. See, this is a sit back and savour beer. Not the usual crushable continental we have come to expect. AR pours pretty dark and is very robust. It has an incredibly smooth mouthfeel and the taste in the swallow is nothing short of exceptional. As you move your way through little kicks of hops and spice begin to develop which keeps AR interesting and intriguing from first to final sip.

What a great lager option to have for a sit back in peace moment of unrushed contemplation.

Superb.

Jymi’s Rating: 87%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 86%

MOB review next weekend: THE FRESH PRINCE OF LEZAYRE by NOA

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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M O B 2026