SPAIN – Madrid-based Mahou-San Miguel has acquired 70% stake in Spanish brand Brutus craft beer to strengthen its market position in the craft beer segment.

Mahou said the purchase reiterates vision and goal of “leading the segment of new generation beers in Spain “and strengthen its” premium portfolio for the bars and restaurants.

Mahou expects significant growth of the brand in five years, boosting its craft beer portfolio and helped by this investment.

Founded in 2015 by Jordi Calvet and Carlo Pozza, Brutus is said to be a well-positioned brand in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Tarifa and Ibiza and is present in 350 selling points.

As part of the agreement, the lager beer brand which has 5 grades of alcohol will be processed at the facilities of the Mahou microbrewery at its headquarters in Alovera.

“We believe that Brutus is the ideal brand to continue growing in a majority segment of consumers that demand different brands.

“This beer is a breath of fresh air for the category,” said Peio Arbeloa, the general director of the Unit Spain of the group.

Mahou San Miguel is already an active player in the artisan segment, both in Spain (La Salve or Nómada) and in the US. (Founders or Avery Brewing).

In Guadalajara other craft beers are produced, mainly Arriaca, with a factory in Yunquera de Henares, or Vulturis, which is manufactured in Quer.

Founded in Madrid in 1890 under the name of Hijos de Casimiro Mahou, the brewer is a leading brand in the Spanish beer market.

In April, the company which makes brands such as San Miguel and Alhambra invested €11 million (US$12.4 million) in a new collaborative space in Córdoba, Spain.

The facility called Brewhub enables craft breweries to share ideas and develop their beers.