Mahou was founded in Madrid in 1890 by Enrique, Luis and Carolina Mahou, the children of a French entrepreneur from Lorraine, trading originally as Hijos de Casimiro Mahou. More than 130 years later, the company (now Mahou San Miguel) is still Spain’s largest beer producer, and Cinco Estrellas remains its flagship. In Madrid especially, this is the house lager: the one poured by default in most bars across the capital.
Mahou Cinco Estrellas Review at a Glance
| Style | Premium pale lager |
| ABV | 5.5% |
| Brewery | Mahou San Miguel |
| Country | Spain |
| Serving temp | 3 to 5 C (37 to 41 F) |
| US availability | Limited, check specialty retailers |
How It Tastes
Mahou Cinco Estrellas pours pale gold with a thin, quick-fading head. It sits a notch above the standard Euro lager in strength at 5.5% ABV, and you can feel it: there is a touch more malt weight and a slightly firmer bitterness on the finish than beers like Estrella or a standard Heineken. The aroma is grainy with a light floral hop note, and the carbonation is moderate rather than aggressive. It is not a beer that demands attention, but it is a genuinely solid, well-balanced lager that earns its five-star name.
It drinks like a beer designed to be the house pour in a thousand Madrid bars, because that is exactly what it is.
- A step stronger and slightly more flavorful than typical mass-market lagers
- Long, genuine brewing history in Madrid
- Well balanced between malt and hop bitterness
- Good match for tapas and Spanish cuisine
- Not widely stocked in the US, expect to check specialty import shops
- Slightly pricier than standard imports where available
- Not carried by Saucey at the time of writing, so US availability varies by retailer
Mahou Cinco Estrellas is Madrid’s beer since 1890 but is not sold through US delivery apps. Estrella Damm is a comparable US-available Spanish lager.
FAQs
What does Mahou Cinco Estrellas mean?
Cinco Estrellas is Spanish for Five Stars, the name of Mahou’s flagship premium lager, distinct from the lighter standard Mahou Clasica.
How strong is Mahou beer?
Mahou Cinco Estrellas is 5.5% ABV, slightly stronger than most standard European lagers.
Is Mahou a Spanish beer?
Yes. Mahou was founded in Madrid in 1890 and remains Spain’s largest domestic brewer as part of Mahou San Miguel.
Can you buy Mahou in the US?
Availability is limited. It is not currently listed on Saucey, but it can sometimes be found at specialty import retailers and stores with a strong Spanish beer selection.
