In 1925, in the Moorish city of Granada beneath the red ramparts of the Alhambra palaces, French master brewer Carlos Bouvard and entrepreneur Antonio Knörr founded Cervezas Alhambra. Drawing on pure alpine snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada mountains and traditional slow fermentation, the brewery created a landmark of Spanish brewing craftsmanship, celebrated for its iconic embossed green bottles and profound cultural connection to Andalusian identity.
The Sierra Nevada Waters: Carlos Bouvard and the Granada Brewery (1925)
In the spring of 1925, Granada welcomed a visionary industrial enterprise: Carlos Bouvard, a seasoned French brewmaster, partnered with Antonio Knörr, descendant of a famed family of Basque and German-origin brewers, to establish Cervezas Alhambra on Calle Murcia. Granada possessed an invaluable geographical advantage: soft, crystal-clear water flowing directly from the high peaks and glaciers of the Sierra Nevada.
Bouvard designed a handsome Neo-Mudéjar brick brewhouse equipped with copper kettles and lagering cellars, introducing Granada to crisp bottom-fermented pilsners that offered respite from the intense Andalusian summer heat.
From Local Artisan Brewer to Spain's Premium Icon: Reserva 1925
Despite the turbulent years of the Spanish Civil War and the postwar autarky, Cervezas Alhambra preserved its artisanal standards, selecting locally roasted barley malt and noble hops. In 1999, the brewery honored its founding year by launching Alhambra Reserva 1925, a deep amber lager presented in a label-less, relief-embossed emerald glass bottle inspired by Moorish filigree.
Now part of the Mahou San Miguel family while maintaining independent operations in Granada, Cervezas Alhambra celebrates its 2025 centenary as an enduring living monument to Mediterranean brewing culture.
Traditional Brewing: Copper Brew Kettles, Malt Fermentation, and Bottling Lines
Original historical newsreel from the Istituto Luce Cinecittà Archive documenting the art of European master brewers, fermentation cellars, and industrial bottling in the interwar era. (This is period footage illustrating the era and does not show the company itself). (Source: Historical Archive Istituto Luce Cinecittà / Period Newsreels)
Interactive 360° Street View: Cervezas Alhambra Historic Brewhouse & Industrial Campus
Historical Location: Avenida de Murcia 1, 18012 Granada, Andalusia, Spain (Coordinates: 37.1873, -3.6025)
Territorial Map & Location Overview
Sources
- S1 — García de Cortázar, Fernando. Historia de la cerveza en España. Ediciones Temas de Hoy, 2003. ISBN 978-84-8460-264-4.
- S2 — Corella, Pilar. Cerveceras históricas de Andalucía. Editorial Comares, 2010. ISBN 978-84-9836-702-7.
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