Mahou San Miguel is set to make an investment of €11m to create a research and development (R&D) centre in Spain.

Called Brewhub, the centre will enable international brewers to collaborate, share ideas and develop new beers for sale in the European market.

Expected to start operations next year, the new centre will be located next to the company’s production unit in Córdoba.

“Our mission is to continue promoting creativity and the beer culture in our country.”

Mahou San Miguel’s Cervecera Independiente unit managing director Benet Fité said: “The craft movement is a clear example of collaboration and the spirit of innovation, two values that govern our daily activity at Mahou San Miguel.

“As industry leaders, our mission is to continue promoting creativity and the beer culture in our country, therefore we have listened to the craft segment, one of the ones adding the greatest value to the domestic and international beer scene.”

The R&D centre will provide a space for small breweries that do not have their own plant. It will allow these craft breweries to have a higher level of control in production and quality assurance, while giving a greater stability to the brew.

The centre’s technology-enabled facilitates will be designed to produce a wide range of styles and batches to customise the product on-site.

The Brewhub will also feature bottle, keg and can packaging lines, as well as label design facilities.

In addition, the centre will facilitate new beer trends such as oxidative ageing, cold storage of unpasteurised products, hybrid brews and mixed fermentations.

Mahou San Miguel is a family owned business with 3,000 employees, 45 national brands of beer and 76 product varieties.