Treat a Spaniard like a Mexican, do we? (San Miguel)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	San Miguel
Date:	18/10/08 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great beer

Disadvantages: Quite costly

Rocking in at 5.4 % ABV (alcohol by volume), San Miguel is one fo the strongest lagers you're likely to see on tap in a pub. As a result of its strength, and often the trickiness and costliness of stocking it, you're also unlikely to see it in most pubs, with them tending to stick to more common brand names over here int he UK like Stella and Budweiser.

However, San Miguel, to me, is actually a crisper and tastier lager than most others. Originally brewed in the Philippines by a Spaniard, it is a Spanish lager that is most commonly found if you go out to Spain or one of the islands, where it is cheaper due to the lack of transport costs having a large impact. Here in the UK, it is most commonly found in bottles, and has a very Mexican feel and sound to it, something that is often confusing. Many people think it to be a Mexican lager, and even treat it like one. I personally put a wedge of lime in the neck of the bottle, much as you would if you were drinking Corona or Sol, as is the tradition with such beers, as I believe it adds to the flavour and compliments it well. If I am having it on draught, I do not bother as the chemical balances as well as the gas proportions are different and the fruit reacts differently with it in this circumstance.

San Miguel is available in many licensed shops in the UK, but again, not as common as other beers. Typically, in Tesco, 4 x 330ml bottles will set you back £3.48, so you can see it is more expensive than other Premium strength lagers. Pubs selling Stella and Bud tend to price it very similarly to the other two, having a very tight price range for Premium lagers.

I recommend San Miguel. Look beyond the price of it, and treat a bottle of it like a Mexican lager by putting lime in it, and you'll have a fantastic drink.

Summary: Great Spanish beer