You know when you expect something to be something but it turns out being something else? That something can be a good thing or a bad thing, but here’s the thing. I expected a lean mean Philippine horse kick ass brew and I got a creamy malty slow going Belgian brewski. Good or bad? I’ll tell you in a minute.
San Miguel * humbly tell us that this is the #1 selling strong beer in the world. A lofty claim to be sure, and perhaps a pat on the back to their distribution systems and their prevalence in the most heavily populated parts of the world? This Philippine/Japanese brewer brews in China ** with Australian and European ingredients. They also tell us, and I quote “uniquely brewed for a man with real strength.” Well, I can usually get the lid off the pickle jar, so count me in.
It pours 500ml high, golden clear with no froth to blow off. A big-time malty aroma reminiscent of some of the high ABV Belgians that those monks whip up. The first taste is a creamy mouthfeel mellow malt that is surprisingly sweet, with an ever so slight bit of a boozy bite on the finish. This horse is a tail braided prancing equestrian, not a rodeo ride of a mean mother bucker.
Smoother than I thought for such a high ABV lager. It definitely has a Belgian feel to it. Like a Delerium that’s lost its head. The sweet backs off a bit but the malty remains the main feature of this brew. It is unique at first but gets a bit tiring towards the end.
There are other strong beers out there that I would prefer to this one, but it was an OK quaff. A smooth ride, socks still on.
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