It’s Cinco de Mayo (or as they say in Mexico, “El Cinco de Mayo”), a holiday that no one really understands but still use as an excuse to drink (just like St. Patrick’s Day or Christmas). So in honor of the fifth of May, I thought I’d sample a Mexican beer for today’s Brew Review. Corona is usually considered the official beer of chasing tequila shots while wearing a sombrero, but it was sold out when I went to the store so instead I went with Sol.
Sol beer was introduced in 1899 and is brewed by the Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery in Monterrey, Mexico. Owned by Heineken International, the company also brews Dos Equis, Tecate, and a handful of other beers. Sol is an American lager, a light and fizzy style that includes popular staples like Budweiser, PBR, and Coors.
The beer was a clear, warm yellow with an thin white head that bubbled off quickly. The smell and taste were underwhelming; there was a grainy scent that showed up heavily in the taste as well, along with some sweetness and a corny finish (tastes like corn, not like the end of a rom-com). The aftertaste sticks around and is a bit metallic. After tasting it straight, I squeezed a lime wedge into the stuff, which made it brighter and more refreshing.
Should I drink it?
Sol is a decent beer for a day like Cinco de Mayo. If it’s hot outside and your chowing down on some spicy Mexican food, the crispness of a cold bottle with lime is a nice compliment. On its own, the beer is not that great; it is a little boring and the aftertaste is really strong without the lime to cut it. I wouldn’t recommend it, but it’s better than some other American lagers that I’ve tasted.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some nachos that aren’t going to eat themselves.
