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San Miguel Especial
San Miguel Fabricas De Cervaza Y Maltas S.A.
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- San Miguel Fabricas De Cervaza Y Maltas S.A.
- Spain
- Style:
- European Pale Lager
Ranked #370 - ABV:
- 5.4%
- Score:
- 63
Ranked #30,107 - Avg:
- 2.6 | pDev: 21.15%
- Reviews:
- 53
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 20, 2023
- Added:
- Nov 22, 2005
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 40
SCORE
63
Poor
63
Poor
Notes:
None
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
2.92/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
2.92/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Look - golden clear nice white head
Smell - Grainy
Taste - grainy clean
Feel - light body with a crisp carbonation
Overall - not bad but still lacking depth
Mar 20, 2023Smell - Grainy
Taste - grainy clean
Feel - light body with a crisp carbonation
Overall - not bad but still lacking depth
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England
2.74/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
2.74/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Canned in a full pint can and a gift frm a neighbour for helping out
Pours a fairly clear lemon jello coloured body with decent white head
Aroma is semolina & candy cigarettes without the sweetness
So is the flavour
Sep 30, 2022Pours a fairly clear lemon jello coloured body with decent white head
Aroma is semolina & candy cigarettes without the sweetness
So is the flavour
Reviewed by EdmundExley from France
2.88/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.88/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
SanMiguel Especial, which come in a standard 330ml bottle with a medium ABV of 5,4%. Not to be mistaken with another beer named like that from the Philippines.
Poured into the Guinness it left a two inches white head quickly vanishing as I write this. Clear and golden yellow brew.
On the nose, it’s pretty dull some hints of floral notes and that’s about it.
On the palate, it’s again not opening a Pandora’s box of aromas of flavors, but that was expected for something I was fearing would be another mediocre industrial Euro Lager. It’s a bit richer than that. I like the dry finish and drinkability but I wasn’t looking for more from this one.
It’s a medium bodied beer with high carbonation. Dry finish and drinks well
Overall it’s not as awful as reviewed here or elsewhere. Best drink fresh and cold, would probably pair really well with España food but in lack of a Chorizo or Paella right now, not to mention being quite far from the Puerta del Sol, this will be a one and done. Ticked, reviewed. Not a huge aficionado but there are far worse European lager around here.
May 28, 2022Poured into the Guinness it left a two inches white head quickly vanishing as I write this. Clear and golden yellow brew.
On the nose, it’s pretty dull some hints of floral notes and that’s about it.
On the palate, it’s again not opening a Pandora’s box of aromas of flavors, but that was expected for something I was fearing would be another mediocre industrial Euro Lager. It’s a bit richer than that. I like the dry finish and drinkability but I wasn’t looking for more from this one.
It’s a medium bodied beer with high carbonation. Dry finish and drinks well
Overall it’s not as awful as reviewed here or elsewhere. Best drink fresh and cold, would probably pair really well with España food but in lack of a Chorizo or Paella right now, not to mention being quite far from the Puerta del Sol, this will be a one and done. Ticked, reviewed. Not a huge aficionado but there are far worse European lager around here.
Reviewed by Dakkyz
2.54/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.54/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
440ml can. 5.0% version, brewed in the UK by Carlsberg.
Drank from the can and a glass, tastes like copper nails, tastes far worse as it warms up, very metallic tasting.
Drank from a bottle previous times and really enjoyed it.
Jul 30, 2021Drank from the can and a glass, tastes like copper nails, tastes far worse as it warms up, very metallic tasting.
Drank from a bottle previous times and really enjoyed it.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
2.94/5 rDev +13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.94/5 rDev +13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This one (5,4% ABV) is far better than their 4,5% version lager, which most people have rated under the Philippines branch brewery, even though many of us obviously have had it in Spain. Anyway, the 5,4% version is quite malty, with a barely sufficient hoppiness. An acceptable premium lager, not great but well worth having with (or without) a meal in Spain. This rating is based on a bottle bought in Norway, had travelled well.
Apr 29, 2021
Reviewed by Spike from England
2.5/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.5/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
440ml can. 5.0% version, brewed in the UK by Carlsberg.
L: Clear, golden colour with many streams of bubbles. Excellent head is big, white, soapy & long-lasting. Served in a cold glass with beads of condensation, this is exactly how you want a lager to look.
S: Absolutely nothing.
T: Sweet & grainy. Negligible hop flavour.
F: Thin mouthfeel almost saved by moderate carbonation.
O: Incredibly bland. Designed to be drunk ice cold. Looks great and is well sessionable, otherwise poor.
PS. DO drink ice cold. This beer becomes sickly sweet as it warms.
Oct 03, 2020L: Clear, golden colour with many streams of bubbles. Excellent head is big, white, soapy & long-lasting. Served in a cold glass with beads of condensation, this is exactly how you want a lager to look.
S: Absolutely nothing.
T: Sweet & grainy. Negligible hop flavour.
F: Thin mouthfeel almost saved by moderate carbonation.
O: Incredibly bland. Designed to be drunk ice cold. Looks great and is well sessionable, otherwise poor.
PS. DO drink ice cold. This beer becomes sickly sweet as it warms.
Rated by Dovers from Wisconsin
3.25/5 rDev +25%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev +25%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Had on tap in Barcelona.
Oct 07, 2019Reviewed by drmeto from Germany
3.15/5 rDev +21.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.15/5 rDev +21.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
L:
-pours a clear golden with a big,foamy,white head
-medium to high carbonation visible
S:
-honey,spicy,grainy,corn,floral
T:
-Follows the nose
F:
-medium carbonation
-light body
O:
More malty than most "Premium Lagers".The malt base reminds me a lot of Staropramen, but with the typical low bitterniss of other "Premium Lagers"
A drinkable,if unexciting Premium Lager with a heavier malt base than it's competitors.
May 21, 2019-pours a clear golden with a big,foamy,white head
-medium to high carbonation visible
S:
-honey,spicy,grainy,corn,floral
T:
-Follows the nose
F:
-medium carbonation
-light body
O:
More malty than most "Premium Lagers".The malt base reminds me a lot of Staropramen, but with the typical low bitterniss of other "Premium Lagers"
A drinkable,if unexciting Premium Lager with a heavier malt base than it's competitors.
Reviewed by elnachooo from Spain
2/5 rDev -23.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2/5 rDev -23.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Cerveza de color dorado, de baja carbonatación y cuerpo ligero. Aroma a malta. El sabor en boca tiene detalles de malta y lúpulo. Sencilla para tomar, con pocas pretensiones.
Dec 17, 2018Rated by Mclusal from Colombia
3.6/5 rDev +38.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.6/5 rDev +38.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
M53
Dec 12, 2018Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
3.01/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.01/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
There seems to be general confusion between the two listings for this beer, and it seems because it is brewed in several locations, and the relevent one might not be indicated on the can/bottle. [I know the San Miguel available in SE-Asia generally is the one brewed in the Philippines].
I bought my 440ml cans in Waitrose London. They show the ABV% at 5.0%. BB: 26/5/19. 'Brewed and canned in the EU by Carlsberg UK Ltd, Northampton'. Does that mean it's not brewed in Spain, it's unclear to me.
L-Quite pale gold, High carbonation. Pours with 3-finger white head slowly reducing to lacing.
S- A little sour, and not much else to note.
T- Quite hoppy dry, into a richer finish than expected. After I noticed the ambiguous origin I feared this was another industrial euro-lager, but it has something more to it than just that.
M- I think it is well balanced between dryness and richness, and maintains refreshing carbonation on the tongue.
O- Nothing particularly disinctive, but nothing actively wrong either. This would be a decent session-beer to me.
Aug 25, 2018I bought my 440ml cans in Waitrose London. They show the ABV% at 5.0%. BB: 26/5/19. 'Brewed and canned in the EU by Carlsberg UK Ltd, Northampton'. Does that mean it's not brewed in Spain, it's unclear to me.
L-Quite pale gold, High carbonation. Pours with 3-finger white head slowly reducing to lacing.
S- A little sour, and not much else to note.
T- Quite hoppy dry, into a richer finish than expected. After I noticed the ambiguous origin I feared this was another industrial euro-lager, but it has something more to it than just that.
M- I think it is well balanced between dryness and richness, and maintains refreshing carbonation on the tongue.
O- Nothing particularly disinctive, but nothing actively wrong either. This would be a decent session-beer to me.
Reviewed by Ant777uk from England
1.9/5 rDev -26.9%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 1.75
1.9/5 rDev -26.9%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 1.75
It's kind of strange as when you drink the San Miguel in Mallorca, it's a pretty good beer, both as draft or in bottle. However when bought outside Spain, it seems to be different!
This apparently is brewed in Barcelona, and it actually called "Tradicion" as opposed to Especial. Not sure what the difference is, and couldn't tell from their website.
Spanish draft San Miguel I actually like and would give a good rating to. This however is very lifeless and not so great...
Anyway, aroma is very malty. Flavour is quite flat, but improves as it warms up slightly. Not much of an aftertaste and quite dry, very overtly pasteurized I would suggest.
Not a fan, it's a shame as the stuff in Spain is pretty good. Now sure about the Singapore version...
Interestingly on the bottle it does not seem to specify exactly where it is made, it's very possible this is a cheaper and totally different version of the Spanish one, from memory I have had a UK brewed one before that was not so great also...
Aug 23, 2017This apparently is brewed in Barcelona, and it actually called "Tradicion" as opposed to Especial. Not sure what the difference is, and couldn't tell from their website.
Spanish draft San Miguel I actually like and would give a good rating to. This however is very lifeless and not so great...
Anyway, aroma is very malty. Flavour is quite flat, but improves as it warms up slightly. Not much of an aftertaste and quite dry, very overtly pasteurized I would suggest.
Not a fan, it's a shame as the stuff in Spain is pretty good. Now sure about the Singapore version...
Interestingly on the bottle it does not seem to specify exactly where it is made, it's very possible this is a cheaper and totally different version of the Spanish one, from memory I have had a UK brewed one before that was not so great also...
Reviewed by schavuytje from Netherlands
1.44/5 rDev -44.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
1.44/5 rDev -44.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
A fairly drinkable pale lower, very bright, slightly slightly slightly yellow body, no foam, vague tones of fine malt with a bitter edge; advice good cold for the best taste
Jun 26, 2017
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary
3.02/5 rDev +16.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.02/5 rDev +16.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The time has come to re-evaluate the San Mig. After a few years things tend to taste better, but not sure if this one made any difference since then. Tasteless lager with dry bitterness remaining in the mouth... German lager-esque? But it's okay, especially with food, despite its wateriness. Otherwise you might not want to be drinking it too much on its own...
May 14, 2017Rated by TobeerAs from Germany
2.6/5 rDev 0%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
2.6/5 rDev 0%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
Unpleasant bitter nose. Light sweet smooth taste. Hop notes rather hidden and unbalanced.
May 30, 2016
San Miguel Especial from San Miguel Fabricas De Cervaza Y Maltas S.A.
Beer rating:
63 out of
100 with
191 ratings
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