Red Horse Beer: Extra Strong
San Miguel Brewery Inc.

Yuck. Didn't like this beer at all. Only got 1 and would probably never get it again.

This was muled to me all the way from the Philippines in October 2025. I drank it in December that year.

L: Dark golden with a thin smattering of foam around the edge of the glass. Lots of bubbles rush upwards. If the head had been more robust and longer-lasting, this would have been the archetypal beer.

S: The nose is yeast, sweat, and orchard fruits. I had expected more booze on the nose, but as it stands, it's not the most appealing beer I've smelled...

T: The taste is malty and boozy. There's a medium level of dark sweetness, a sweet finish, and a lingering boozy note. The body does well to keep up with the alcohol - in my experience, strong lagers can tend to go for the boozy effect, but sometimes forget that the booze needs a robust body to sit on top of. Still, the alcohol is prevalent, and there's significant warmth in my stomach and throat by the halfway mark. I suspect the boozy notes would become overly sweet over time, leading this to a one, or maybe two, drink session before moving on to something a little less booze-forward.

B: As noted above, the body does well to keep up with the booze on this one. Carboantion and carbonic kick are relatively light, meaning this one could be drunk quite quickly, which is probably not the smartest choice at 6.9% ABV!

O: This one is one of the better strong lagers I've had, but the competition has not been strong. They tend to be overly boozy, light-bodied, and made for one purpose only. This one walks the line between booze and body pretty well, but it's not a beer I would seek out again.

Cheers!
#765

 

 

 

 

Can share, the 8% ABv version. Typical lager taste which is nice considering the imperial pils can be extra sweet. Grainy aroma and taste, pale golden body, small airy head. Again not too terrible, but beware the kick of this beer.

Tastes like a typical malt liquor, the head disappears very quickly, little carbonation.
Not an especially terrible beer but nothing special either. Average
The 8% alc./vol. kicks in like most similar types of extra strong beer.
Will take a pass on this one from now on.

 

Red Horse Extra Strong is crystal clear and pale amber in color. Thin streams of carbonation support a cloudy bone white head with fairly average retention.
Taking a sniff, the first thing I smell is generic, almost sugary sweetness. Soda cracker comes in second, lending support to the up front aromas of sugar. Aromas of malt and sugar lead into a center where I smell corn adjuncts and the lagery whiff of sulfur. Mix in the alcoholic burn of this beer's 8% abv and the aroma takes on a vaguely white wine quality. The finish is full of the leafy, fresh cut grass smell of European hops.
On the tongue, flavors of corn adjunct and alcoholic spiciness dominate up front. Those flavors lead right into flavors of sulfur. Those flavors combine in a way that isn't very flattering or enticing. Flavors of soda cracker or baked bread are nonexistent. Sugary sweetness provides an interesting through note, adding just enough to the proceedings to give an unflattering illusion of white wine. Bitter is crisp and bitter.
It's just not that good a beer. It's almost as though the brewery took every thing people hate about lager and distilled them together into one product. Red Horse Extra Strong's only real redeeming feature is that it's inexpensive and it's strong. Beyond, I'd give this beer a hard pass.

 

Bought this at the local Filipino market in a pint can four pack. Pours a large foamy head but then dissipates quickly - clear golden color. Aroma is very bready and malty not much else to speak of. Taste is surprisingly light given the high ABV. I would compare this to Steel Reserve - but the taste is lighter and a bit more bitter yet sweet at the same time. Not a bad beer and worth a try if you're curious.

 

 

A - Pours a clear crystal lager colour with a white head that reduces quickly.

S - Nothing of note except some small malt.

T - Again nothing of note that is different to any other mass produced lager.

M - Light body with medium carbonation

O - Not worth the effort. This beer is just an ordinary lager with very little to warrant the extra layout.

Recently introduced to TJ's (at least here in San Diego), Red horse is a smooth malt liquor clocking in at a stout 8.0 ABV. Similar to Steel Reserve in strength, it's a bit smoother and possibly akin to Carlsberg Elephant. Good value at $4.49 for a four-back of 16.9 oz. talls, all served up in a cool can with horseshoe and chess knight motif. To the reviewer who complained about the venerable 'Trader carrying it? Don't like it, don't buy it, wuss!

extra strong crisp clean easy smooth to drink with little head that goes away and some carbanion to it overall a not bad beer when best served cold. at 8%

Funny how I am reading many of the ratings for Red Horse. The first time I tried this beer I knew I finally found something that I would truly enjoy. This is truly a situation of "to each his own." I fell in love with Red Horse, the flavour for me is outstanding. I love the higher alcohol content as well as the fact that it is not filling, at least not to me. Loved it the first time I tried it. Not really a fan of lighter beers either. For me, this beer is a keeper and I just recently tried Hurricane, and it is very similar. Found another one that is a keeper for me. Enjoy and drink responsibly.

This is easily the worst beer i've had in my entire life. Reeks of a high gravity like hurricane/steel reserve but this turned my stomach. Bought this at a Trader Joe's, what the hell are they doing carrying something like this..?

Lol, this beer made my sick. I'm totally serious.....