-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
San Miguel Especial
San Miguel Fabricas De Cervaza Y Maltas S.A.
- From:
- San Miguel Fabricas De Cervaza Y Maltas S.A.
- Spain
- Style:
- European Pale Lager
Ranked #379 - ABV:
- 5.4%
- Score:
- 63
Ranked #28,390 - Avg:
- 2.63 | pDev: 21.29%
- Reviews:
- 56
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 22, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 22, 2005
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 41
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by RonaldTheriot from Louisiana
4.6/5 rDev +74.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +74.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
San Mijguel Especial has a clear, deep gold appearance and a thick white head. The aroma is of white bread crust. The flavor is similar with sweetness and a noticeable, mild hop bitterness. San Miguel Especial has a medium body and a crisp finish.
RJT
Dec 09, 2023RJT
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington
3.43/5 rDev +30.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev +30.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 330mL bottle into a wine glass. Best by 12/8/24. I am drinking this in Spain and it appears this bottle was indeed brewed in Spain.
Appearance: pale golden hue with a clear body and two fingers of frothy ivory foam leaving a nice lace on the glass.
Smell: light and crisply malty. It’s not particularly strong, but there’s a nice semi-sweet malt character.
Taste: light malt with just a little bit of adjunct flavor. There’s a little bit of sweetness; bitterness is moderate and comes through at the end. Not the best beer out there, but pretty inoffensive.
Mouthfeel: medium body with a decent enough carbonation and creaminess.
Overall: a drinkable-yet-plain European lager. Nothing wrong with that!
Oct 16, 2023Appearance: pale golden hue with a clear body and two fingers of frothy ivory foam leaving a nice lace on the glass.
Smell: light and crisply malty. It’s not particularly strong, but there’s a nice semi-sweet malt character.
Taste: light malt with just a little bit of adjunct flavor. There’s a little bit of sweetness; bitterness is moderate and comes through at the end. Not the best beer out there, but pretty inoffensive.
Mouthfeel: medium body with a decent enough carbonation and creaminess.
Overall: a drinkable-yet-plain European lager. Nothing wrong with that!
Reviewed by BurtonRed from England
2.36/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
2.36/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
UK brewed - has that metallic UK macro lager flavour, otherwise little aroma. Typical lager. Metallic notes take away actually decent malty profile and refreshing crispness.
Sep 25, 2023Reviewed by Ant777uk from England
3.05/5 rDev +16%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
3.05/5 rDev +16%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Spanish brewed version...likely better than the UK one.
Rather large bubbles. Looks refreshing. Aroma of dry malt and some faint hops. I like the bitterness in the aroma.
The malt is far more flavorsome than the majority of pilsners, as is common in Spain. Mahou is far superior, but I much prefer this to Estrella, which for me is mega over-rated. When I was younger I stayed in a holiday resort in Ibiza where all alcohol was free, and this was the only beer on tap. There were water jugs at our tables, so I emptied the water out and walked to where the San Miguel tap was. I saw another person with a water jug full of San Miguel, and smiled at him and said "English". He smiled back and said yes ; )
So for about 2 weeks, I substituted water for this. It's dry, reasonably complex, and as long as you drink the Spanish verion and not a dodgy sub licence one, which exist in multiple countries, it's pretty good. The hops add a dryness with not much flavour, however because the malt is flavoursome, almost as flavoursome as Belgian malt, the beer tastes pretty good. Unlike some other dry pilsners such as Croatian Pan and Romanian Ursus, which literally have no taste beyond the dryness.
I didn't used to like this, but because of my current location I have had so many terrible beers recently, I quite like this. Mouth feel is impressive for a pilsner. Pretty good overall, I like. UK version is terrible though, as are some of the other internationally brewed ones. From memory, some don't even say where they are brewed ; )
Jun 26, 2023Rather large bubbles. Looks refreshing. Aroma of dry malt and some faint hops. I like the bitterness in the aroma.
The malt is far more flavorsome than the majority of pilsners, as is common in Spain. Mahou is far superior, but I much prefer this to Estrella, which for me is mega over-rated. When I was younger I stayed in a holiday resort in Ibiza where all alcohol was free, and this was the only beer on tap. There were water jugs at our tables, so I emptied the water out and walked to where the San Miguel tap was. I saw another person with a water jug full of San Miguel, and smiled at him and said "English". He smiled back and said yes ; )
So for about 2 weeks, I substituted water for this. It's dry, reasonably complex, and as long as you drink the Spanish verion and not a dodgy sub licence one, which exist in multiple countries, it's pretty good. The hops add a dryness with not much flavour, however because the malt is flavoursome, almost as flavoursome as Belgian malt, the beer tastes pretty good. Unlike some other dry pilsners such as Croatian Pan and Romanian Ursus, which literally have no taste beyond the dryness.
I didn't used to like this, but because of my current location I have had so many terrible beers recently, I quite like this. Mouth feel is impressive for a pilsner. Pretty good overall, I like. UK version is terrible though, as are some of the other internationally brewed ones. From memory, some don't even say where they are brewed ; )
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
2.92/5 rDev +11%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
2.92/5 rDev +11%
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 +4.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
2.74/5 rDev +4.2%
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 Shanex from France
2.88/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.88/5 rDev +9.5%
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 -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.54/5 rDev -3.4%
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 +11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.94/5 rDev +11.8%
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, 2021Reviewed by Spike from England
2.5/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.5/5 rDev -4.9%
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 +23.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev +23.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Had on tap in Barcelona.
Oct 07, 2019
San Miguel Especial from San Miguel Fabricas De Cervaza Y Maltas S.A.
Beer rating:
63 out of
100 with
198 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!