1906 Reserva Especial - Hijos De Rivera, S.A.

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.34/5  rDev +40%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

1906 Reserva Especial has a thin, white, soapy head, a hazy, orange-golden appearance, lots of little orange chunks floating about, some streaming bubbles, and a decent amount of lacing left behind. The aroma is bold and rich. One picks up medium-roasted barley malt, some alcohol sweetness, and brown bread. Taste is of all those, plus some bread crust, a slight hop bitterness, and even a fruitiness (figs?). Mouthfeel is medium, and 1906 Reserva Especial finishes mostly dry, fairly refreshing, bold, and strong. This is more of a sipper, really. Overall, I think it’s a really delicious beer. You should try it!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 15:14:58 | More by RonaldTheriot

RaphaelSC

Brazil

4.05/5  rDev +30.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Well to me 1906 Reserva Especial is the best cost x benefit beer to the moment, it costs the average price of the america adjunct lager but with much more quality and flavour.

A: a Ligh copper amber with a creamy head that leaves a lace when dissipates.

S: A faint alcoholic smell with some hop notes, nothing special here.

T:The malts and hops working together in the mouth creating a tasteful and bitter beer, with a complexity not found in some expensive/famous beers.

M: Bitter and refreshing, the toasted malts and hops brings a excellent mouthfell.

O:When a drink this beer I cannot stop to think that it is too damn good for its price ($1,50). I'll make 1906 my session beer from now on!

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 15:52:08 | More by RaphaelSC

Petertauro

Spain

5/5  rDev +61.3%

04-17-2013 12:35:31 | More by Petertauro

janubio

Spain

3.25/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

330 ml. bottle. Copper-amber colour, correct head that dissipates too soon but leaving a good lace. Smell of malts, caramels and some hints of ripe fruits, even some damp earth. Light to medium body, creamy palate. Taste of caramels and ripe fruits. Not too complex, but overall a good beer that one can enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 22:09:52 | More by janubio

NandoPereira

Brazil

3/5  rDev -3.2%

03-02-2013 22:18:49 | More by NandoPereira

alexandrefdiniz

Brazil

2.5/5  rDev -19.4%

01-26-2013 20:28:48 | More by alexandrefdiniz

chinchill

South Carolina

2.73/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

33cl bottle dated BB March 2012, so a bit past recommended date. Served in a lager glass.

A: Pours a dark golden amber. Very clear with rising carbonation bubbles varying in size. Eggshell head has decent retention and leaves soapy looking lacing on the sides of the glass.

S: Mainly smells like corn/adjunct lager, but with a more pronounced aroma. A little bit floral as well, with hints of white bread and bread dough.
T: Sweet up front; mildly bitter finish and aftertaste. Only a hint of darker malt in here, and not too much flavor from the lighter malts either. Higher ABV evident after a little warming. A little bit of a floral and herbal taste.
M: medium carbonation and near medium body.
O: tastes and feels more like a slightly strong lager. Drinkable and modestly refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 23:15:07 | More by chinchill

FLima

Brazil

2.4/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Malty beer with some caramel notes. Copper appereance with persistence foam (three fingers initially then keeps a denoted ring). Hops are timid, loosing ground for the alcohol. Aftertaste a little bitter with some sweetness.
Nothing especial, not worth it a second shot.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 23:28:43 | More by FLima

Campodog

Spain

3.5/5  rDev +12.9%

10-01-2012 09:43:13 | More by Campodog

RichH55

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +4.8%

09-18-2012 00:09:58 | More by RichH55

fionn13

Ireland

3.75/5  rDev +21%

06-04-2012 15:02:23 | More by fionn13

ckollias

Maryland

3.03/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a large snifter glass.

A: Pours a clear dark golden-copper hue with a thick, 4-finger, white head that slowly dissipates into a solid persistent lace that leaves a great trail down the glass.

S: Malty aroma with some caramel notes.

T: Smooth and malty flavor and similar to the smell there is a caramel presence.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Interesting beer. Decent flavor and aroma but nothing really special or anything I would grab again.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 00:46:47 | More by ckollias

jaidenjb

Ohio

3/5  rDev -3.2%

03-29-2012 00:32:19 | More by jaidenjb

CrazyDavros

Australia

2.48/5  rDev -20%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours dark amber with a large, quickly fading head.
Nose shows caramel, grapes, sweet port notes. Pretty faint though.
Flavours initially include sweet caramel and bready malt but then industrial notes show through which ruin it.
Carbonation could be higher.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 10:15:22 | More by CrazyDavros

kojevergas

California

2.35/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle served into an Estrella Levante stemgoblet in Ibiza, Spain. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a one finger head of decent thickness, no cream, and poor retention. Colour is a nontransparent gold.

Sm: Light malt. That's it.

T: Malt-ridden body. Some subtle hops, but poorly built overall. Not complex nor bold.

Mf: Light and smooth. Doesn't fully complement the flavour.

Dr: Hides its ABV very well. Far too malty - classic Spanish beer fallacy. Decently priced.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 09:44:48 | More by kojevergas

RodneyFarva

Spain

3.28/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

33cl can poured into a a stein

billowy three finger head dissipates quickly, leaving very little lacing. beer color, however, looks nice: a deep amber color

smells more like a standard Euro lager - some malts, and a lot of corn and metallic aromas as well

malt sweetness up front, the sweetness carries through as well, and a bit of warmth from the alcohol at the end. alcohol flavor doesn't become noticeably more present as it warms, though. some grassy notes and the corn flavor too

overall, definitely not a bock, but still a big step above most mass-marketed spanish lagers, even those placing themselves in a "premium" category

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 12:55:14 | More by RodneyFarva

Valmor88

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Distributor brought samples of this to my workplace, so I got to try one.

A: Pours an orange/amber color. Less than 1 finger white head. Doesn't look much like a bock, but we'll see.

S: Malty sweetness is quite strong, with some citrusy hop aromas in there too. Definitely corn odors, too. At this point I double-checked the bottle to make sure this is supposed to be a bock.

T: Malty up front. Tangy hop finish. Just a hint of the bitterness there.

M: Medium both in body and carbonation. Somewhat creamy, although that's not the right word for it.

O: While not a bock (tastes like a lager to me), I still enjoyed this beer. It's not the best out there, though, so skip in favor or something better.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 19:34:32 | More by Valmor88

BretSikkink

Mexico

2.38/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Sad to say this is my first review since moving to Mexico. I clearly would not have bothered if I'd read reviews first, but I was at the supermarket and I saw something I'd never seen.

Color is just fine, a little translucent for a bock but I'm throwing that style out the window right now. Orange with a brownish tint. Head is pretty massive at first, tons of big bubbles, but it settles down into a craggy, creamy delight.

Way downhill from there. Nose is thin and skunky. If a good lager nose is clean, this is dirty. Sharp metallic note. Flavor follow suit, skunky with a tainted medicinal quality. Like bad aspirin. Malt is toasted but comes off strangely with the herbal stink lingering to it.

Body is thin but passable for many lager styles, carbonation is way up fortunately, producing that nice head and a little relief on the palate from the otherwise very bad flavor. Trust the other reviews and avoid if possible. I'm sad that I bought a sixer, although it was mercifully cheap.

Serving type: can

08-09-2011 01:30:18 | More by BretSikkink

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

1.93/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Definitely not an impressive lager, and I can't fathom what might qualify it to be classified as a bock?!

Colour is a pleasant amber and carbonation is decent. However the smell is unpleasant "canned Euro lager" and the taste is downright acerbic, with a sweet finish that doesn't balance well at all with the harsh flavour.

I was drawn to the can by its honesty on the label ingredients, actually listing corn. They also make reference to hops and I think that's pretty misleading. Definitely not a beer I'd recommend or purchase again.

Serving type: can

04-30-2011 03:28:29 | More by hopsolutely

LeonSammartino

Australia

2.73/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had it from a bottle into a glass. Not a bad beer, poured darker than I would have thought, but style felt that I tastes fruity overtone, amongst all the except toasted malts.

Only very slight bitter aftertaste than ran away quickly.

Probably wouldn't go out of my way to drink it again, but if someone served it up, I wouldn't refuse it either.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 05:24:55 | More by LeonSammartino

mulder1010

Australia

1.9/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

330 ML poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass

A-- Poured a dark golden straw yellow. Medium to high carbonation by appearance, lots of bubbles. Bright cloud white head that was one finger. Decent head retention and some soapy like lacing on the sides of the glass. Do not think this is a bock at all.

S-- Heavy corn presence right off the bat. Very big chemical smell. A little bit floral and sweet as well. Very much not a bock.

T-- Sweet and almost syrupy. A little bit of a floral taste but otherwise it tastes like a run of the mill offering that is a bit more pimped out.

M-- Very little bitterness and ABV is noticeable in the mouth. A little bit creamy and more on the medium side of carbonation. Very sweet and perfume like. Does have a bit of a heavy finish. Sounds like a lager to me

D-- Basically a suped up lager that is not that great or worthy of having with good tapas. Skip and find something more interesting to have than this.

Not going to fail it even though as a bock it would get an F. As a lager or a pilsner it is barely passable

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2010 14:44:32 | More by mulder1010

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

2.93/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A fairly avoidable, if slightly improved, offering from Hijos de Rivera-Estrella de Galicia.

Presentation: 25 cl brown bottle. Design of an overlap of text, imitating a limited edition label, over a black star tag. Front side note brags about a culmination of work started in 1906 with a brew for more demanding palates, with a generic narrative of ingredients and brewing. Shows best by date (AGO 10), and Alc. by Vol. (6.5%). Served in a 1906 conic glass.

A - Medium to deep amber pour with a medium to large head, short retention and some lacing.

S - Skunky eurolager nose that fades a bit and leaves room to some malty range.

T - Funky eurolager bitter sense with a malty sense above the average offering from this brewery.

M - Light body with generous carbonation. Slightly funky and metallic feel with a creamy touch.

D - A touch above the average macro eurolarger offering, but very short of anything to make this a "Reserva Especial".

Notes: Pity that this tries to go as a quality notch up in the Spanish macro market. Surely better than their most common offering but the gap is not that significant.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2010 01:49:01 | More by Daniellobo

yael6666

Mexico

3.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A:Amber color, with a great white head similar to belgian strong beers head

S:Alcohol and some fruit and hops

T:Alcohol all the way with some hops and fruitiness

M:good carbonation with an average dry aftertaste

D:As its alcoholic average is a little high for a lager, ill say you cant drink it like a regular lager, i cant drink more than two but still you stay with a good sensation of this beer

great surprise for an spanish lager because the others that ive tasted (ambar and mahou) are just horrible

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2009 07:12:25 | More by yael6666

roddwolff

Mexico

3.73/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The appearance is regular, with an amber deep color, the foam have little consistency; the smell is good, some malta and corn, dominating the last one; very tasty flavor, essence of corn, combined with a medium bitterness; the mouthfeel is to cereals, high carbonation and medium body; in the drinkability, is well, of any way hides the 6,5° of alcohol, I took it with popcorn.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2009 02:57:27 | More by roddwolff

gerardoluna

Mexico

2/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

[Eyes] Clear orange color; clean and transparent... minimal carbonation, head is poor and dissipates quickly.

[Aroma] yeast and malt, a little touch of hops in deep

[Mouth] Freshhhh Malt bitterness, leaves a metallic aftertaste, creamy, light body gentle carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2008 01:49:34 | More by gerardoluna