Medalla Light - Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico

THECPJ

Delaware

2.53/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Reviewed from notes: had on draft at the airport waiting on connection flight.

appearance: golden pale yellow with a 1 finger white head

smell: lager yeast, malts,

taste: the same as it smells. lager yeast dominates,

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, thin body,

overall: rather boring beer but wasnt' expecting anything special. really easy to drink on warm days goes done easy and smooth. just doesn't have a whole lot to offer in flavor.

Cheers,
The CPJ

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 18:33:38 | More by THECPJ

unclejimbay

Florida

3.7/5  rDev +32.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Medalla Light
ABV: Listed on label as 4 - 6%

I visited PR for a week in Jan 2010. I had plenty of this beer in every format available. Apparently the draft offering is "new" according to the locals. It's similiar to most adjunct light lagers, but is enjoyable in the right context on it's home turf in PR. I particularly enjoyed it most from the can while sailing off the east coast of Fajardo. I was able to try it from a bottle & glass at a friends beach villa in the Palmas. I also had it several time on draft in San Juan and enjoyed it most this way.

This brew's appearance had a respectable head, retention and lace as compared to most other macros (who usually have none. I was impressed with the noticeable fluffy lace collar and cap.

The aroma was nominal if any at all, subtley malty, maybe a whiff of corn if you are a true bloodhound.

The taste is light and crisp as expected. A bit sweet than most other macro light lagers. Seems to taste best and be most enjoyable draft in my opinion.

Mouthfeel is high carbonation with light body.

Drinkability is high on the island as its one of the only limited brews offered (other than Coors/Bud/etc). Dive in one and drink local...

Better yet try Old Harbor brewpub in San Juan if you can as they have some local variety.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2010 20:15:49 | More by unclejimbay

lhaqq

California

3.63/5  rDev +29.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had a few of these on tap at different places in Puerto Rico.
A: Golden body with a frothy white head that dissipates quickly.
S: Not too much smell, some citrus and some corn.
T: Fairly watery, some corn, not too bad.
M: Pretty carbonated, wouldn't be good warm but is good cold.
D: Easy to drink. A great beer to have on a hot day on the beach in Puerto Rico.
On the the spectrum of light lagers, I'd rank it fairly close to the top.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2009 02:32:03 | More by lhaqq

engisch

New Jersey

1.5/5  rDev -46.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

When I went to Puerto Rico on a business trip, this was the only beer that I could find that I had never had. If it is seen outside of Puerto Rico, it is not worth trying. It is slightly better than most light beers that I have had, but still it is practically the same as the light American swills.

It initially did not look too bad (like it may have had a chance), but that could have been due to the high temperature of the island and the excitement of trying a new beer. Soon after trying it, I decided Rum was the way to go. From what I saw of Puerto Rico, it is not a beer friendly place.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2008 22:53:58 | More by engisch

BeerDreadz

Louisiana

3.68/5  rDev +31.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer is a light lager beer that doesn't taste like a light lager,doesn't look a light lager but is a light lager ...this beer is sold everwhere in Puerto Rico(macro) and you can get for a buck...it have a nice smell and a very good taste for a island where it can be at 90 degrees in winter,i have taste it in cans,bottles and on-tap, i prefer it on tap but is hard to find....

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2007 08:37:10 | More by BeerDreadz

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

3/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This review is for the on-tap version:

A: Birght golden straw ina medium head that lasted a micro second

S: A nice balanced and rather suprising maltiness but very little hops

T: The difference between the keg and the bottle is like night and day the keg beer tatse so much better and has a much more smooth feel and less aggresive carbonation. Also teh beer from the keg doesnt have to be chugged since it doesnt taste so bad when it warms, unlike the bottled version

M: Much more pleasent than the over-carbonated bottle

D: Overall pretty good beer and especially if found on-tap

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2007 03:58:20 | More by JoEBoBpr

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Had a can from Puerto Rico, thanks Josh. Light pale adjunct lager. Drinkable, but also very comparable to seltzer in taste. Pretty bland and also not as bad as I thought. I could drink this in 100 degree heat if I did not have filtered and bottled water.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 17:10:20 | More by northyorksammy

rhoadsrage

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer pours a straw yellow body with a loose meringue of snow white head that boils away before the first sip leaving only a thin ring of big bubbles. There is a strong carbonation of big bubbles popping of the base of the glass.

S- The aroma is very clean with only a hint of mineral water really noticed.

T- The soft dry corn note leads to a carbonic acid note in the finish. There is a slight chalk note that comes through when the beer opens and a hint of tartness in the finish aswell.

M- The light mouthfeel has a scrubbing fizz and no alcohol heat.

O- This beer is light with almost no flavor. No hops or malt at all but it is also perfectly clean. No sulfur or off-flavors. Just fizzy water.

Serving type: can

01-03-2013 21:31:22 | More by rhoadsrage

HalfFull

California

2.63/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

275 ml. golden can poured into a glass, showing a light straw with a bit of a haze. Thin cap doesn't linger.

Aroma is thin as per the style. Notable corn and cereal grains going on. Quite minimal.

Flavor is quite dry with a short almost cottony finish. Offers a hint of grain on the feel but is otherwise a bit astringent. Overall the 'dry' nature of this beer was a bit of a surprise, tasting a bit like a light version of an ice beer. But alas, the Cruise Ship awaits..

Serving type: can

11-11-2012 04:28:58 | More by HalfFull

freditoj

Alabama

2/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This is the signature puertorican beer. It is made in Mayaguez, and most of the Medalla fans are obviously in that area. College students love it because it is cheap. The color is golden yellow, almost no head when poured into a glass. It smells of grains, pretty unappealing if you ask me. The taste is too carbonated and leaves the hard palate with a dry/uncomfortable feeling. Overall it is a good beer if you like light beers, don't hesitate to give it a try.

Serving type: can

09-30-2012 19:50:52 | More by freditoj

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.98/5  rDev +42.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Medalla Light has a thin, white head and a clear, fairly bubbly, straw appearance. The aroma is of sweet, bready barley malt and a shadow of a hop sting. Taste is of sweet bread, lemon, paper, a touch of syrup, and a kiss of hops. Mouthfeel is light and watery, and Medalla Light finishes crisp, clean, refreshing, mostly dry, extremely drinkable, and delicious. What a wonderful surprise! This might be the best mass-produced light beer on the market. I rate this one excellent.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 16:34:23 | More by RonaldTheriot

Fatehunter

Oregon

1.55/5  rDev -44.6%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I’m sure this beer is traditionally drunk from the can. I classed it up a bit and poured it into a clear plastic cup so I could see what I was drinking. It’s a cloudy, but clear golden color with only a thinnest layer of head.
It smells like nothing, save a faint grain smell.
It also tastes like nothing. There’s a slight bitter (the slightest) at the finish. Prior to that it tastes like carbonated water.
Light bodied, crisp and moderate carbonation. A refreshing feeling.
To be fair the can does state “sabor con menos calarias y carbohidratos.” So if there’s no calories or carbs, what’s left? Drink one and find out.

Serving type: can

05-24-2012 20:12:46 | More by Fatehunter

kylehay2004

Florida

2.65/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: half finger head on a Straw yellow clear body.

S: light pale malts which is stronger than expected considering the lightness of this beers flavor and mouthfeel.

T: may be the lightest beer ever. Water up front and some pale malt as light hops in the finish.

M: very light body, high carbonation and very refreshing.

Overall: this beer is very refreshing probably because it tastes like water. No real flavor but nothing bad tasting either

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 19:58:01 | More by kylehay2004

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

2.48/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Can poured into a tulip

A: Pours a straw, transparent yellow with very large bubbles and an interim fizzy head.

S: Smell is just a touch bitter, a little metallic, maybe even sweet like honey, but it’s short lived. A little skunky.

T/M: A little more honey sweetness is mixed in with some fizzy carbonation up front and it’s pretty watery afterwards, like seltzer or tonic water.

Similar to most other American light lagers, except in Puerto Rican form.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: can

01-17-2012 01:46:03 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Tschnab

New York

2.3/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A- very fizzy pale yellow piss.

S- Corn and malty water, and nothing else at all.

T- a sweet corn and light sweet malt and then just a flavorless finish with no bite. It drinks very smooth so honestly it's pretty bearable.

O- it's almost water, so on this humid day in puerto Rico, I'll take it.

Serving type: can

12-26-2011 21:38:13 | More by Tschnab

brystmar

New York

2/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Shared a can over dinner in Luquillo. Pours golden yellow, no head, really fizzy. Smell is full of skunky hops with a hint of sweet malt like most bad adjunct lagers. Taste is no better: skunky hops and other bitingly bad flavors. Mildly bitter and unpleasant like regular Bud or MGD.

If I want a light adjunct lager, I'm ordering Coors Light because it tastes the most like water. And honestly I'd much rather have water than any of the above.

Serving type: can

11-19-2011 18:21:30 | More by brystmar

obrike

Texas

2.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer I choose when in Puerto Rico...of course, there's usually not much choice at the places I stay in/ shop in.

Light yellow pour, white head disappears almost instantly upon contact with glass...certainly not much to look at.

Not an offensive smell...which is already a good thing considering it's a light lager. Getting a bit of sweetness, some grainy malt.A little better than most light lager scents.

Tastes refreshing, smooth, no ill-aftertaste...much better than bud light or coors light. Sharp biting carbonation though.

Certainly an ok light lager...one that beats most of the big boys out there.

Serving type: can

11-05-2011 23:04:13 | More by obrike

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Big ups and major props to GallowsThief for thinking of me and sending me a CAN to add to The CANQuest (TM)! The package arrived coinciding with the beginning of the school year and I quickly lost track of who sent it to me. Madre de Dios! I am so ashamed. I was CANtacted by him and the scales fell from mine eyes as a result.

From the CAN (translated from the Spanish): "The finest expensive ingredients and a special process makes Medalla Light a unique flavor experience with fewer calories and carbohydrates."

The wee 10 fl. oz. CAN made me wonder what caused the delay, but the Crack & Glug went off without a hitch. I initially had two fingers of foamy, bone-white head but the retention was not there and it faded into memory pretty quickly. Color was a pale lemon-yellow with NE-quality clarity and lots of CO2 bubbles. Nose smelled of cereal adjuncts and my "Ho Hum" meter energized itself. Nothing new here folks, just keep moving. Mouthfeel was medium with a light, lager flavor on the tongue. Finish was semi-dry and definitely refreshing on a humid afternoon. I do not know what more I CAN say about this one. Whoops! I almost missed a bet by not noting that it was my first Puerto RiCAN beer on The CANQuest (TM).

Serving type: can

09-27-2011 21:27:29 | More by woodychandler

GallowsThief

Florida

2.58/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured out of a bottle into a regular old glass at Perurican, Condado, Puerto Rico. I have had this beer many times on business trips to PR. It is the Puerto Rican staple.

A – Poured out a clear golden yellow. Aggressive pour produces a good amount of fizzy white head.

S – Not much of a scent. Grainy. Corn.

T – Not a great deal going on taste wise. Its grainy like the smell with some subtle sweetness. There is some hops present in the taste but its light.

M – Light bodied and decent carbonation. Thin taste.

O – This is slightly better then BMC’s. It is perhaps a great beer for Puerto Rico and its hot days. Serves cold this makes a nice brew for the island but don’t expect much. That being said I have enjoyed drinking it countless times in the island. You are not going to find any craft choices here so go for it.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 12:46:30 | More by GallowsThief

Cresant

Kentucky

3.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served this tiny 10 oz. can in a Guinness tulip. Date stamped on the bottom of the can was 13 OCT 11. The body was pale yellow and there was barely a head. The white foam faded quickly to a ring.

The smell was lightly malty. A bit herbal.

The taste was not too vegetal. There was a light bitterness. This one is rather crisp and very easy to drink.

The mouthfeel was light bodied with a zippy carbonation. I have used the word "light" several times here and it is a good description but not an insult. This is fine beer for hot weather and better than many mass market light lagers.

Serving type: can

07-06-2011 02:11:17 | More by Cresant

jodiaz76

Puerto Rico

5/5  rDev +78.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

For a Light Lager, it's got a crisp, light taste. It's inexpensive, good at a variety of temperatures and needs no garnish. And for a canned beer, it's probably one of the best ones I've ever tasted. It's a puertorrican staple, and probably one of the best beers in the caribbean region.

Serving type: can

05-21-2011 12:44:02 | More by jodiaz76

beerprovedwright

Georgia

3.3/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a mug with lime, which I tossed to keep the original flavor of the beer. Head was a little better than a finger of foam with lace that was broken, but average cling. Color was a dark yellow, about a 3 on the SRM beer color strip. Smell of burnt corn, boiled oats, and lemon peel. Taste was sharp, with flavors of oatmeal, wheat, malt, citrus, and pepper. Mouthfeel was mildly creamy, with good tingle. Had this beer while I was vacationing in Puerto Rico. Not looking for another in the states, but I will drink it locally.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 16:56:54 | More by beerprovedwright

mdaschaf

Washington

3.1/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had a ton of this while down in Puerto Rico since it was cheap and pretty much the only thing besides BMC as every place we went to.

A: Very standard light lager appearance. Bright gold, lots of carbonation bubbles. Nice white head though, but no lacing.

S: Not a ton going on here, but there is a slight floral aroma, some grain, and a little grass. Not bad.

T: Lots of grain, a little bit of floral hops, a slight citrus note. There is also a little bit of a metallic taste.

M: Pretty crisp and refreshing, it wasn't that hot in Puerto Rico, but I can see it being a nice beer to have on a hot summer day or on the beaches there. Nice carbonation.

O: Pretty good for the style, I like it more than the light lagers from BMC. The slight sweetness helps out.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 23:41:19 | More by mdaschaf

Gmann

New York

2.2/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Reviewed from notes taken on 1/15/11.

Pours a pale straw color, typical light beer look. The head was pure white and sudsy and short lived.

The aroma is grainy with a vegital/corn scent. Not too appealing.

The taste is much the same, quite grainy when a cooked veggie flavor. Some sulfer notes as well.

The feel is light, dry and crisp and well carbonated. Finishes clean when cold.

Typcial light lager. Refreshing when cold but has undesirable flavors when warming. Drank easy at the street festival.

Serving type: can

03-12-2011 22:13:55 | More by Gmann

MillRat

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

An island-sized macro-lager. Evanescent white head atop crystal clear light yellow beer. Aroma is barely present, a hint of malt, a little graininess, perhaps. Typical macro-lager flavor with a bit more sweetness than BMC offerings, enough hop bitterness to balance, but no other hop presence noted. A light-bodied beer appropriate for the tropics, very quaffable as long as your focus is on something besides the beer, otherwise it gets boring.

The beer selection is pretty thin on the island, with the big 3 American labels and Heineken getting the most play. As long as you're visiting, why not drink something local and get a couple of respect points from the barkeep and waitstaff for supporting their hometown player?

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 23:47:30 | More by MillRat