Review: Sol Mexican Beer
Sol, where have you been all my life?
On a lark, I ordered a bottle of Sol -- a brand I'd been wholly unfamiliar with -- during a quick Mexican dinner this evening. That rapidly turned into a second, which disappeared as quickly as the first.
Sol is a traditional Mexican brew that dates back to 1924. It's slightly darker -- a moderate gold rather than the usual pale yellow -- than most Mexican beers, a hint to its deeper and richer taste.
Sol doesn't offer any huge surprises, but it's got smoky and nutty hints where other Mexican beers can come across as thin and weedy. It's rich without being heavy, with a good mouthfeel and a comforting, light creaminess. It's lightly bitter and doesn't venture into the sweet arena at all. The name is quite apt: It's sunshine bright and quite relaxing, with no skunkiness to it at all.
I enjoyed both bottles ice cold and without lime -- didn't even think to ask for a wedge. Sol's plenty good on its own. Mexican beer fans are well advised to track it down.
UPDATE: It's come to my attention that Sol is almost universally reviled by beer pros... did I luck out and get an especially fresh batch? Has something in the production changed at Sol HQ? Planning to track down the beer again from a different source so I can ensure this wasn't just a fluke.
A- / $8 per six-pack / sol-beer.co.uk
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December 17th, 2008 - 22:36
Gotta’ say, this is the first positive review I’ve ever seen on Sol. My word, have they changed the formula? This has (had?) always been a “light” Mexican beer, basically tasteless. If it’s been ramped up, I’m impressed But I fear that it was just the moment. Even Budweiser can taste great at the right time and the right place — just haven’t found that place yet.
December 18th, 2008 - 07:57
I’m partial to lighter style beers but I’d call this far from tasteless. No idea if the recipe has changed but you’re right… could be a fluke. Will have to try it again under different circumstances.
December 22nd, 2008 - 04:25
It could be however that it actually tasted good and you liked it! Try it again and let us know how it is.
I personally have tried “Sol” and thought it was decent, but not “tasteless”.
I’d also like to quote a line from an article I recently read on blind Whisky taste-testing:
“These results suggest that, although “uisgebeatha” has unique properties, the inexpert drinker should choose his whisky to suit his taste and pocket and not his self image.”
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1550199
Just because “Sol is almost universally reviled by beer pros”, as you have stated above, doesn’t mean that one can not like or enjoy it.
January 27th, 2009 - 20:23
I’ve enjoyed Sol on occasion for over 20 years, and it has always been an excellent beer as long as it is fresh. It doesn’t have any magical properties, though, so as long as it comes in clear bottles there’s a risk of getting a skunky one, just like every other beer that comes in a clear (or green) bottle. Perhaps some people are confusing it with Corona, which really is a nothing beer, even when fresh.
November 23rd, 2009 - 07:06
Hi! DSKEYoIg