Corona Extra

Something different - the first time I've written about an international beer, and the first time I've written about a commercial beer. I guess Corona is the epitomy of good marketing.

A beer that's really nothing special, but is in a distinctively cool shaped clear botle with a distinctive logo, and is always enjoyed with lemon or a lime on the top (which does actually kick the flavour in a good way). More than all of that, I've never had a Corona on a shitty downer of a day, I've only had Coronas out camping in the hot sun (like the photo below), at a pool party, at bar on a hot Summer's night, etc, etc... If you're having a Corona it's probably hot, you're probably with good company (cause who cuts up a lemon for one?) and you're probably having a pretty sweet time. So they've somehow managed to mingle fun into their beer, and the lime/lemon is a perfect marketing tool as smell is highly linked to emotion (the smell cente in the brain sits just by the emotional mainframe) - so the first whiff of lemony/limey lager triggers that Summer fun vibe, and every time you have one it's locked in further.

The beer itself is fairly plain. There's not really any hint of hops or bitterness, the malt flavour is pretty light, but the beer is crisp clean, and definitely goes down easily with a sniff (and a few little chunks) of lemon or lime. I hear that they make it with a bit of corn or rice, which would make sense (both will add a bit of alcohol wthout much flavour or colour compared to malted barley).

I think one day I'll try and brew something similar as an experiment, although almost certainly I will hop a bit harder and maybe dry hop, so actually it won't be anything like a Corona... I wonder if you could get Corona on tap in a pint, would it still be good?

corona.com

ABV: 4.6%
Brewery: Cervecería Modelo
Country: Mexico
Style: Pale Lager (I wanna call it Feelgood Lager)
Wife check: "I don't always say yes to a beer, but I'll never say no to a Corona"