Molson Ice

Molson Ice Beer was developed in 1993, and it was the first ice-brewed lager sold in North America, setting off an ice beer revolution. Icehouse, from Miller's Plank Road Brewery marketing project, was the first ice beer introduced in the USA, later in 1993.

Molson Ice is rated at 5.6% abv and has 169 calories per 12-oz. serving. Most ice beers fall in the 5.5%-5.9% alcohol by volume range. After the ice beer craze subsided, the major brewers repositioned these beers from the above-premium level to the below-premium level. Molson Ice is typically marketed at the below-premium level (budget beer), and one will find it sold in 12-oz. bottles & cans and very often in single-sale 24-oz. tall cans. It is found in multi-packs of varying unit count.

This beer receives no advertising attention, and Molson-Coors is satisfied to allow the brand to sell it self, with its price and alcohol level touted on the labels. Molson Ice is brewed in Canada for export to the USA. The Molson-Coors website proclaims that, at present, it is only available in the USA market.

http://www.millercoors.com/Our-Beers/Great-Beers.aspx

http://www.molsoncoors.com/en/Brands/Global%20Portfolio/Molson%20Ice.aspx

Molson XXX Super Premium Beer

Molson XXX Super Premium Beer is somewhat of a mystery. Yes, it is listed on the Miller-Coors website as a beer, made with no preservatives and is described as "a unique, super premium beer that combines 7.3% ABV with the characteristic cold, crisp and clean finish that people have come to expect from Molson brewmasters." It is also known that Molson XXX (which stands for Triple Export, and is probably somehow descended from Molson Export, a famous ale, created in 1903) is brewed in Toronto and sold in the American market in 11.5-oz. bottles and large, Foster-like, individual cans. What we do not know is when the beer was first developed, nor do we know exactly which markets in which it is sold.

On my travels around the USA, I have only ever seen it in Northern states, north of the Ohio River, so it is unknown if it is sold in other regions, as is the case with Molson Canadian, Molson Ice, Molson Light, and Molson Golden (which are also produced in America). I have tried it, and can attest to the fact that the promotional descriptions of the beer are on target.

Here, I will list some descriptions of this imported beer from some websites:

"Malty, Sweet, Corn, Medium-bodied. Canada- American Malt Liquor- At 7.3% ABV, this medium-bodied brew is higher in alcohol than a session beer but with a similar taste. Pours a clear, pale-golden color. Hints of pale malts and hops along with an alcohol presence touch the palate, with a balancing creaminess."

"No preservatives. Imported. XXX by Molson is a unique beer that combines the benefits of a 7.3% alcohol by volume product with cold, crisp, and clean taste that has made Molson brews legendary. Through its quality, XXX by Molson will quickly become your favorite super premium beer. Product of Canada.
Warnings Because XXX by Molson is a perfect blend of higher alcohol with a smooth, clean taste, we advise you to drink this beer in moderation. XXX by Molson - Handle with care."

"ABV: 7.3%
Category: Imports
Food Pairing: Cuisine (Indian, Latin American, Pan Asian) General (Apéritif)
Brewery: Molson
Seasonal Availability: Year Round
Beverage Type: American Malt Liquor



Pours out to a clear dark golden, forming a modest rocky white head with good retention and some moderate lacing. Moderate carbonation. The aroma is of macro-twang, some pale malts, a decent hop presence in the vein of a pilsener and a little touch of alcohol. Mouthfeel is wet, smooth, moderate body."

 http://www.totalwine.com/eng/product/molson-x-x-x/97814126

 http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=362059

 http://www.ltverrastro.com/brands/spec_brand.cfm?brand=MOLSON

Molson Golden

Molson Golden is a 5% alcohol beer sold in the United States by Molson-Coors and produced in the USA and Canada. Molson provides no information about when this beer was introduced, but it has apparently been on the market for over thirty years. It is sold in bottles, but I am unsure if it is available in other configurations.

Molson-Coors indicates that Golden is a hybrid beer, brewed as a mix of lager and ale. Also, the company declares that it is produced for the American market, but Canada is not listed as a country in which the beer is available. It is sold in select markets and is not distributed to all U.S. states.

I have sampled this beer on a few occasions and can attest to its fine quality and drinkablility. If the reader ever does happen to run across this beer, it is strongly recommended that it be sampled.

Molson Canadian

Molson Brewing of Canada was founded by English immigrant, John Moslon, in Montreal in 1786, eight decades before Canada was created as a united country. But, the Molson Canadian brand, the flagship beer, in Canada, of Molson-Coors (the modern company was founded in 2005 by an equal merger of Molson & Coors) was only introduced in 1959. At 5% alcohol, Molson Canadian is a mass-produced adjunct lager, with 148 calories.

Under the scientific guidance of the master brewers of Molson (and, since the merger, the master brewers of Coors Brewing in Colorado, as the Molson line is commonly brewed in Colorado for USA sales), Canadian enjoys a wide following from consumers who value consistency and a fair price when making beer purchases. Molson Canadian beer has fulfilled these expectations to pinpoint perfection for over five decades. The popularity of the brand has led to a wide expansion of the Molson line, and, today, one will find Canadian Light, Golden (a lager-ale mix), Ice, XXX (a super-premium, high alcohol malt liquor), Brador (a gourmet malt liquor, sold only in Canada), and others. Moslon can be found on draft, in the bottle, and in the can, in various configurations, the most common being a 12-ounce offering.

This writer has sample many of the brands in the Molson line, and I have found that all of them are brewed to a high and consistent standard. A sampling by the reader is strongly encouraged.

RJT

Indio

Cerveza Cuauhtémoc, named after the last Mexican Aztec ruler, was introduced in Monterrey, Mexico in 1893. One of Mexico's oldest beer brands, this 4.5% alcohol lager, was nicknamed Cerveza Indio (Indian Beer) by consumers, and this name became so popular that in 1905 the brewing company officially adopted the nickname and dropped the original official name. Heineken International acquired the company and all of its brands in 2010.

Indio is sold in various can and brown bottle variations, and is available in all Mexican states. It enjoys limited distribution in the United States, most notably Texas. It is a brown lager, and the company states that it should be enjoyed in both the cold weather of its founders' country of origin (Germany) and in the warmer areas of the southwestern USA and Mexico. 

This writer has sampled the beer, finding it comparable to other Heineken beers brands (Dos Equis, Sol, Tecate, etc.). One hopes that its American distribution will be expanded in coming years.

RJT

Victoria

Victoria beer of Mexico, was introduced in 1865, and is, thus, the oldest existing Mexican beer brand. Compañía Cervecera de Toluca y México was the founding brewing company, and they were acquired by Groupo Modelo in 1935. Anheuser-Busch/InBev became the sole owner of Groupo Modelo in 2013.


At 4% alcohol, Victoria is low in alcohol. A Vienna lager, the beer is brown (or, amber), instead of the usual light gold or straw of mass-produced lagers. Victoria is made with water, barley malt, hops, corn, and yeast. The brewing company suggests that this beer not be served with lime.


Victoria was first imported into the U.S.A. in 2010, and, as of 2014, is available in 39 states. Anheuser-Busch/InBev markets it as an "ultra-premium" beer, and it is usually sold at about $9.00 to $10.00 per six-pack. It is available on draft and in six-packs and 24-packs of 12-ounce brown bottles.


I have sampled Victoria, and I suggest that all beer enthusiasts try this brand.

Pacifico

Pacifico (Pacifico Clara) was introduced in 1900 in Mazatlan, Mexico by three German immigrants, who established the Cerveceria de Pacifico, which was acquired by Group Modelo in 1954. Groupo Modelo became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch/InBev in 2013.

Pacifico is a standard, mass-produced lager beer, produced from water, barley, hops, and yeast (no adjuncts), with 4.4% alcohol. It is sold on draft, in cans, and in bottles, and was first imported into the United States of America in 1985.

While no national television or radio advertising is given to the brand in the USA market, it does continue to be a rising Mexican import brand, enjoying widespread availability.

Pacifico Light was introduced in 2008 for the northern Mexico market.

This writer highly recommends the reader sample the mellow and delicious Pacifico Clara beer.

http://www.gmodelo.com.mx/marcas/marcas_propias_pacificolight_eng.jsp

Modelo

The Modelo line of beer was established in 1925 in Mexico City with the creation of the Grupo Modelo brewing company. This company acquired other breweries over the years and now has a wide array of beers in its portfolio. InBev absorbed the business in 2013.

While Corona Extra is the number one beer around the world from Grupo Modelo, the Modelo branded beers are also very widespread and popular.

Modelo Especial, a lager, with 4.4% alcohol, was introduced in 1925, and it is the number two Mexican import in the USA and the number one canned Mexican import. This beer is sold in a number of bottle and can configurations.

Negra Modelo, a dark lager at 4.2% alcohol, is a well-known beer as well, and is widely available in the famous Modelo clear, squat 12-oz. bottle with the dignified foil shroud. It was introduced in 1926.

Modelo Light, sold in 12-oz. cans and bottles, was introduced in 1994 as Light Modelo. It is rated at 2.9% alcohol and is sold only in Mexico.

A new addition to the Modelo line, Modelo Chelada, with lime, salt, and tomato juice, was rolled out in 2013, and comes in at 3.5% alcohol, and is available in 24-oz. cans. The company recommends drinking this beer poured over ice.

The Modelo line of beers, noted for high quality, consistency, and competitive price positioning appeals to a large audience. This writer recommends a sampling of each beer in this venerable and respected line.

http://www.crownimportsllc.com/ourbrands/negramodelo.htm

http://www.gmodelo.mx/quienes_historia_eng.jsp

Corona Extra

Corona Extra was introduced by Groupo Modelo, an InBev subsidiary since 1913, in Mexico City in 1925. Always sold in its iconic clear bottle, except for the Corona Familiar (quart brown bottle, introduced in 1964), Corona Extra became Mexico's number one beer in 1935. Another notable Corona Extra trait is the painted-on bottle label, which was instituted in 1940. Interestingly, the draft version of the beer has only been sold since 1967. Introduced into the American market in 1976, Corona Extra has been the best-selling import brand in the United States since 1997.

Corona Extra (4.6% alcohol) is made with water, barley malt, hops, and yeast. Groupo Modelo does not indicate that the beer is produced with any corn or rice adjuncts. A light version, Corona Light (4.1% alcohol, 99 calories) was brought on line in 1989. The drinker will find that Corona Extra has a smooth, mellow, yet flavorful bready character, with a mild, appropriate hop note.

Found at just about every beer outlet, Corona Extra and Corona Light command a premium price, so this beer will not appeal to the bargain shopper. The beer receives extensive and heavy television, radio, and print advertising attention, and one will notice widespread sponsorship of many events by the brand.

Noted for its 7-ounce "Coronita" bottles, Corona Extra is sold in 12-ounce cans and bottles as well as larger bottles, even the 32-ounce "Familiar" brown bottle.

This writer highly recommends that the beer enthusiast sample these two distinguished and classic beer brands.

Bohemia

Bohemia is a popular Mexican beer, introduced in 1905 in Monterrey. A pilsner beer, it is brewed according to the very popular style originated in Pilsen, Bohemia (at the time a kingdom of the Austrian Empire and today the Czech Republic). At 5.3% alcohol, it is a clear, golden beer, brewed with Styrian hops (originated in Styria, Austria). Presently, it is a brand of Cuauhetmoc Moctezuma, a Heineken International subsidiary.

This above-premium brand is quite common in Mexico and the United States, and one will often encounter it in Mexican restaurants. Bohemia is sold in stately dark-brown bottles with an ornate foil neck shroud.

In 2007 a new Bohemia brand, Bohemia Oscura, a Vienna lager was introduced. At 5.5% alcohol, this beer has a darker appearance and uses caramel and roasted malts.

A third Bohemia brand, Bohemia Weizen, a strong wheat beer, was rolled out in 2009. At 5.7% alcohol, this beer uses malted wheat, Mt. Hood hops, coriander, and orange peel in the brew.


Bohemia Chocolate Stout, the newest of the line, debuted in 2011 and comes in at 5.7% alcohol. Using crystal, brown, and chocolate malts, as well as a touch of Mexican cocoa, this beer will appeal to the extra-dark beer enthusiasts and is sold from October to March.

This writer has had the opportunity to sample the original Bohemia on a few occasions, and I look forward to being able to sample the others in this fascinating line of beers.

RJT

Tecate

Tecate (4.5%) has been produced in Mexico since 1944 and is widely distributed across North America. Tecate Light (5%) was rolled out in 1992, and Tecate Titanium (5.5%) arrived in 2013. This line of lager beers is recognized around the world as one of the standard Mexican beers, and this beer is sold at a value-priced point. Although a working-class beer, one could say, Tecate tends to hold its own against other mass-produced Mexican bees in appearance, aroma, flavor, body, and finish.

Today, this line of beers is owned by Heineken International. While you will probably never see or hear any television or radio advertising for Tecate, you might run across an occasional point-of-sale or magazine promotion for it. Nonetheless, this beer is sold at a high volume and is offered in a variety of canned and bottled configurations and packaging counts. This author has sampled both Tecate and Tecate Light and can testifiy to its absolutely perfect ability to accompany any spicy Mexican dish. It is with great admiration that I recommend a sampling of one of the Tecate line beers.

RJT

Dos Equis

Dos Equis is, today, one of the most popular Mexican-produced beers, and its popularity is due, in large part, to the "World's Most Interesting Man" ad campaign, which was launched in 2006.

In 1897, German immigrant, William Hasse, began to sell Dos Equis from his Moctezuma Brewery, located in his adopted city of Vera Cruz, Mexico. This beer, XX, was named for "Twenty" in honor of the approaching 20th Century. Unfortunately, most consumers did not understand the connection, so they simply called it "Two X's", and later on, after realizing the fruitlessness of trying to continually correct the public on the correct use of the beer's name, the brewery officially adopted the nickname as the actual name.

Dos Equis has, like so many other beer brands, been passed around to numerous owners, and Heineken International is the newest brand holder, acquiring the company in 2010. Dos Equis has been imported into the USA since 1973, and in 1984, Dos Equis Especial (4.3% alcohol) was introduced. The Especial has actually become the flagship brand of the line, and the original Dos Equis, now called Dos Equis Ambar (4.7% abv), is a lower-volume companion. Many do not realized that the original Dos Equis was a Vienna Lager and not the more well-known pale lager. Also, during the Christmas season, a special, called Noche Buena is sold, but in very limited quantities.

The consumer will find that Dos Equis Especial is widely available in varying bottle sizes, on tap, and in cans. One will also sporadically find the Ambar, almost always in bottles, although canned versions of it are sold. This writer has tried both the original and the Especial, and I must say that both are smooth, pleasant beers, that can strongly compete with all of the other mainline Mexican lagers.

There is no doubt that the heavy advertising attention given to the Dos Equis line has made it such a common and popular beer offering.

RJT