My Glass is Never Half-Empty
Written: Aug 03 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great pairing for Mexican food
Cons: There are better beers in the style
The Bottom Line: A decent, refreshing brew that learns a little from a popular German/Austrian style. Very drinkable and enjoyable, great with Mexican food.
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| andaryl's Full Review: Dos Equis XX |
Some people my look at our desert climate as something of a discomfort once August comes around. The usually vibrant tourist market is dead, the more affluent and wealthy leave town, while those that are a little more pennywise return to live in their unrentable condo’s. I fall into none of these categories, and am pretty much forced to stay here, sweat it out and earn whatever money I can in the summer.
Of course, as a beer reviewer, I always like to consider that my glass is half full, and have to think of all the advantages of these circumstances. Yes indeed, money may be tight, but it’s the same for most and that’s why many of our bars and restaurants revert to the ever-reliable happy hour crowd. It was in this way that we ended up at a newly opened Mexican restaurant, tempted by a free buffet and convinced by $2 drafts.
I sat down at the bar and was amazed to find that I knew the bartender, who I work with elsewhere. Things like this always make for a pleasant surprise, as it meant that our already cheap happy hour tab was later cut in half. A quick glance at the brews pretty much made my drinking decision easy (for those who know me at least), Bud Light, Coors Light, Newcastle (with a sticker saying “No Mas”), or Dos Equis XX.
Dos Equis XX
The first point to explain about this Mexican beer is that there are two products from the brewery, widely available in the USA that may be confused, quite simply because the one with the simplest name is not the simplest in style:
Dos Equis Special Lager is a standard although respectable lager.
Dos Equis XX (which I was drinking) is a slightly more interesting Vienna style lager.
The Vienna Style – an all too brief explanation
Michael Jackson describes this beer as “loosely based on the Vienna style”, and although, as you will read, not among the best, I feel that it certainly makes an adequate representation.
Vienna, Märzen and Oktoberfest are all pretty much the same style, reddish-amber lagers, medium-bodied, with a sweet malt, toasty flavor and aroma. They are actually the basis for the red’s and amber’s brewed by many US microbrewers.
I have included a footnote for further reading on this style.
Tasting Notes
This was some lively pour, a reddish amber body, with a decent sized foam that just didn’t want to lie down. My first couple of sips couldn’t diminish it (almost like the bottomless glass) as it continued to foam to the top. The body is fairly clear and light for this style, probably ranking closer to Boston Lager than other Vienna lagers I’ve tried.
The nose is light and clean but pretty inviting. There are slight signs of fruitiness and a good mix of malt and piney hops, while the most distinctive part is a peppery spiciness.
The palate is pretty light, not too heavy on carbonation, fairly smooth and easy drinking.
The taste starts out fairly clean with a little fruitiness while there’s an underlying graininess throughout. It does develop a little more character mid-palate where it becomes a little richer and more robust, showing signs of caramel malt. There’s a brief crispness in the finish with the hops clearly evident and a little peppery finish. The aftertaste mellows out pretty cleanly and quietly with just a little lingering sweetness.
Verdict
My initial thoughts upon drinking this were much more enthusiastic compared to my later contemplation. It’s a very good lager from south of the border, offering thirst-quenching drinkability as well as a little character. It makes me wonder afterwards if I was more enthusiastic based on the fact that I expect very little from a Mexican lager.
I would pair Mexican seafood with Pacifico Clara or Bohemia, but with spicier Mexican dishes or just plain meat tacos, Dos Equis XX seems to be an excellent pairing. I would certainly drink it again with Mexican food.
I have yet to try Negra Modelo, which many rate highly. I’m taking a 7-day cruise to Mexico at the end of the month and hope to cover a substantial proportion of Mexico’s brews.
As far as other Vienna/Marzen/Oktober’s go this one didn’t quite carry enough body or character to compete, but would certainly make a good introduction to the style. Still, it’s not too bad, and worthy of this beer drinker’s recommendation at least.
Further Reading
For more information on this style of beer read bryan_carey’s article at:
http://www.epinions.com/content_1595318404
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
andaryl
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Member: Andrew Smith
Location: The Desert, So Cal
Reviews written: 219
Trusted by: 174 members
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