Corona Extra

Corona Extra

Corona is Mexico's best selling beer, is huge in the US and is beginning to make an impact here in the UK. It boasts rich golden colour, 4.6% ABV and a smooth yet crisp finish which does not leave you feeling bloated. It is great with a wedge of lime (make sure to crush the lime into the bottle to get the juice out before drinking!) or on it's own as a tequilla chaser (only 100% agave will do!!!).

Corona, served ice cold (the way it should be!) is great on it's own but also works well with food - it compliments a chilli or curry, especially a hot one, superbly.

It comes in a clear bottle with a White and Blue label. 4 Packs are generally yellow with blue writing, wheras boxes of 24 are white with blue writing.

Corona in the UK used to hold, and in some places still does, a premium lager status. It was generally available in Mexican Restaurants, wine bars, cocktail bars and some large off license chains. This is slowly beginning to change with Corona now available (in Portsmouth anyway) in ASDA (£3.88 - £4.03 for 4 bottles, sometimes £10 for 12), Makro (£20 for 24 (inc VAT)) and JD Wetherspoons pubs (£1.19 for a bottle). It is also available online (lastorders.com for £23.99 for 24). Hopefully it's success will continue and it will become a regular 'pub' bottled lager - like Budweiser has become.

Corona was first brewed by the Ceveceria Modelo in Mexico City, Mexico in 1925. It grew as a brand in Mexico, and in 1979 it was first exported to the United States. After a steady growth in popularity through the 80's and 90's it is now the biggest selling imported beer in the US (having overtaken Heineken). The word quickly spread about Corona and it was exported from Mexico to Canada, the Pacific Rim, Europe and eventually to 150 countries world-wide.

I first encountered Corona Extra when I was working on Ascension Island - a tiny speck of rock in the middle of the Atlantic. The are two bars, one run by the USAF. Corona seemed to be the drink of choice (especially as it was $1 a bottle, or 50c at happy hour!). After a good nights drinking with my new-found American chums I discovered to my amazement that I did not get a hangover! In fact I can't remember getting a hangover on Corona!!!

Shortly after my visit to Ascension, I went on holiday in Fuerteventura and discovered Corona there but under an alternative name - Coranita cerveza. This is the same throughout Spain. Why this is I don't know... maybe someone can enlighten me! It was here that I dicovered that an excellent nights drinking was to be had drinking altenate Margaritas and Coronitas! Another hangover free trip!!

After this I started my hunt for Corona in Britain and bought it where I could find it, which usually left me disappointed but was a nice surprise when I could find a place.

A holiday in Mexico finally crowned this as my favorite lager / beer when at an All Inclusive hotel it was available on tap - FREE! (OK I'd already paid but that's not the point :-) ) It was in Mexico that I learned of the magic of Tequilla slammers with Corona chasers. What a holiday!! While in Mexico I learned that the label on the bottle was blue and white, because this is the colour of many bars in Mexico. This harks back to the days when not many people in Mexico could read, so shops were colour coded! Manufacturers still use this as an advertising tool for many things in Mexico.

Anyway - when you get an opportunity to try Corona Extra, please do.. but remember - Always drink responsibly :-)

Thanks for reading