Cerveza Negra. Manna of the Gods?
This is a short posting about one of my favorite subjects… BEER! I suspect most readers of LiP already are very familiar with San Miguel. For those unlucky enough who have not spent time here yet, you are in for a real treat. There is excellent beer made in the Philippines. Now, I’m no beer snob… I don’t get all giddy like a bunch of oenophiles mushing over a new wine vintage. I just know what I like, and I like Filipino beer.
San Miguel is an old brewery, and they make some fine products. Most are very cheap, by western standards, and their beer will compare favorably with most imported brands, if not better.
The best known is the original San Miguel Pilsener. At the supermarket, a bottle only costs 19 pesos. Though cheap, it is really a good beer. This beer has a nice flavor, I think a little like Heineken, and goes down really easily in the hot weather. It also tastes different (In my mind, at least) than the San Miguel brewed in Hong Kong. This is the original, and the best. Really great with some lechon or a big plate of lumpia shanghai.
Now, San Miguel also makes a light beer, San Mig Light, that tastes a bit like Corona. Not my favorite, and more expensive for some reason, but it will do in a pinch. Since it’s light, that means you can drink twice as many, right??? Last time I drank it, I was eating kinilaw down in GenSan… A really nice dinner.
For those who like stronger beer, there is yet another San Miguel brand: Red Horse. This is the one you usually see in the sari sari stores, and it has a much higher alcohol content. Not my favorite, and more expensive, but usually it is sold in bigger bottles. (26 pesos at the sari sari in our compound.) You see this beer a lot in the provinces.
Finally, there is my favorite: Cerveza Negra. I really like dark beers, and this one is a good one. In terms of taste, it reminds me a little of a Newcastle or Boddingtons. Unfortunately, it is not nearly as common in the Philippines as the other San Miguel brands. Most of the sari sari stores don’t carry it, and I usually only see it in hotel bars or in the better supermarkets, like Landmark. Usually, this beer is the most expensive here, and I feel it is worth every bit the price difference (Around 40 pesos in the supermarket and 100 pesos in a hotel.). Still, for this high quality, Cerveza Negra truly is manna of the Gods… It goes well with just about any food. Cheers!
***BTW… These pictures came from Imageshack… I made the mistake of trying to photograph after drinking the beer. Every one of my pictures was blurry!***
Hi John
I agree the San Miguel does taste different in Hong Kong. Also it tastes very different in UK, but I think it may be Spanish import here? Can’t beat the original Filipino San Miguel.
I can confirm Red House is a stronger beer. I foolishly drunk a few bottles once on a very hot day, and ended-up feeling ill.
When I was last in the local supermarket (SM I think it was), I recall seeing a surprissing large range of beers which I think were from the San Miguel brewery but I’m not totally sure. Maybe somebody could confirm…
Have a San Miguel for me John, I’ll join you when I get to the Philippines next year.
Hi John,
Thanks for the tips on the beer varieties. I never knew there were so many different varieties down there. Everytime I asked for an SMB I got San Miguel Pilsener. So does SMB stand only for the Pilsener? Never knew about the others at all, and never saw anybody drinking anything different. I can’t complain, the Pilsener sure hit the spot.
Hi John!
Have you tried Beer na Beer? So far that is my favorite. It is usually available at the sari sari stores along with Red Horse. I think that Beer na Beer is comparable to Miller Light. When I see the rum bottle come out I go buy a beer from the sari sari store because no one will pressure you to drink rum if you have already been drinking beer. The belief is that you can not mix alcoholic drinks without bad results. I have dodged many rum and brandy sessions this way and avoided hurting the feelings of my wife’s brothers.
Hello John,
I am not much of a beer drinker these days, but every once in a while I like to have a ice cold beer. I am not a “real” coniseur of beer, I will be happy with just a good ole Coors Light.
Rose doesn’t like to drink any alcohol, except maybe a class of wine occasionally. But it seems her friends seem to enjoy the Red Horse in the provinces where she lives.
There use to be a great place in Daytona Beach, Florida..called the Fest Haus, which means in German “Party House”…I think. But they had over 300 different beers to choose from, mostly European of course…but for the beer lover..was a great place to go.
Thanks John, and are you sure it was the pictures that were blurry?..lol.
Salamat,
Danny
drank my first SM today but it was warm ,I wasn’t to impressed so I guess i’ll have to freeze a couple for myself, should taste better….Phil n Jess
John
The only thing better than a SMB on a hot day is a SMB Grande! Just drink it fast.
Hi John – Unfortunately for the rest of the world, the best of the San Miguel products can only be obtained in the Philippines. Philippine beer appearing elsewhere in the world is the export version, brewed separately with added preservatives that make for a different, less desireable taste.
Will be home in the last part of July and have been informed by the katulang that a case of SM awaits me.
Hello John: Do you know that nursing mothers are encourage to drink cerveza negra ( black beer) to encourage milk production? It may not be true now, but during my growing years, I know this was one way of solving the problem of mothers (who are breast feeding) who do not produced enough milk for their babies.
Hi All
The drinking of a dark beer helps the blood so they say. When my brother was small he was enemic(lack of iron was the diagnosis)…the Dr ordered some iron pills for him. Well they were like horse pills and try like anything my mom could NOT get those pills down a 3yr old. My Austrian Auntie suggested a dark beer like Guinness. I remember my Auntie making it for my brother in the basement.
He got a certain amount twice daily and before you know it he was OK
My brother is a beer man to this very day!!!!!
Isn’t there a San Miguel brewery in Davao? I had the pilsner while there, and enjoyed it nearly as much as my favorite, Heineken…..i2f….John
Hi John,
San miguel beer is so popular in Spain , that most people think that is a spanish beer.I love dark beer also,when I am in London,I drink a pinte or two of draft Guinness.Have you ever tried the german Lowenbrau? is one of my favorits,very strong…
have a nice and save day.
Hi John – Oh you brought back some wonderful memories of my trip to Davao! I can’t rememeber how many San Miguels I consumed, but oh what a feeling! In one sitting, I had 9 San Miguels with a light dinner (hehehe). I wasn’t buzzed, but felt prett good afterwards. Red Horse Beer was pretty good, too. Having only tried it twice, I can’t say anything bad of the experience. In addition, I tried that with a cup of coconut wine….big mistake! That combination knocked me out for over 8 hours. I’ll put Cervaza Negra on my list-of-things-to-do on my next trip to Davao.
John, thank you so much for this article. It brought back so many memories of countless San Miguels, San Mig Lights, Gran Matador, and Lambanog consumed with my cousins and uncles on so many days and nights. The variety of pulutan and occasional karaoke made for so many good times. I couldn’t help but smile the whole time while reading. Ahh the Philippines, I can’t wait to get back…
Try GinPO. Ginebra+pomelo juice. You don’t smell as you drink it, you don’t develop hangovers. Just hydrate yourself always. I miss drinking too. Hay…..
Hi John,
Im also a fan of SM beer. I have decided that I dont like any beer that comes in a green bottle. It just taste skunky to me.
Can anyone tell me how much beer Im allowed to bring back to the US through customs?
Also is It even a good idea to bring it in your luggage with the pressure change? That would be funny…Showing up at customs with your luggage smelling like beer
John
Growing up in the southern US i am definitely a beer drinker .
Have not run across Cerveza Negra here in Cagayan de Oro but some English friends tell me a mall grocery here has a couple of dark imports i need to check out . A local expat club owner is going to Cebu next week to check out importing some brands so hopefully choices will be growing .
Hi John, Cerveza Negra is indeed manna. But I prefer Red Horse or San Miquel Light… . Sorry, I might be late with my comment. I have been travelling – and now, while typing I enjoy a beer – or maybe two… . – let’s have some together, if you can make it down south to Davao… .
Hi John – As I am sure you know, I am not much of a drinker. I do enjoy San Miguel beer, although I only drink a handful of them per year. I am kind of intrigued, though, by the Cerveza Negra. I have only had dark beer a few times, but have liked it when I did try it. I might have to see if I can rustle up a few bottles of Cerveza Negra and do some sampling.
The beer is worth the price of the airfare to the RP alone…the Tanduay silver (several shots of it) tunes the ears for some fine karaoke….and if your audience still cringes…pour em another round!!!
Hey John
Some fine memories of San Miguel. You know when you have been in the Philippines to long when you don’t mind drinking it warm.
For now I will have to settle for a “Becks” or “Sam Adams”
In the early 80’s My wife did a promotional campaign for
“BeerHousen Beer” is that beer still around or perhaps it flopped.
hello john
wow i have to totaly disagree with you on this article.
some of us foreigners have a saying and it goes,,,,,once you have tasted the sanmigel then all the food taste great in philippines.haha sorry john but to be honest im no beer lover even here in the usa,,,,i love the canadian whisky,crown royal is tops
thanks john
Became more curious about this beer and found it interesting that internet references can show as a dark American beer or as a dark European beer .
But then also saw somewhere i can’t remember a reference to it being a Mexican beer that went for $7 – 8 per bottle ?
San Mig Light fanatic here
I think Cerveza Negra is some kind of Shok Tong (hope I spelled that right) 
san miguel ice is the closest to corona in my opinion, i am travelling to cebu in july so i cant wait! eating crispy pata and san miguel ice uhhhhhmmmmm or lechon baboy or some chichirones god in heavan thats good i am working out and lifting and jogging alot right now because i know once i get to P.I. its all over all types of beer need to be ice cold when consumed!!!!!!
One of the beers I enjoyed the most on a trip to Australia was James Boag’s Premium. What’s amazing to learn a few nights ago when out on a meeting with San Miguel sales guys in Gensan was that San Miguel owned those brands at the time I drank that beer. (They were sold by SMC in 2007.)
So, you never know… the beer you’re drinking outside the Philippines could still be a San Miguel owned brew.
John, women are encouraged to drink cerveza negra when they have their period/menstruation to increase the normal flow and clean out the uterus. I grew up hearing my mother, sister and female cousins to drink the negra when they have their monthly visit. Fortunately, nobody in my family is alcoholic. Ask Rebecca about this and probably she heard about this too. My husband likes the san miguel beer but there is none here in Syracuse, NY. BTW, we went wilmingon, NC last week, where were you in NC. we will be going back in August for a week. My daughter loves the boogie boarding in Wrightsville Beach.
The San Miguel Beer in Hong Kong (and elsewhere) is a totally different brew from the Pale Pilsen sold in the Philippines. All the SMB beer exported are different brews, hence, the different taste. San Miguel Corp does not export the local stuff, but you can buy it from the Philippines and bring it with you abroad.
Barry: San miguel brews many different brands… And a surprising amount of other products. I actually considered buying a little of their stock, since they are a strong company.
John: In my experience, if you just order a San Miguel, they usually give you pilsener. Normally asking for a San Mig gets you a Light.
Tm: I usually see Beer na Beer in the provinces. Good tip on the rum… It also works for avoiding Lambanog at the wrong time of day!
Danny: I swear it was the pictures! One thing to keep in mind in the provinces is that the sari sari stores usually keep the beer cold… Great if you can’t have ice in another type of drink.
Phil: 20 minutes and you should be good to go!
Rob: So right!
Paul: I think it’s because that heat is beer’s worst enemy. Shipping from the Philippines by sea is certainly not beneficial to the quality. It’s why when you can find San Miguel in the states that it can taste “skunky”.
I’ve tried San Miguel in Hong Kong, and agree with you that it is not the same.
Enjoy your case!
David: Never heard of that, but the Irish consider Guinness as “medicine”… It’s also a laxative. I think I’ll have to drink some more Cerveza Negra to research it’s medicinal qualities.
And one wonders why children in the Philippines smile so much?!
Ha ha ha..I never heard of that David. But then again, I’ve never heard of Cerveza Negra. I think that’s another excuse for nursing mothers to drink.
What I know is if they want to lactate more, they eat large amounts of young malunggay leaves.
There was a time that my friend and I were leaving from bars to bars if they do not serve San Miguel Dry. Then once, it hit us bad, totally dehydrated, we all then switched to San Mig Light.
Paul: Makes sense to me!
Hello John,
Thats funny, I have known many people who thought that alcohol was medicine, but of course felt the worst again the next day..lol.
Adios,
Danny
Tyleen: I think dark beer has more taste, and it is a bit mysterious.
I tend to think that beer is healthy… It’s made from grain and yeast, so it’s like drinking bread, right?
John: I’m not sure if there’s a brewery in Davao or if they ship it from Manila…It wouldn’t surprise me, since San Miguel is such a large company. Perhaps Bob or one of the readers knows.
one of the larger scale SMC distilleries is actually in Darong, Sta. Cruz, a provincial town only a few minutes from Davao. So, distribution in Mindanao is fairly easy & quick.
I could tell you stories about why it’s not in Davao city (even though SMC initially planned to have it in the city) but i’ll skip you the political hearsay. You could just make an educated guess
Hi John – The San Miguel brewery is actually in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, just south of the City.
if i may chime in… yes, i’ve seen spain’s basketball team uniform
plus, i kept finding myself sitting under a san miguel beer umbrella in barcelona. makes sense.
Antonio: I always thought the San Miguel in Spain was for Sherry! Learn something new every day. I’ll have to search it out next time I’m there. Never tried the German Lowenbrau… I always think of the weak American Lowenbrau. Back to Germany tomorrow, so I’ll see if I can find it.
Macky: I think the stories revolve around any major business in the Philippines… Sometimes it is difficult to sort through it all!
Henry: Gotta watch the coconut wine… I always equate it with about the same characteristics as paint thinner!
Thanks Bob… I assumed there was, but wasn’t sure.
Marvin: Thank you… Fortunately, the things you mention never change. They’ll still be here when you return.
Roy: You’ve got to try and search it out next visit.
John,
Drinking bread? LOL!! I like it!
Junior
Junior: Bread was part of the last Supper, so it’s good for you, according to the Bible. Good reference to keep handy in a Catholic country
Roy: That sounds good… I’ve had rum and pomelo before.
Hudson: It’s one case allowed, but customs isn’t the problem, in my experience (You just have to pay the duty if you bring over that amount… usually only a few dollars… if you are just over the limit, as long as you declare it, they normally just wave you through anyway… I never understood the big deal on duty free. They are after large quantities). The main problem is schlepping the beer home. Unlike hard liquor (liter bottle), beer is heavy, and you also add the liquid restrictions now unless you buy in the airport, so if you change planes, you are stuck… It will probably throw you overweight in the checked baggage. Carrying it would be OK if you don’t change planes.
Hudson: Been there, done that!
Alan: Not sure about CDO, but I would think SOMEONE carries Cerveza Negra there. I would bet that if you contact SM, they could tell you who. Perhaps try a bar in a better hotel down there. The Food and Beverage manager or bartender may know.
Klaus: Will do… I keep trying to get down there, but my schedule has been absolutely nuts. Enjoy! Perhaps a little lechon with it?
Last night, I arrived in Berlin and walked across the street to a pub near the Siemenswerke, also across the street. They brew a dark beer there, around 9%. After 6 pints, I was hungry, but the frau was off that night in the kitchen, so I made due with a Doner Kabob from the Turks next door. No matter… Doner still goes well with beer (I got chicken, so that makes it healthy!)
Bob: I’m sure that you’ll enjoy it. I’ve always found that dark beer is best while eating food. I think Cerveza Negra goes particularly well with fried prawns or calimari, or pizza, or other strong foods. Enjoy!
Brian: Try the 15 year aged Tanduay… Very smooth. Inexpensive and very good.
a shot of tauduay and chase it with ice cold san miguel thats what i do when i hang out with my brother in laws. they love when i visit because the first thing i do is stock the fridge with beer and rum ! they told my wife they miss me the most because all we do is drink beer and rum and eat lechon and fried chicken and pizza! believe me i miss them also because they teach me about the regular filipino life every day!
Neal: Funny how the warm temperature is acceptable here. In the province, you can’t drink the water, but the beer is always safe.
I’ve never heard of Beer Housen Beer… Is it like Beer na Beer? ’80s was long before I got here. I’ll ask Becky if she remembers.
Hi Neal, Beer Hausen flopped (it smells like there’s a cockroach inside it) and got replaced by Beer na Beer which has a similar taste and bottle design of Sanmig pale pilsen. These two products is from Asia Brewery not San Miguel Corp.
Hi John –
Oh boy… beer is bad enough for my diabetes (and weight), but I’ve got to add fried foods or pizza too. Well, it’s a tough job, but I suppose somebody has to do it! 
Bob: The things we do for scientific research!
That’s right John. I am a firm believer in the scientific process. We must repeat each step many times to ensure repeatability too!
Hi John, welcome to my “home town’, where i lived almost 25 years. I am sure, i remember the place, where you got the dark beer (near Siemens). Yeah, Doner Kebap is great together with beer. After this try to get a little turkish schnaps… it does wonders…
See you in Davao. everything goes – also lechon, if you like.
Take care. Cheers!
Roy: Most people I’ve met either like beer or hate it… There’s not many in beetween. For me, scotch all tastes like cough medicine, but I know scotch drinkers who go nuts over special single malt varieties, where I honestly can’t tell the difference (except with the pure rotgut). All just a matter of personal taste, I guess.
Ooops… Sorry. RON. (It’s too early this morning… My brain is still foggy!)
John, I agree that scotch taste like medicine
Im a bourbon man
Alan: In my youth, I remember a Mexican beer called Negra Modelo that the Mexicans used to just refer to as “cerveza negra”. I think it was the only dark Mexican beer at the time… Most of the taco joints in Texas and New Mexico used to have it. Perhaps that was what they were referring to? There is also Tres Equis, “XXX”, which is made by the Dos Equis people, which is a darker, stronger version. I’ve never seen XXX outside of Mexico, though.
Klaus: That’s interesting that you remember the pub! Though the Doner was good, I was disappointed that the kitchen was closed. My experience in Germany is that the best food is usually in the little family-owned pubs (especially in Bavaria, but Brandenburg will suffice).
Rey: That bad, eh? I’ll avoid the Beer na Beer next time in Abulug.
Philmor: I like San Mig Light, but it needs to be cold… No taste when warm.
yeah dos equis is in all the good beer stores in the usa good dark beer!
Hi John, yeah, maybe, because I lived in Berlin almost 25 years. I also experienced also a lot of very good beer houses with excellent ’side food’ in Brandenburg…
Mmmh – now, while typing I enjoyed my first RED HORSE today… .
Mike: Popularity has its’price, I guess!!!
Hudson: When I used to work in Louisville, my counterpart there had family at Makers Mark… Bourbon balls and a shot on the rocks!
Mike: I was never a Corona fan, but try the Cerveza Negra if you can find it. The Chicarrones will make you want more!
Milper: I never knew that! Boag’s is a pretty decent beer, if I remember. (The Aussie one I like is Cascade… The Tazzies do get things right once in a while)
Terry: Becky heard that too… She’s not much of a drinker, though (One beer and she’s loopy. Funny story on our first date, but she’ll get angry if I write it in a public place!)
I was born in Charlotte, but haven’t gotten back to NC in 3 or 4 years. It has changed quite a bit since I lived there (we moved in 1977).
I only drink on new year’s day..a sip of champagne. My husband has been telling people at parties that one sip of wine and i will be sleeping. thank God my circle of Filipina friends here do not drink either. I could not even drink coke now because of my high blood sugar and I hate diet coke or anything diet. Tastes awful!!! My best friend now is water.
Haven’t been to Charlotte but my husband did- 3 weeks ago. I might go to Raleigh as well next month.
Daniel: Actually, the HKG version is normally brewed there, I believe.