Beer blogger Adam Shugan is trekking the world (virtually, anyway) tasting beers. Today: Guatemala.

After my time in Asia, I am taking a long journey to Latin America in my world tour of beers.  I am going to Guatemala City, Guatemala,  at Cerveceria Centro Americana, South America for Bahia Lager Cerveza Especial.  Some other beers in the CCA line up include Sol and Famosa.  It is another adjunct lager.

Appearance:  It comes in a clear bottle with a marlin in the logo.  I discussed skunked beer when I wrote about Kronenbourg 1664 a few blogs ago.  When I first tried this beer it really had been skunked, which was a consequence of being light-struck.  The taste was very powerful and turned me off but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and chalked it up to being a strain of yeast like Heineken.  No beer really is safe from being light-struck.  A brown bottle is the best color for avoiding this and obviously a clear bottle provides no protection.  Beer can get light-struck when it has been exposed to ultraviolet light for a period of time.  To get technical, hops contain molecules called isohumulones.  The ultraviolet light rends the molecules and they bind to naturally occurring sulfur atoms in the beer.  This in turn creates a scent that mimics a skunk’s defense, hence the term.  There is a difference between a truly skunked beer and the skunky yeast some brewers use. 

Smell:  Skunk free! I get alternating dried crackers and sweet biscuits.   I am pleasantly surprised at the smell compared to the last bottle I had.

Taste: the typical adjunct lager qualities of corny sweetness and an astringent finish.  It is a touch sweeter than Corona but equally easy drinking.  I passed up the lime this time but a little lime juice would probably provide some good flavor.  Like the Asian beers complementing Asian cuisine I would fancy this beer pairing well with some slow cooked pollo or pulled pork enchiladas.

Now you know to simply keep your beer out of direct sunlight and put the bottle in a coozie.  One common misconception I do want to debunk right now is the myth of skunking your beer by buying it cold and letting it get warm.  Aside from buying cold beer and then leaving it in your trunk for a few hours in this 90 degree weather, letting a beer gradually get to room temperature and then re-chilling it will not alter the taste in any way.  Most beers on their journey to the states go through a lot of temperature ups and downs before getting to your refrigerator.   So please, don’t waste your time looking for already room temperature beer; instead, buy a cold six-pack if available to enjoy whenever you feel like!      

Beer blogger Adam Shugan is the store manager at our Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, store.