Over 100 years ago, Salvadorian Rafael Meza Ayau started a brewing company by the name of “Rafael Meza Ayau y Cia,” which was later changed to “La Constancia.” From the lines of this investment came El Salvador’s first world-famous beer. The delicate touch of the Salvadorian people created a beer that has been awarded gold medals by the World Cup of Beers in Brussels and Rome in 1965, 1995, 2000 and 2007. The Beer: A beer with a name as simple, and not so common, as “Pilsener” (Spanish for Pilsner) is usually looked over by much of the “usual” beer crowd. “Not so special,” one might think at first, but this light lager has much to offer in taste, feel and balance. This drink puts hair on your chest, while at the same time melting your heart.
The Color: A light liquid gold in a frozen mug, a fusion of salt and frost around the rim and a lime-wedge floating inside as the fizz rises toward the surface—yes! This is to drink “chelada”-style.
The Taste: Finally, we get to the taste! This brew is for the thirsty—for those who have yet to have a good beer all day. It is refreshingly smooth, with a sudden bitter taste towards the end. The bitterness does not linger, unlike other beers—preparing you for the next sip of this one hundred year old recipe. The feel is, as stated before, smooth and crisp and it goes down clean. A proper balance is needed in such cases, so there is a need for a small, yet brief, bitter after-taste that goes well with the lime-wedge and salt. Rating: 8.5
On its own: This beer wins gold medals for a reason! Internationally recognized, this liquid gold is a libation to the deities of Latin American brewing. Rating: 8.5
With a burger: This beer has proper balance to be enjoyed with almost any food. I prefer it with seafood, mainly raw oysters or mussels with Worcestershire sauce, lime and salt. Rating: 8
With a nice dinner: A light lager and a pricey dinner? This beer is good with almost any food, because it aids it all in going down smoothly. It would not be my first choice at a restaurant such as The Social or Sabor, but it would be appreciated nevertheless. Rating: 7
With a date: “La Constancia” prides itself in the way “Pilsener” brings people together as a social medium. In El Salvador the commercial always ends with “Alegria incoparable! es cosa de cheros!” This is loosely translated to “Joy incomparable! It’s a friends’ thing!” I would agree – this is definitely a beer that would be safe to order on a date. Rating: 8.5
Final Opinion: This beer is hard to find here in Milwaukee, and, as far as I know, it can only be found in one place: El Salvador Restaurant. It used to be available at the El Rey supermarkets, and it might still be available there, but last time I checked they were no longer carrying it. That said, it is a rare find and a good one at that, which makes people enjoy it all the more.
Where Available: El Salvador Restaurant, 2316 S. 6th St., Milwaukee, WI 53215, (414) 383-2039.
Popularity: 12% [?]
