Few beer brands have managed to become so internationally recognisable while also carrying two entirely different identities depending on where you encounter them.

The original San Miguel was founded in the Philippines in 1890 and remains one of Asia’s largest and most important brewing companies. Meanwhile the European version developed separately through Spanish production and licensing, becoming deeply associated with Mediterranean lager drinking.

The beer itself leans crisp, light-bodied and highly drinkable. Gentle malt sweetness, restrained bitterness and clean fermentation sit at the centre of the style. It is built for refreshment first rather than complexity, which is usually exactly the point.