Famosa Beer Review: Classic Example of a Great American Lager
Our Famosa Beer review covers all you need to know about this delicious American adjunct lager from Cerveceria Centro Americana. You might also know this beer as Gallo, which is full of crisp and grainy flavors.
The Famosa beer is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to try out a unique American lager. Continue reading our review of Famosa to know more about drinking this lager beer.
Famosa Beer Stats
| Country | Guatemala |
| Brand | Cerveceria Centro Americana, S.A. |
| Style | American Adjunct Lager |
| Taste | Crisp, Grainy |
| Body | Light Body |
| ABV | 5 percent |
| Flavors & Aromas | Corn, cracker, caramel malt, herbal, grassy |
| Serving Temperature | 40 – 45 degrees Fahrenheit |
Tasting Notes
Famosa Beer Review
Famosa is an American adjunct lager with a 5 percent ABV, developed by Cerveceria Centro Americana, S.A. The beer features a crisp and drinkable nature brewed in a Guatemalan style. With a light straw color and aroma and flavor of crisp crackers, corn, and caramel malts, it offers a grainy flavor in the beginning before evolving to taste sweet and crisp.
If you have the Famosa lager, you should serve it in a pint glass, stein, or pub mug to enhance the aroma and flavor. It should be served cold, from 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. You can garnish the lager with lime slices and add a pinch of salt too.
The Famosa beer features a decent ABV that makes it great for drinking anytime. It has a refreshing and crisp flavor that will cool you down on a hot day.
– Appearance
The Famosa lager beer pours a light straw to yellow-gold color, with a white foam up to one finger. The beer has a clear appearance, and the head will dissipate quickly. It will leave a very slight lacing against the sides of your glass. The beer is well carbonated, so you can see loose bubbles on the sides.
– Aroma
When you take the Famosa beer to your nose, you will first perceive the scent of caramel. It is followed by a rich, meaty aroma, with slight hints of salt and bread. The beer has a musty aroma, especially when you leave it open for a while.
– Mouthfeel
On the palate, the Famosa lager has a thin and crisp feeling. The beer might seem a bit watery, but the lively carbonation makes it tingly and fizzy against your tongue. The ABV is not high, so there is no alcohol warming. It finishes crisp and sweet.
– Flavor
The first thing you taste when you drink the Famosa lager is crisp crackers. The malty flavor offers a taste of caramel balanced with a slight taste of grains and hay. As you keep on going, the grainy flavor will increase. You will also taste light lime towards the end.
Almost seeping into the aftertaste is a sweet lager flavor with a hint of herbal flavors. A crisp and sweet lager taste will linger on your tongue even after drinking. It’s the perfect lager for sipping without getting drunk quickly.
The Famosa lager is based on a cereal malt base, with hints of herbal bitterness, grass, and faint honey sweetness.
– Food Pairings
The Famosa beer is light and refreshing, with a crisp and highly carbonated flavor. This causes it to go well with different kinds of spicy foods like Vietnamese pho and Buffalo hot wings. If you have tacos or burgers, choose a spicy sauce as the beer cleanses your palate.
You should match the Famosa lager with delicately herbed chicken, shellfish, other seafood, hotdogs, and salmon. Salads are also a good choice as they are crisp and go well with the carbonated lager.
You can have a cheese plate with the Famosa lager if you prefer cheese. Cheeses like mild cheddar, mozzarella, and Gouda will balance the malty and caramel flavor of the lager. Look for sweet desserts like caramel cheesecake, carrot cake, or crème brulée.
Ingredients
The Famosa lager is made with the original formula for making Gallo beer. The exact ingredients of the beer are unknown, but it was made with malts, hops, yeast, and water. The malt list includes cereal grains that give it the backbone and flavors of caramel and crackers.
Nutrition Facts
The Famosa lager features an ABV of 5 percent, which is a pretty average level. You won’t taste any alcohol warming or ethanol as you drink, contributing to the drinkable nature of the beer.
The beer features up to 135 calories per every 12-ounce serving and 1.3 grams of protein. As for the carbohydrates, there are 11 grams in the 12-ounce can. As for the IBU, it is set at 22, which gives you a slight bitterness as you drink it.
The beer is not ideal for those on a keto diet due to its high-fat content. The beer is not gluten-free too, so those that cannot consume gluten should avoid drinking it.
History
The Famosa lager is a Guatemalan beer brewed by Cerveceria Centro Americana, S.A. It is known as Gallo outside of the United States, but when it was distributed outside Guatemala, it was branded as Famosa instead.
The Famosa beer means “Famous,” with a cockerel design on the label. The beer has received different international certifications for its outstanding quality. The Gallo beer is dated back to 1896 and is one of the most famous beers in the country. Due to its popularity, it has become a big part of popular culture in Guatemala.
Aside from the Famosa lager, other beers from the brewery include Gallo Light, Victoria, Chopp Gallo, Dorado Ice, Monte Carlo, Cabro, Dorado Draft, Moza, and Malta.
Conclusion
The Famosa lager is a classic adjunct beer offering you a crisp and refreshing flavor anytime. Here is a summary of what our beer review covered:
- Famosa is an American adjunct lager with a 5 percent ABV made by a Guatemalan-based brewery.
- It has an aroma and flavor of corn, cracker, caramel malts, grass, and herbs, with a crisp and refreshing taste.
- The beer is made with malts, hops, yeast, and water.
- When cold, it is best served in a pint glass, stein, or pub mug with a lime wedge.
- Famosa goes well with spicy foods, sweet desserts, crispy salads, and cheese plates.
You can easily purchase the Famosa lager from liquor stores online or near you if you’re curious about the flavor.
