Lawnmower beer! What the hell is that, you ask? If you’ve never heard of it, lawnmower beer is a term used by beer aficionados to describe a brew without much flavor that is suitable for hot weather imbibing. Such beers, though not at all complex, can still serve as a refreshing quencher when the thermometer is reading on the high side.
It just so happens that I had a bottle of Regia Extra Smooth Lager Beer in the fridge, and it also just happens that I’ve just come in from cutting the grass. My lot is just under an acre in size, and after you account for the space the house, driveway, and vegetable garden take up you are still looking at almost ¾ of an acre to mow. That’s thirsty work, and when I finish I’m usually hot, sweaty, and ready for liquid refreshment.
A little about the beer and the brewery. Regia Extra is a pilsner-style beer made by Cerveceria La Constancia, S.A. La Constancia is located in El Salvador where it was founded in 1903. In 2005, La Constancia was gobbled up by global conglomerate SAB Miller, and is now part of their empire. Regia Extra was introduced in 1959 and has an alcohol content of 4.8% by volume. My bottle of Regia Extra was a full quart in size, 32 ounces, and sold for a mere $2.99 at Total Wine.
Back to the lawnmower beer theme, I’m generally OK with the use of this term, but it does carry a derogatory connotation that I don’t think is completely fair. In this case, Regia Extra is a decent malty lager in its own right. Is it the best example of the style? No, and I would take a crisp, hoppy German pils like Konig-Pilsner over Regia any day. Still, I would certainly not turn away a Regia Extra if offered one.
My bottle of Regia Extra pours to a pale golden color with a large creamy head formation and a soft malty nose. Taking a sip, the beer is, admittedly, best ice cold, crisp and malty, smooth and creamy. It is here that it is as its most refreshing. I do get a hint of adjuncts underneath, but only a bit.
The beer continues to be smooth and drinkable, crisp and malty as it warms, though as it does the adjuncts become a bit more pronounced. But only a bit more so. The beer has a balanced finish, of course there is not a lot to balance.
For the price, it was a bargain, and I enjoyed it after 3 hours cutting the grass. So perhaps lawnmower beer it is.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft