Caguama and the Chargers

Well, the in laws were in town the other day and as usual I got a special delivery from my Father In Law. He works for a beer distributor that handles imports. Yes, I know what you are thinking - "you married the daughter of a beer distributor?" Yes I did and it has worked out fine and over the years I have gotten over my inability to marry a woman whose father owned a brewery. I look at it this way, at least as a distributor he provides me with more variety in beers.

Anyway, the other day he brought over a 30 pack of beer called Caguama that comes from El Salvador. This is supposed to be a Corona style beer, and comes in cans. Further research after the fact indicates that you can get this beer really cheap - under $15 for a 30 pack - in selected stores. Apparently, the Caguama is a term for a turtle. I don't know what knucklehead thought that relating beer to turtles was a good idea, but perhaps that's why El Salvador does not rule the world.

I broke into these beers after I had a few of my more standard beers and I must say that the flavor was not what I expected. I had expected some sort of nasty taste with an aftertaste that follows you around like a wet dog, stinking up the place. Along with my drinking partners, we found that there was a distinct lack of flavor. We proceeded to pound about 20 of them while watching the Charger game on Sunday night.

Later in the week, I had the opportunity to try another, this time without the benefit of any sort of pre-comsumption beers. This time, the first taste gave me that familiar nasty taste that we all come to expect from bad Mexican beer. Yes, I know this is El Salvadoran, but as I recall during the Rodney King riots the Mexicans blamed all the looting on El Salvadorans, so at some point I think that they are behind this beer as well.

Well it took some effort to get that first one down, but I did. The next 5 or 6 got progressively better (who would have thunk). I found that the colder these were the better so they all got some freezer time before opening.

I would have to say that of all the wacky beers that he has brought me this one was better than a fair number of them. At least it will be drunk rather than tried and thrown out. I would not buy this beer unless I was in dire straights, stranded somewhere and this was the only option. Perhaps if I am ever in El Salvador I would try it again, but my guess is that they only make this shit for export (a la Fosters) and laugh at foreigners who come down asking for it. I would think that I could buy Bud pretty much anywhere in El Salvador so it would be a moot point anyway. Heck, I bought one in the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, so I figure I could get one anywhere!

Yeah, the Chargers won, despite Rivers trying to throw the game. It is amazing what LT can do for a team. He has not only carried the team into the playoffs, he has carried Rivers into the Pro Bowl as well. There is no way that guy gets in on any other team!

One other note of caution. While we have only anecdotal evidence, it seems that after three of four Caguamas, everybody had the urge to take a shit. I can't say it was the beer per se, but maybe they should rename it Cacaguama instead! Or better yet, perhaps the name "Turtle Head" would be more appropriate!