Every time people see a beer bottle that has a wedge of lemon or lime at the top, they immediately recognize the beer brand. Corona beer has a light straw color, a little bitterness, and is light in taste.
It is also one of the bestselling beers in the world, with Corona Light and Corona Extra being the best sellers of the brand. However, where did corona beer come from?
History Of Corona Beer
When learning about the history of Corona beer, it is important to note that it is a Mexican beer. Like a lot of the beer recipes that came to the Americas, especially the United States, Corona’s concoction has a German origin because many of the brewers were German immigrants.
Grupo Modelo Started Production in 1925
Grupo Modelo was the first brewery to make the beer in 1925, in celebration of their 10th anniversary. The brewery was and is still the biggest brewery in Mexico.
Grupo Modelo thought about storing Corona beer in dark-colored bottles the following year to try and improve its flavor. However, they made a decision that is probably the reason for the beer’s success.
They put it in clear bottles that had a particularly unique shape, which became the company’s symbol.
A decade after the launch of Corona beer, it became one of Mexico’s best sellers because of its aggressive, innovative, and unique marketing strategies.
In 1937, the company made efforts to market the beer as a fine-quality product in efforts to distinguish it from pluque, one of its major rivals. Pluque was an indigenous and native alcoholic drink that was made from fermented sap from the agave plant.
Corona Beer Improved
The campaign was successful for Corona beer, but it resulted in a steady fall in the popularity of pluque.
Corona improved its production and processing of the beer as the years progressed, including processes like advanced refrigeration and pasteurization techniques. They also made continuous improvements in the beer’s flavor.
After several years, people in the United States noticed Corona beer, and many beer drinkers applauded its presence. In 1976, the company started exporting Corona beer to the United States, which quickly gained popularity.
In 1989, the company introduced Corona light, which has also become a top seller for the company. Its popularity grew such that the black markets in the United States for the beer thrived. Today, it has become the most imported beer not only in the US but also in Canada.
A lot of beer drinkers associate the drink with its iconic clear bottles. However, in 2009, the company started offering a version of the beer in cans and, ever since, has continued expanding its line of beers.
Success of Corona Beer
Corona is now sold in more than 150 countries around the world, with the largest shares coming from its exports to the United States.
One of the most iconic things when drinking Corona beer is having a wedge of lemon or lime on the mouth of the bottle, which helps add tartness and flavor. However, this was not always the case.
That practice started in Mexico, where the drinkers would have a piece of lime or lemon on the top to prevent flies from getting into their drinks.
Facts About Corona Beer You Must Know
1. Corona is a Spanish name that means crown.
According to a companion of the beer from Oxford, the crown logo from which the beer gets its name comes from the crown that decorates the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Puerto Vallarta.
2. The animals on the beer label are Griffins.
The crown on the beer sits on the Mexican sun, and the griffins, which are half eagle and half lion, are there to help protect the beer.
3. Corona extra is used a lot in Michelada.
This is a type of beery bloody mary, which people make by mixing half beer, mainly Corona, half clamato juice, a bit of hot sauce, a touch of Worcestershire sauce, a small amount of freshly ground pepper, a cap of soy sauce, lime juice, lots of ice, and a little salt for the rim.
4. Corona Extra and Corona Light are pale lagers and have similar tastes and the same alcohol by volume.
Corona Extra and Corona light are pale lagers and have similar tastes and the same alcohol by volume (4.5%). However, Corona Extra has a richer flavor than Corona light.
5. Constellation Brands owns the Corona beer brewed in the US.
The company also owns other Mexican brands like Pacifico and Modelo, and Svedka, which is a Swedish Whiskey. However, the company that brews the beer in Mexico, Grupo Modelo, is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev.