Red Horse Beer
The first extra-strong beer brand in the Philippines.
Red Horse Beer is an extra-strong lager from the Philippines, produced by San Miguel Brewery. It was the country’s first beer in the extra-strong category, with an alcohol content of 6.9% abv.
The beer is sold in several sizes: the standard 500ml bottle (called the flagship), a 330ml bottle named Stallion, a 1000ml bottle called Litro, and cans in 330ml and 500ml. A 250ml bottle called Colt has been discontinued.
Some bottles produced before 2000 feature an older logo showing a horse with a smile. These rare bottles, nicknamed "The Laughing/Happy Horse," also have separate heels on the horseshoe, the words "Red Horse" in a stenciled font, and back-label information printed entirely in red instead of yellow. The back details may vary on very old bottles. These bottles exist because the brewery recycles old bottles with previous packaging, which is cheaper than making new ones.
Red Horse Muziklaban is an annual rock band competition in the Philippines, started in 1999. It is sponsored by San Miguel Brewery to promote Red Horse Beer. The contest is for young unsigned bands, with a grand prize of PHP 1,000,000 and a recording contract.
Quick Facts
- Abv
- 6.9% / 8% International (export only)
- Manufacturer
- San Miguel Brewery · (a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation)
- Origin
- Philippines / International (export only)
- Introduced
- 1982
- Variants
- 330ml bottle, 500ml bottle, 330ml can, 500ml can, 1 litre bottle, 13.2 keg
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Red Horse Beer is produced by San Miguel Brewery and was introduced as the first extra-strong beer in the Philippines. The beer is available in several sizes, including the flagship 500 ml bottle, the smaller Stallion (330 ml), the discontinued Colt (250 ml), the Litro (1000 ml), and in cans of 330 ml or 500 ml. Bottles produced prior to 2000 feature an original logo showing a horse with a smile, and are nicknamed 'The Laughing/Happy Horse'. These old, rare bottles also have separate heels on the horseshoe, the word 'Red Horse' in a stenciled font, and back information printed in red instead of yellow. The information on the back may vary in very old, rare bottles with the previous packaging. These bottles exist because the brewery recycles old bottles with the previous packaging, which costs less than producing new bottles. They appear rarely on crates of the regular 500, Stallion, and in some cases, in Litro.
Reader's Guide
Red Horse Beer holds a distinct place in Philippine brewing as the country's first extra-strong lager. Its high alcohol content of 6.9% abv sets it apart from standard lagers, and it has become a recognizable brand under the San Miguel Brewery. The beer is packaged in multiple sizes, from the common 500 ml bottle to the larger Litro and the now-discontinued Colt. A notable aspect of its history is the existence of older bottles with the 'Laughing/Happy Horse' logo, which are recycled rather than newly produced, making them rare collectibles. The brand also sponsors Red Horse Muziklaban, an annual rock band competition for unsigned bands in the Philippines, which has been held since 1999 and offers a grand prize of PHP 1,000,000 and a recording contract. This competition ties the beer to the local music scene and youth culture. Overall, Red Horse Beer is significant as a pioneering strong lager in the Philippines, with a distinctive packaging history and a long-running association with rock music.
Did You Know?
- Red Horse Beer is the first extra-strong beer brand in the Philippines.
- Old bottles with the 'Laughing/Happy Horse' logo have a horse with a smile and separate heels on the horseshoe.
- The Colt size (250 ml) of Red Horse Beer has been discontinued.
- Red Horse Muziklaban is an annual rock band competition sponsored by San Miguel Brewery since 1999.
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