I STARTED enjoying beer only recently. In high school and college, I loathed my beer-drinking experience despite taking massive quantities of it. Taking pleasure in the brew started only when the key players introduced new variants into the market.

Here?s a rundown of what?s out there, ranked in no particular order:

San Miguel Pale Pilsen

Alcohol Content: 5.0%
Taste: The original beer of the Filipino. Strong, distinct taste, though recently I?ve noticed a watered-down taste (I wonder if they?re skewing the flavor to mimic Super Dry or San Mig Light).
My Pale Pilsen Moment: Waking up with a killer hangover every New Year?s Day for 10 years.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Pale: The Dawn?s ?Salamat?

San Miguel Super Dry

Alcohol Content: 4.8%
Taste: Brewed slightly differently from Pale Pilsen, hence lacking some of the sharpness in taste (and lowering the alcohol content as well). For me, this beer?s neither here nor there.
My Super Dry Moment: One summer day in 1992 when I emphatically told my friends, this is as good a beer as one could get (well, at least until I got to taste Cerveza Negra).
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Super Dry: Justin Timberlake?s ?Senorita?

Cerveza Negra
San Miguel

Alcohol Content: 5.0%
Taste: Dark, stout beer with hints of vanilla and caramel. This one is my favorite; I try to limit my intake so I don?t get too sick of it.
My Cerveza Negra Moment: Watching the sunset in Boracay with my best friends during our annual January trips.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Negra: Lewis Taylor?s ?Bittersweet?

San Miguel Light

Alcohol Content: 5.0%
Taste: Smoother than Super Dry taste with supposedly fewer calories. Top seller these days, though beer experts claim it?s flat, generic and watered-down. For me, this is the default beer of choice since I?m supposed to watch my figure.
My San Mig Light Moment: One summer night in 2004 when my friends Marsha and Rhea reintroduced me to the joys of beer.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Light: Bryan Ferry?s ?Slave To Love?

San Miguel Strong Ice

Alcohol Content: 7.0%
Taste: Stronger beer taste with way more alcohol. Packaging and label closely resembles San Mig Light, so I often mix up the two.
My Strong Ice Moment: The day Strong Ice was sold to the public: I kept mistaking it for San Mig Light. Needless to say, I got smashed. Hard.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Strong Ice: The Killers? ?Mr. Brightside?

San Miguel Premium

Alcohol Content: 5.0%
Taste: The new kid on the block, previously only found in Spain as an export brew. It?s refreshing and seems to be less carbonated. It goes down easy, almost like water.
My Premium Moment: During the Beer Below Zero launch, I accidentally shook my bottle of Premium, causing it to solidify.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Premium: Jamie Callum?s version of Radiohead?s ?High and Dry?

Red Horse Extra Strong Beer (San Miguel Beer)

Alcohol Content: 7.0%
Taste: Pale Pilsen on steroids. Raw, dirty, rock star taste (not that I?ve tasted a rock star).
My Red Horse Moment: One dark May evening in 1995. I had one Red Horse too many and I ended up in the back seat of my car, while my date drove me home.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Red Horse: Wolfgang?s ?Darkness Fell?

Colt 45
(Asia Brewery Inc.)

Alcohol Content: 7.2%
Taste: Asia Brewery?s local response to Red Horse. A US-based brand brewed locally, it boasts of having the heaviest alcohol content. Despite the alcohol, I find it way smoother than Red Horse. Sometimes, I also think it gives me superpowers, like Bamboo in the commercial.
My Colt 45 Moment: I joined a pool tournament a few years back and I accidentally knocked my bottle of Colt 45 with my cue stick. Despite the effects of the alcohol on my reflexes, I managed to catch the bottle before it fell to the floor. Much like Bamboo in the commercial.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Colt 45: Bamboo?s version of ?The Door?s Break On Through?

Coors Light
(Asia Brewery Inc.)

Alcohol Content: 4.1%
Taste: Another US brand recently acquired by Asia Brewery for local brewing?their counterpart to San Mig Light. More flavorful than San Mig Light but with virtually no kick.
My Coors Light Moment: Three weeks ago in Bargos with my friends, we filled up the Beer Tower with Coors Light in an attempt to get us adequately hit.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Coors Light: Bruce Springsteen?s ?Tunnel Of Love?

Corona Extra
(Imported - Mexico)

Alcohol Content: 4.6%
Taste: Counted as the biggest-selling imported beer in the United States and the best-selling beer in Mexico, this one is best enjoyed with a slice of lime wedged inside the bottle. Since I like eating or drinking that?s full of rituals, I?m amused at the practice, though I suspect the lime is a way to mask the sharp tart taste of Corona.
My Corona Moment: Dancing in Giraffe with Corona in hand one Halloween night, I was approached by one of the regulars for a date. He was a guy.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Corona: Snoop Dogg and Pharrell?s ?Beautiful?

Heineken
(Imported - Dutch)

Alcohol Content: 5.4%
Taste: Smooth and refined, it goes down easy, which is dangerous because it has a higher-than-average alcohol content.
My Heineken Moment: At least once a month, I get to enjoy this brew in Barcino?s; it?s the beer they serve, along with Corona Extra. It?s also my substitute for wine on those nights when we attempt to be refined.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Heineken: Buena Vista Social Club?s ?Chan Chan?

Tsing Tao
(Imported - China)

Alcohol Content: 4.7%
Taste: For a beer brewed in China, it tastes surprisingly European, closely resembling Heineken, though a tad sharper. Their giant bottles can be good for two on nights you want to go cheap.
My Tsing Tao Moment: Tasted my first Tsing Tao in a local dive bar in Shanghai, where a couple of local girls engaged us in a dice game we couldn?t understand. Needless to say, we lost and had to pay for their drinks.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Tsing Tao: David Bowie?s ?China Girl?

Guinness Draught
(Imported - Ireland)

Alcohol Content: 4.1%
Taste: Draft, heavy, full-bodied. It goes down well, probably the only draft beer I really like. These days, you can only get this at Grappa?s.
My Guinness Moment: Happy hour and pizza with my best friends. Grappa?s long glasses ensure you?re filled up before the night is done.
First Song That Comes To Mind When I Think Of Guinness: U2?s ?Bad?