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Mexican beers are typically light, crisp, and refreshing, making them the perfect drink to enjoy on a hot summer's day. They are often characterised by their high carbonation, mild flavour, and subtle bitterness. The most popular Mexican beers worldwide are usually golden, sparkling lagers such as Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, and Pacifico Clara. However, there is a wide variety of Mexican beers, including dark beers like Modelo Negra and Leon, and craft beers such as dense, tropical IPAs and sweet, fruity beers.
The history of Mexican beer dates back to ancient civilisations, who fermented plants and corn grains to produce alcoholic beverages. In more recent times, the Mexican beer industry has been heavily influenced by German and Austrian immigrants, who brought lager recipes and brewing expertise to the country in the 19th century. Today, Mexico is one of the world's top beer-producing countries, with a thriving craft beer scene and a diverse range of beers to suit all tastes.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Flavour | Light, nutty, sweet, malty, caramelly, bready, grainy, grassy, herbal, zesty, bitter, crisp, refreshing, smooth, balanced, complex, mild, salty, citrusy, nutty, chocolatey, toffee, bitter, spicy |
Ingredients | Maize, pilsner malt, Vienna malt, German noble hops, barley, wheat, tortilla chips, lime zest, natural spices, lime juice, salt, picante sauce, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, coriander, orange peel, corn syrup, Mount Hood hops |
ABV | 4.5%, 4%, 4.7%, 4.9%, 5%, 5.4%, 6% |
Best served | Cold, with a lime wedge, on the rocks, with salt |
Food pairing | Mexican food, tortilla chips, guacamole, salsa, grilled foods, pork tacos, barbecue chicken, shrimp ceviche, shrimp tacos with corn salsa, grilled or charred meats, tacos |
Occasions | Beach day, backyard hangout, Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, summertime, a hot day |
What You'll Learn
Mexican Lagers: History and Ingredients
Mexican lager has a long history that dates back to the pre-Columbian era when people in central Mexico and northern Costa Rica fermented alcohol with corn, agave, and honey. However, the term "Mexican lager" is often used to refer to a specific style of beer that originated in the 19th century due to German and Austrian influence.
History
After Mexico gained independence in 1821, the country welcomed immigrants from Germany and Austria. These immigrants brought with them their own lager recipes, particularly the Vienna lager, a bready, toasty, and amber-hued beer. In 1864, Napoleon III installed Maximilian I of Mexico, who was of German/Austrian origin, as emperor. Maximilian I brought his own brewer, who brewed Vienna and darker lagers. Although Maximilian I's reign was short-lived, ending in 1867, the Austro-Mexican brewing tradition continued.
In the late 1800s, a brewer named Santiago Graf began importing the hops and malt necessary to brew Vienna-style lager. However, he made a crucial addition to the recipe: corn. Corn, which was abundant and inexpensive in Mexico, lightened the beer's body and added a touch of sweetness. This new style, now known as "Mexican lager", quickly gained popularity.
In 1890, Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc opened and became the first large-scale brewer in Mexico. They brewed a Czech-style pilsner and later created the popular Dos Equis brand. Around the same time, smaller breweries focused on Vienna and similar lagers were also thriving.
In the early 20th century, Mexican beer production boomed, partly due to American Prohibition. Many smaller, independent Mexican breweries sprang up to meet the demand for alcoholic beverages along the borders. However, intense competition led to consolidation, and eventually, only two major breweries remained: Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma and Grupo Modelo.
Ingredients
Today, Mexican-style lagers are typically clean and pale, with high clarity and low bitterness. They are often made with Pilsner or Vienna malts and flaked maize (corn), which adds crispness and boosts clarity. They tend to have low ABV, making them perfect for casual drinking in the sun.
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Popular Mexican Beers
Mexican beers are known for their refreshing and crisp taste, offering a wide range of options for beer enthusiasts. From light lagers to smooth pilsners and bold ales, there is a Mexican beer for every taste. Here are some of the most popular Mexican beers:
Corona
Corona is arguably the most well-known and popular Mexican beer brand. This crisp and light beer is made with premium ingredients and has a distinct, revitalizing flavour. It is often served with a wedge of lime, giving it a fresh, citrusy taste. Corona is the ideal beverage for a warm, sunny day and has become an iconic symbol of Mexico's vibrant culture and easygoing lifestyle.
Modelo
Modelo is a popular Mexican beer brand known for its smooth flavour and deep golden hue. It is a medium-bodied lager made with the best ingredients, giving it a distinctive taste. Modelo has been crafted in Mexico for over 90 years and is a favourite among drinkers who appreciate a fuller, more flavourful beer. It pairs well with a variety of foods, making it a versatile option for any occasion.
Dos Equis
Dos Equis is a popular Mexican beer known for its distinctive "Most Interesting Man in the World" advertising campaign. The beer itself is light and well-balanced, making it perfect for hot days. It is brewed with premium ingredients, resulting in a smooth and crisp finish. Dos Equis complements a variety of dishes, from Hispanic to American fare.
Tecate
Tecate is a well-liked Mexican lager with a light and approachable flavour. It is brewed with premium ingredients, resulting in a smooth and clean taste. Tecate has a lower alcohol content than many other brands, making it a popular choice for those who prefer a lighter beer. It is often served in its recognisable red and silver can and is enjoyed throughout Mexico and other countries.
Pacifico
Pacifico is a popular Mexican beer brand known for its light and energizing flavour. It has a crisp, clean taste and is brewed with premium ingredients. Pacifico is a great choice for hot summer days and is often served with a wedge of lime to accentuate its citrusy notes. It pairs well with a variety of cuisines, including seafood, salads, and spicy Mexican dishes.
Sol
Sol is a renowned Mexican beer brand that offers a light and energizing flavour. It has a notably smooth taste and is brewed with premium ingredients, giving it a slightly sweet flavour. Sol is frequently enjoyed with seafood meals in Mexican cuisine, as its crisp and refreshing flavour complements the salty and spicy dishes well. It is the perfect beer for a hot summer day or as a cooling beverage after a workout.
Bohemia
Bohemia is a well-liked Mexican beer brand known for its robust flavour and distinctive bitterness. It is brewed with premium ingredients and has an eye-catching amber colour. Bohemia is savoured by beer aficionados who appreciate its complex and flavourful taste. It pairs well with grilled meats and Mexican cuisine, making it a great choice for those seeking a strong and unique Mexican beer experience.
Victoria
Victoria is one of Mexico's oldest beer brands, dating back to 1865. It is a Vienna-style lager with a smooth and well-balanced flavour. The beer has a rich, amber hue and is known for its slight bitterness and robust taste. Victoria is a fantastic choice for those seeking a traditional and storied Mexican beer.
Indio
Indio is a popular Mexican beer brand known for its unique taste and rich, full-bodied flavour. It has a deep amber colour and is brewed with high-quality ingredients, including malted barley, caramel, and hops. Indio offers a slightly sweet flavour with notes of caramel and toffee, making it a perfect choice for those who prefer a more complex and flavourful beer. It pairs well with grilled meats and spicy Mexican dishes.
Carta Blanca
Carta Blanca is a well-known and widely consumed Mexican lager. It has a smooth and energizing flavour, making it a great choice for hot summer days. Brewed with premium ingredients, Carta Blanca has a crisp and clean taste. It pairs well with seafood, salads, and Hispanic cuisine. Carta Blanca is a classic Mexican beer that is simple to drink and refreshing.
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Microbreweries in Mexico
Mexico is known for its beer, with Corona being one of its most iconic products and the country being the world's largest beer exporter. However, the country is also home to a growing number of microbreweries that are challenging the traditional beer giants.
One of the well-known microbreweries in Mexico is La Fortuna Cervecería, the winner of the Cerveza Expo's best small brewery award in 2017. They offer a range of beers, including a pale ale, IPA, stout, and California ale, and provide guided tours and tastings at their small factory in Jalisco.
Another notable microbrewery is Cervecería Doble C, based in Ensenada, Baja California. They were awarded the best medium-sized brewery at the Cerveza Expo Mexico in 2017 and also won gold medals for their beers in the amber ale and American Porters categories. Their brewpub is located right on the beach, offering a unique drinking experience.
In Guadalajara, Loba's brewery stands out with its unusual styles, such as a pre-Prohibition lager, sours, and altbier. They collaborate with other small producers in Mexico and the US to create special occasion beers.
Beer Bros, founded by two brothers in Mexico City, focuses on creating easy-to-drink beers that pair well with dinner. They offer an IPA and a blond ale and participate in the local brewpub crawl, allowing tourists to explore different breweries in the city.
Cervecería la Colima, located at the foot of the Colima Volcano, takes advantage of the volcano-filtered spring water to craft their beers. Their countryside restaurant, Jardin Trapiche, offers a charming setting to sample their standard and seasonal beers, with their lager being a favourite.
These are just a few examples of the thriving microbrewery scene in Mexico, where craft beer is gaining popularity and challenging the traditional beer giants.
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How to Drink Beer the Mexican Way
Mexican beers are typically crisp, refreshing, and light in flavour, making them perfect for a hot, sunny day. But how do you drink beer the Mexican way?
The Michelada
One of the most popular ways to drink beer in Mexico is to have a michelada. This is a beer mixed with lime juice, and sometimes lime juice and spicy sauces like Worcestershire sauce, picante sauce, or soy sauce. The name comes from the Mexican slang for beer, 'chelada', so michelada means 'my cold beer'. If you ask for a michelada, you'll get an iced glass with salt around the rim and lime juice at the bottom. Asking for a michelada preparada will get you the salt-rimmed glass with lime juice and sauces. The beer will be served separately, so you can check the contents of the glass before you add the beer.
The Beers
The bestselling beer in Mexico is Corona Extra, which is often served with a lime wedge. However, there are many other Mexican beers to try, including:
- Modelo Especial: This is a delicate, well-balanced beer with flavours of corn chip and light honey.
- Estrella Jalisco: A simple, very straightforward beer with a flavour of sweet grains and no aftertaste.
- Sol: This beer is perfect for sunny days, as the sun on its label suggests.
- Dos Equis Lager: A heavier-bodied beer with sweet grainy flavours, perfect for cooling down after a spicy meal.
- Modelo Negra: A refreshing amber lager with notes of toasted nuts and a caramelly finish.
- Carta Blanca: An easy-drinking beer with grainy cereal notes and grassy hops.
- Bohemia: A sophisticated beer with a unique balance of cocoa-like bitterness and sweet hints of vanilla.
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The Best Mexican Beers, According to Experts
Mexican beer is popular in the United States due to shifting Latinx demographics and the overall light flavour of these brews. Mexican beers are often associated with hot weather, food, and limes. However, there is much more to Mexican beer and brewing history than these stereotypes.
The History of Mexican Beer
Evidence suggests that Mesoamericans had already discovered fermented beverages before the 16th century, and the Aztecs made a type of beer from sprouted kernels of maize. The arrival of Hernán Cortés in 1519 and the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire took beer in Central and South America in a new direction. The first official European-style brewery was opened in New Spain by Alfonso de Herrero, one of Cortés' soldiers, in the 1540s. It was heavily taxed and expensive to make due to the lack of native wheat and barley, but it did give locals a taste for beer.
By the latter portion of the 1800s, German immigrants had begun to immigrate to Mexico as part of a Second Mexican Empire, led by Austrian archduke Maximilian I of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. Maximilian brought his own brewer, who produced Vienna-style lagers that have become synonymous with a certain type of Mexican beer, such as Negra Modelo and Dos Equis Ambar Especial.
A burgeoning railroad system allowed Mexicans to import brewing machinery and malt from the United States, as well as American beer, a new competitor. By 1918, there were 36 beer producers in Mexico, and the beginning of America's Prohibition would only help the Mexican beer industry, with many residents crossing the border to drink.
While Corona is the best-selling beer in Mexico, Modelo Especial is the best-selling Mexican beer in the United States and the best-selling beer overall. It is described as a "sessionable lager" that is "drinkable" and offers a "crisp flavour and some texture". Travel writer Ali Wunderman considers Corona the "platonic ideal" for a Mexican lager: "light, crisp and crushable, with just a hint of skunkiness".
Other popular Mexican beers include:
- Carta Blanca: Mexico's oldest beer brand, with flavours of toasted malt, tangy apple butter, and star fruit.
- Indio: A dark, malty beer produced at Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma Brewery in Mexico.
- Bohemia: A sophisticated flavour with a unique balance of cocoa-like bitterness and sweet hints of vanilla.
- Estrella Jalisco: A tradition in itself, having been rooted in Jalisco, Mexico, since 1910.
- Sol: True to its name ("sun"), this beer is great for pairing with cookout meals on a summer day.
- Tecate Original: Originated over 60 years ago in its namesake town of Tecate, Mexico.
- Pacífico Clara: Became popular in the United States in the 1970s when surfers along the Baja coast brought it back home.
The Mexican Craft Beer Movement
The craft beer boom began in America in the early 1980s before spreading to other countries, but it took longer for Mexico to capitalise on the trend. It was challenging to produce artisanal beer in Mexico due to a lack of hops and barley production, and there wasn't a consumer base willing to pay a premium. Additionally, the country's Big Beer duopoly, Grupo Modelo and Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, made distribution difficult for small breweries.
However, in the early 21st century, craft breweries and brewpubs like Sierra Madre Brewing, Cerveceria Minerva, and Baja Brewing began to appear in Mexico. In the mid-2010s, craft beer took off as the government eased restrictions on bars, allowing them to sell craft beer even if they had previously signed exclusivity contracts. As a result, craft breweries began to pop up all over Mexico, and RateBeer now lists around 700 craft breweries in the country.
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Frequently asked questions
Mexican lager is a style of beer that is typically light in flavour and crisp, with a focus on drinkability. It is often brewed with flaked maize (corn) and can be either a pale lager or a darker Vienna lager.
Some well-known Mexican beers include Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Pacifico, Dos Equis, and Tecate.
Mexican beers are very versatile and can be paired with a variety of dishes. They go especially well with Mexican cuisine, such as tacos, ceviche, and grilled meats. They also complement spicy foods and are perfect for a summer cookout or a day at the beach.
The main difference between American lager and Mexican lager is geography and ingredients. Mexican lagers often feature flaked maize (corn) and German noble hops, resulting in a crisp and refreshing beer. They are also typically lighter in flavour and lower in bitterness compared to American lagers.
Mexican beers are best served cold and are meant to be drunk quickly. Adding a slice of lime or a squeeze of lime juice is a common way to enhance the flavour and add a zesty edge.