Hispanics' Favorite Beer: Exploring Cultural Drinking Preferences

Mexican beers are crisp and refreshing, with a surprising amount of variety. They are typically light-bodied with a mild taste and are best served cold. The two largest beer producers in Mexico, Grupo Modelo and Cervecería Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma, control 90% of the Mexican beer market. The most popular beer in Mexico is Corona Extra, but there are also regional trends and local craft breweries. Mexican beers are also popular in the US, with Hispanics more likely to recommend Mexican beers than the general public.

Hispanics are more likely to recommend Mexican beer

Hispanics are also more likely to recommend trying Mexican liquors, such as Patron and Jose Cuervo. The survey found that 28% of Hispanics living in the US recommend Patron, compared to 18% of the general population. For Jose Cuervo, the difference in recommendation levels is nine percentage points, with 27% of Hispanics and 18% of US adults endorsing the brand.

When it comes to drinking preferences, Hispanics are more inclined to go to bars, with 39% enjoying this activity compared to 27% of the general US public. Additionally, 37% of Hispanics are happy to drink what everyone else is having, while this number is lower at 28% for all US adults.

The preference for Mexican beer among Hispanics may be influenced by cultural factors and the history of beer in Mexico. Beer has a long history in Mexico, dating back to the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. While there were fermented alcoholic beverages prior to the 16th century, the European-style beer brewed with barley was introduced by the Spanish. After the Mexican War of Independence, the beer industry was able to develop further, and German immigrants during the Second Mexican Empire contributed to the opening of many breweries.

Today, Mexican beer is known for its refreshing, bubbly, and crisp characteristics, influenced by the hot, dry climate in which it is brewed. Even dark beers, such as Modelo Negra, have a light and refreshing flavor. The best-selling beer in Mexico is Corona Extra, and it is also the most well-known Mexican beer globally. Other popular Mexican beer brands include Modelo Especial, Estrella Jalisco, Sol, Dos Equis, and Tecate.

Corona is the bestselling beer in Mexico

Hispanics in the US are more likely to recommend Corona, a Mexican beer, than any other beer. In fact, 39% of Hispanics would recommend Corona to a friend or colleague, compared to 24% of the general public. This may be because Corona is the top-selling brand of imported beer in the United States and has been since 1998. It is also the bestselling beer in Mexico, with a brand value of over $7 billion as of 2023.

Corona is a Mexican beer brand produced by Grupo Modelo and exported worldwide. It is often served with a wedge of lime or lemon in the neck of the bottle to add tartness and flavour. The recipe includes corn, barley malt, and hops. The brand's most popular variation is Corona Extra, a pale lager. Other variants include Corona Light, Corona Premier, and Corona Familiar.

Corona was created in 1925 to celebrate Grupo Modelo's tenth anniversary. It is a light straw-coloured lager with a very mild flavour, low hop bitterness, and 4.6% alcohol by volume. It is produced by eight facilities with a total capacity of 4.6 billion litres per year. Corona is available in a variety of bottle sizes, ranging from 207 ml to 940 ml. A draught version also exists, as does canned Corona in some markets.

Since the 1980s, Corona has been branded as Coronita in Spain and for smaller 210 mL bottles in Mexico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States. The name "Coronita" means "little crown" in Spanish. Despite its clear bottles, which can affect the hop oils in the beer due to sunlight exposure, Corona is the bestselling non-domestic beer in the US, the UK, and Australia. It is one of the five most-consumed beers in the world, available in more than 150 countries.

Modelo Especial is the queen of balance when it comes to Mexican beers

Modelo Especial is a well-known Mexican beer that has gained popularity both in Mexico and internationally. It was first brewed in 1925 by Grupo Modelo, a major brewery in Mexico. The beer is a Pilsner-style Lager with a clean, crisp taste. It's the second most popular beer in Mexico and the third best-selling beer in the USA for its parent company. The alcohol content of Modelo Especial is 4.4% by volume, which is relatively moderate when compared to some higher-alcohol beers on the market. This makes it a suitable choice for those wanting to enjoy a beer without the risk of quickly becoming intoxicated.

The history of beer in Mexico dates back to the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. While fermented alcoholic beverages were known in Mesoamerica long before the 16th century, the European-style beer brewed with barley was introduced with the Spanish invasion. After the Mexican War of Independence, the industry was allowed to develop, and the arrival of German immigrants in the 19th century led to the opening of many breweries across the country. Today, beer is one of the most prevalent industries in Mexico, with over 63% of the population buying one brand or another. It is also a major export, with Mexico being the largest beer exporter in the world in 2022.

When it comes to beer, Hispanics residing in the US are more likely to recommend a product from Mexico than the general public. In addition to Modelo Especial, Corona and Dos Equis are the most popular Mexican beers, with 39% and 23% of Hispanics endorsing them respectively.

Beer in Mexico is divided into two categories: clara and oscura

Claras are typically lagers or pilsners, such as Budweiser or Heineken. They are often served with a slice of lime and a sprinkling of salt, which is said to enhance the flavour of the beer. The most popular clara in Mexico is Sol, followed by Corona, Modelo, Pacifico, Tecate, and Dos Equis.

Oscuras are usually ales or bocks, and are based on traditional German recipes. They tend to have a heavier body and sweeter, grainy flavours. Victoria and Negra Modelo are two of the most popular oscuras, known for their smooth taste and lack of heavy flavours or aftertastes. Other popular options include Leon, Bohemia Oscura, and Noche Buena, which is a seasonal beer available around Christmas time.

While Mexican beers come in a variety of flavours and styles, from dense, tropical IPAs to sweet and fruity beers, the beers that are exported worldwide tend to be golden, sparkling lagers such as Corona Extra or Modelo Especial.

The michelada is a popular way to drink beer in Mexico City

At its simplest, a michelada is a beer with lime and salt. The name comes from the Mexican Spanish mi (my), chela (beer) and ada (short for helada, or cold). According to one source, the three-ingredient concoction is known as a michelada tradicional. However, micheladas can be much more complex, with the addition of salsa, nuts, candy, or even seafood.

The michelada is believed to be Mexico's first twist on a regular beer. The story goes that adding lime and salt was a way to keep flies away from your drink at the beach.

The next version to gain popularity was the michelada con clamato, which adds Clamato, a type of tomato juice. After that, the michelada cubana mixes in salsas like Worcestershire sauce, Maggi (similar to soy sauce), and hot sauces like Tabasco and Valentina.

In recent years, micheladas have become even more creative, with toppings such as chamoy (a sweet and sticky salsa made from pickled fruit), chilli powder, and even mountains of candy.

One of the most famous michelada hotspots in Mexico City is Tepito, a neighbourhood just north of the city's Centro Histórico. Tepito is known for its black market, but it's also home to a thriving michelada scene. On Sundays, the neighbourhood becomes one big street party, with vendors selling all kinds of creative micheladas.

While micheladas may be associated with Mexico's working class, they are enjoyed by people from all walks of life in Mexico City. And while they may be dismissed as a "tourist thing", they are truly a drink for locals, a rite of passage for the young and a way to unwind for the working class.

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