Mexican beers are usually associated with vacations and summertime. Oftentimes they’re light, pale, very crisp lagers that are enjoyed best with a lime.
Mexico’s beers have a lot more than that going on. Most Mexican beers can be divided into Clara (pale) or Obscura (dark).
Today, I’m going to highlight both some fantastic beers produced in Mexico and some great American craft beers that have made in Mexican style.
1. Beerito Vienna Lager
Brewery : Oskar Blues
Beer brewing in Mexico has its roots in the German Vienna lager.
Oskar Blues pays tribute to Mexican-style beer and the Vienna lager with Beerito, a deliciously balanced and refreshing brew.
It’s very smooth and nicely carbonated. Flavor notes of caramel, toasty malt, a little bit of toffee can be picked up, along with a hint of grassy hops.
This beer, in true Mexican style, is great for sipping poolside.
The hint of malt balances nicely with the subtlety of the hops to create a beer that is extremely smooth and crisp.
2. El Sully
Brewery : 21st Amendment
El Sully, by 21st Amendment, is incredibly crushable. It’s classified as an American adjunct lager, but has a lot going on for it than that and compares well as a Vienna Lager.
While the flavor profile is mild and smooth, as is common in Mexican beers, it’s got flavors of honey, corn, grain, and a bit of floral hop bitterness.
The sweetness in the corn and honey flavors in the malt balance quite well with the little bit of grassy and herbal bitterness from the hops.
You’ll be able to sit with a case of these at the beach and just have a good day.
3. Negra Modelo
Negra Modelo basically dominates dark beer sales in Mexico. This is the dark beer of Mexico.
It’s classified as a Munich Dunkel lager, and exudes characteristics of a Dunkel with toasty malt flavors and aromas.
It’s dark brown, highly carbonated, and very malty.
You’ll get flavors of toasty malt and hints of coffee, caramel and floral hops.
This beer has a fantastic balance of sweetness and bitterness and pairs amazingly well with the spice of great Mexican food.
4. Corona Extra
Though Corona Extra often gets overlooked, I will maintain that it’s a good easy-drinking, crushable beer.
Best with a lime wedge stuffed in the bottle or on the rim of your glass, a Corona is a fantastic summertime beer.
There is a hint of salt in this beer that pairs well with the lime, and the light toasted malty lager flavors of this very pale brew.
The beer itself is not exactly bursting with character, but combined with the lime, it comes out as very effervescent and refreshing.
A Corona Extra has it’s place and is an ideal beer for a scorching hot day at the beach or swimming hole.
5. Mexican Cake
Brewery : Westbrook Brewing
This American Imperial Stout isn’t from Mexico, though it delivers some great Mexican flavors.
Westbrook brews this strong 10.5% ABV stout beer in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
Mexican Cake is full of delicious coffee, cinnamon, and chocolate flavors that balance a heavy dose of habanero peppers.
The heat from the habanero peppers is very present and intense without being so overpowering as to require another drink to wash it down.
This amazing combination of sweetness, bitterness, and heat make a great complement to any Mexican dish.
6. Indio
Indio Vienna Lager is very smooth, moderately carbonated, and crisp, making it an easily drinkable beer.
It pours a light coppery amber color with slight hints of red. You get a good aroma of biscuit, honey, and caramel.
The flavors are subtle, as is common in Mexican beer, of toasty malts and light, floral hops.
This beer goes down smooth and finishes crisp and dry.
7. Numero Uno Summer Cerveza
Brewery : Flying Dog Brewery
Flying Dog brewed this Mexican style American adjunct lager with sea salt, agave nectar, and lime peels.
This beer has a delightful Mexican flare to it, with the lime and salt playing together well.
Flavors of corn, biscuit-like malts, and citrus and peppery hops are present throughout.
This beer comes off as very crisp, refreshing, and bright.
8. Victoria
Brewery : Grupo Modelo
Victoria is another Vienna-style lager out of Southern Mexico.
This beer boasts flavors of apple butter, star fruit, orange, and honey.
It pours light amber and very fizzy with a slight head that dissipates quickly.
Victoria has flavors of caramel, toasty bread-like malts, and grass hops. There’s a bit of a sticky caramel sweetness that lingers around throughout. It’s got some mineral notes that hard to pinpoint.
Overall, this is a decent Mexican beer that is fairly easy drinking and full of flavor.
9. Tecate
Tecate is classified as an American adjunct lager.
It’s refreshing and easy-drinking, perfect for drinking poolside or at the beach on a hot summer’s day.
You’ll get some notes of corn and honey as well as a light malty backbone.
Tecate has a very crisp finish and smooth, carbonated body that makes it impeccably refreshing.
10. Los Locos Lager
Brewery : Epic Brewing
Los Locos pours a hazy golden color.
The aromas are of corn, wheat, and lime with maybe a hint of lemon.
This very light and refreshing American adjunct lager is perfect for a backyard barbecue or a day out on the lake.
The flavor is sweet and malty without much hop. You get a good balance in flavors of salt and lime, which is just what you want in a good Mexican-style summer drinker.
The finish on this is very smooth, crisp, and dry.
Wrap up
Mexican beers have their roots in Germany, typically being milder versions of Vienna lagers.
Usually with a very low hop profile these beers are brewed to be very smooth and easy drinking.
Next time you’re headed to the pool, beach, or just stocking up for a backyard barbecue, check out the Mexican beer section of your local bottle shop.
pYou will be happy to find some beers that very smooth, carbonated, and thirst-quenching.
