Moving far beyond the typical beers available at the corner store, such as Corona, Pacifico, Sol or Tecate, Mexico is now brewing up some of the finest craft beer around. As more and more breweries pop up around the country, cervezas artesanales have become much easier to track down and enjoy when you are south of the border. While large cities like Guadalajara and Mexico City are holding down a big portion of the craft beer market, the trend has been expanding to other areas of the country, too. Even if you are not able to travel to the breweries themselves, you can often find their beers in bars, eateries and specialty shops in other regions. Here are some of the most noteworthy breweries to try in Mexico:
Los Cuentos
The concept for Puerto Vallarta’s first brewery began in 2013, and after drawing cultural inspiration from travels across Mexico as well as parts of North America and Europe, the team at Los Cuentos is crafting delicious beers that reflect these various influences. Focusing on top quality ingredients and standards, these artificial preservative-free brews, particularly their IPA, will have you hooked from the first sip.
Cerveceria de Colima
Located in the mellow town of El Trapiche along the Pacific coast in the state of Colima, Cerveceria de Colima churns out handcrafted beers that are not only tasty, they are cleverly packaged with sleek-looking labels and brightly colored bottle caps that are hard to miss. Their head brewer happens to be an American expat, and the brand has done an exceptional job of marketing their brews, including a lager, pale ale and porter, to both the national and international markets.
Minerva
One of the leaders in Mexico’s artisanal beer production, Minerva boasts an impressive 30% of the market and is the country’s largest brewery. Based near Guadalajara, the company got its start in 2003 and continues to grow its presence in both the national and international scene with flavors that are rooted in Mexican tradition while displaying a distinctive European flair. Top quality ingredients and rigorous standards create seven year-round beers including an IPA and stout as well as three seasonal beers. Without a doubt the most intriguing brew on the menu is the “ITA”, which is a subtle combination of fresh hops, well-rounded malt flavors, warm oak and a touch of Mexico’s quintessential distilled beverage: tequila!
As you can see, Mexico’s beer scene has far more to offer than it did just a few short years ago, so be sure to sample a few artisanal brews the next time you visit!