Mexican Beers: Una Mas, Por Favor

Mexican Beer Goes Great with Many Snacks and Meals

In Mexico, as in the US, beer drinking is commonly done at social gatherings and sporting events.  But it's also nice to crack open an icy-cold beer on a hot day, or to have one with a meal. In the US, beer is normally the beverage of choice when dining on pizza, chicken wings, or a thick, juicy steak or hamburger.  The same holds true in Mexico. Mexican beer is also great with nachos, tacos, ceviche, or any dish that is hot and spicy.

Photo courtesy of Sol

Mexico has Two Major Breweries

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Micheladas & Cheladas: Alternatives to Drinking a Regular Beer

Instead of drinking a normal beer, you can have a michelada or a chelada. These are beverages made by adding ingredients to beer. To make a michelada, add tomato juice, worchestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper to a beer (this is best with pilsners or lagers). Serve over ice, in a glass with a salted rim. Cheladas are simply lime juice and ice added to a beer; served in a glass with a salted rim. 

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Tecate, Sponsor of Major Sporting Events in Mexico and the US

In Mexico, beer is called "cerveza", but a slang term for beer is "chela". Tecate is a cerveza, originally made in the town of Tecate, on the Baja Peninsula. It is gaining in popularity, due to its sponsorship of sports teams and sporting events. This beer is normally found in cans, rather than bottles. Beer is normally served in bottles or cans, in Mexico, as beer on tap is not popular there. 

Photo courtesy of Tecate

Sol Often has Sexy Ads

Corona, a pilsner with "golden texture and flavor", is the most well-known and best-selling beer in Mexico but, surprisingly, when you walk into bars in Mexico, you don't always see people drinking Corona. Normally, you see Mexicans drinking Sol or Dos Equis. Sure, in Mexico, you see people drinking Corona quite often and there are bars that exclusively serve Corona, but it seems like Sol and Dos Equis give Corona a run for its money.

Photo courtesy of Sol

Facts About Mexican Beer

Sol began selling beer in large bottles, known as "caguamas", in the 1960s and they called it a "family size" bottle. Light beer (low-calorie beer) is not popular in Mexico. The microbrewery craze never really took off in Mexico, but there are a few around. Of all beer exported from Mexico, 80% of it goes to the US. By 1918, Mexico had as many as 36 breweries, but they consolidated to form the two beer companies that exist today. 

Photo courtesy of Susan R. Vincil

Dos Equis Has Been Around Since 1897

Prior to the invasion by the Spanish, Mexicans drank "fermented alcoholic beverages" but it wasn't until German immigrants arrived, in the 1800s, that "European-style" beer was created. Dos Equis Ambar has been produced since 1897. The original name for the beer was Siglo XX (Twentieth Century), with the Roman numeral for twenty. Sol was originally produced in the 1890s also, but they later stopped production of the beer, until 1993.

Photo courtesy of Susan R. Vincil

Most Mexican Beers are Pilsners

Most of the beers produced in Mexico are light-bodied pilsners that are light in color and have a mild taste, with very little hops flavor. Only Negra Modelo, Leon Negra, Dos Equis Ambar, and Noche Buena (literally means "good night", but also means "Christmas Eve"; this beer is only available around the holidays) are dark, "Vienna-style" beers. All Mexican beers are meant to be drunk cold.

Photo courtesy of Susan R. Vincil

Corona is Known for Their Clever Ads

Corona spares no expense when it comes to marketing and advertising their products. They have clever ads and television commercials that normally have a beautiful tropical locale as the backdrop. They make you want to go on vacation or, at the very least, feel like drinking a Corona is a completely relaxing experience.    

Photo courtesy of Corona

Corona is the Most Popular Mexican Beer in the World.

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