Beer in Mexico - Beer Drinking Habits in Mexico

Beer Drinking Habits in Mexico

Mexican beer is distinctive for its lager-like properties, being generally light-bodied with a mild taste and is meant to be drunk cold. Most beer is sold in 325ml bottles called "medias" in the popular slang, with certain brands, such as Tecate and Modelo Especial often sold in cans. In Mexico, most bottled beer is sold in returnable bottles, the deposit for which can be almost the price of the beer itself. but certain brands, such as Corona and Victoria, are available in large bottles of 925 or 940ml. The slang term for these are caguamas (sea turtles) or in some parts, like Mazatlán, ballenas (whales), but usually referring to the Pacifico brand. This type of bottle was first introduced in Mexico in 1960 along with the six-pack, often referred to in Mexico as a "six". Very little beer in Mexico is served on tap.

There is some debate as to whether it is authentically Mexican to drink beer with lime. It is common to serve light Mexican beers in North America and Europe with a wedge of lime on the bottle and/or squeezed down the neck. The practice is less common in Mexico, outside the tourist areas. Stories as to how this tradition came to pass are also debatable. Some state that a wedge of lime was put on bottled beer like Corona to disinfect the rim or to keep flies from landing on it. Another story states that when Corona was first introduced to the U.S., sales were poor and a lime was added in the marketing, which helped sales.

However, beer is commonly drunk with lime juice in Mexico. A beer cocktail called a michelada consists of light beer with lots of lime juice and salt, and can include chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce or tomato juice. As with a margarita, the salt is generally placed on the rim of glass. Another, less common version of the drink adds Clamato (clam/tomato juice). The name michelada comes from the phrase mi chela helada (my beer, ice cold). In many places also are found variants which include shrimp or seafood, pineapple and so on.

While many trends in the United States become popular in Mexico, some, such as beer on tap, do not. Another trend that has not proven successful in Mexico is that of light beer. Despite Corona Light being the best-selling imported light beer in the United States, sales of Corona Light in Mexico have been dismal. Grupo Modelo introduced the product after having success with exports. The beer was introduced with television ads and featured in two for one specials at many bars. However, light beer is generally not favored in Mexico, with the exception of Tecate Light in the north. With poor sales, Corona Light is rarely found in Mexico other than a few select places. A recent trend amongst young adults has created a niche for light beers and most "hip" bars usually stock at least one brand of light beer, this is not however common outside of large cities.