Beer in Mexico - Microbreweries in Mexico

Microbreweries in Mexico

Microbrews are a new and still rare phenomenon in Mexico, especially compared to countries such as the U.S., Canada and those in Europe, but they do exist. The first was established in the 1990s in Mazatlán and called Pepe's y Joe's. Later in the decade, others, such as Cervecería San Ángel and Cervecería Santa Fe Beer Factory, appeared in Mexico City. Most Mexican microbrews are exported to the U.S., as it is difficult for small breweries to compete in the Mexican market. Unlike the brands produced by Modelo and FEMSA, these breweries tend to produce ales, rather than lagers. One example is Beer Lounge, located in Guadalajara, and has the first female brewer in Mexico, Elba Copado. Consorcio Cervecero de Baja California, popularly known as Tijuana Beer, is located in the city of Tijuana and produces styles they call as "Güera"(blonde, i.e., light), "Morena" (brunette, dark) and "Light". Some, such as Cervecería Mexicana, based in Ensenada, have been bought out by foreign companies. In this case, the Mexican company was bought by Coors. Brands sold in the U.S. include Cerveza Mexicali Pale Lager and Red Pig Mexican Ale.

Cervecería Cosaco is located in Hidalgo state, and is only distributed in the Mexico City area, as it is sold only in barrels, with plans to produce bottles sometime in the future. There are two brands, Cosaco Negra and Cosaco Roja, which is a Belgian-style beer and the only one produced in Mexico.

Cervecería Calavera are bottling a very small scale production of eight beer styles, including big beers like tripel, dubbel, and imperial stout, but also many others. Also they have brewed several seasonals such as its "Yule" Christmas beer.

Cervecería Minerva in Guadalajara has achieved notoriety among the brewers of the world by winning Gold at the World Beer Cup 2010 in the category of English-Style Mild Ale for their Pale Ale. They also brew a Colonial, Stout, MalVerde and a unique Imperial Tequila Ale (ITA).