MEXICAN BEER
Photo by Jake Bradley
Over the years, Mexican beer brands like Corona or XX (dos eh-keys) have appeared as special guests in many foreign series and films, and maybe in some of your own Sunday barbecues at home as well, you know them, they’re the perfect choice for your Micheladas.
But today, we are about to uncover the world of Mexican Craft Beers that are making their way into the now-popular business.
Until 2010, the two largest beer groups in Mexico, Grupo Modelo, and Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, were led by Mexican owners, but to achieve a broader level of distribution and better quality, both companies sold their shares to some other big beer monsters. Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery, now owned by Heineken, is in charge of the distribution of Heineken, Sol, Superior, XX, Indio, Tecate, Carta Blanca, Bohemia, Noche Buena, Coors Light, Kloster Light, Strongbow, and Affligem, among others. Grupo Modelo, now part of the Belgium company Anheuser-Busch InBev, controls the production of Modelo, Corona, Victoria, Pacifico native to Mazatlan Sinaloa, and the Montejo of Yucatan. In the middle of the lush vegetation of Yucatan, 50 kilometers away from the port of Progreso, Grupo Modelo produces all the Montejo beer and Modelo Especial, and Victoria and Corona only for exportation, from there the product is sent to more than 50 countries.
The cooks of the Riviera Maya and Yucatán are known for standing out in the creation of traditional dishes, achieving a unique flavor by always using high-quality ingredients. Currently in the world of breweries, local craft beers have also managed to conquer many hearts, restaurants, and bars due to their unique flavors and techniques.
It’s not always easy to choose the perfect drink when we travel to a new country, and even more so if many options are included in the menu, so today we are going to tell you a little about the local breweries from the south tip of the Mexican Country that have managed to conquer these Caribbean lands:
CHELA DE PLAYA (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS AKUMAL BREWERY)
Inspired by the breweries and gastronomy of Tijuana, Baja California, Cerveza Akumal was born from the fusion of techniques and unique flavors to create the first brewery in Quintana Roo. Cerveceria Akumal opened its brewery in Playa del Carmen, to later change its name to Chela de Playa. Committed to the environment by using biodegradable products “The Mexican Caribbean Beer” is known for its famous American Pale Ale, bringing to the palate the freshness of a Lager without losing the strength of a craft beer with enough bitterness due to the use of American hops, with citrus and caramel notes. Chela de Playa also has its Mexican version of the classic Porter style, with chocolate, caramel, toasted malt, and coffee notes. To add variety to the menu, they include a White Ale, an award-winning Kolsch-style beer and they usually have special brews according to the season.
Make sure to visit their famous brewery in Playa del Carmen or Cancún!
PESCADORES BREWERY
Brewed in Puerto Morelos and inspired by one of the oldest professions in the region. Pescadores (fishermen) is characterized by being a natural beer that does not contain chemicals or preservatives and is made up of 85% pure well water. They have a refreshing Pale Ale with citrus flavors, the Blonde Ale or Güera being a more malty and sweet brew and an Amber Ale.
Pescadores crafted a “Rainwater Lager” dedicated to raising awareness of the protection and care of nature. The main idea is that the profits can be used to clean the beaches to give back to the Mexican Caribbean community a little of what they gave them. You can visit the Pescadores Brewery and its tasting room or find it in many establishments throughout the Riviera Maya.
source: tripadvisor.com
MUNDO MAYA BREWING COMPANY
Mundo Maya was born in 2012 in Playa del Carmen, a 100% natural local product, without any type of additives or chemicals. By respecting local traditions and infusing ancient secrets Mundo Maya has created a world-class beer, and now they also feature a refreshing artisan hard seltzer. This craft beer presents four varieties of flavors, El Guerrero, with its characteristic flavor of fruit juices, Snake Head, a Vienna-style beer, La Selva, a wheat American-style, and the Jaguar Stout, a robust, creamy, and low alcohol content brew. As one of the pioneers in the world of craft breweries, you can find Mundo Maya in every corner of the Riviera.
TULUM CRAFT BEER
A unique Lager made with water from the Mexican Caribbean Sea, maintaining its nutrients and minerals, therefore, its health benefits. By drinking this beer you are helping with the protection of the aquifers and the cleaning of the Riviera Maya seas. This Caribbean Lager has a fresh flavor and a slightly bitter taste followed by tropical citrus fruit notes. Tulum Craft Beer can be found at many establishments, but at the Tulum Brewery, they provide a unique culinary experience, pairing the best flavors of Mexican cuisine, their craft beer, and organic cocktails, decorated with the unique Tulum style.
CANCÚN CRAFT BEER
Arroyo Schoener made the decision to found Cancún Brewery to continue an old family tradition. Cancún craft beer was born from the idea of creating, under the highest quality standards, an artisanal product that lives up to what Cancún represents worldwide.
So far it has 6 brew styles, starting with a Lager, Pilsen, Hefeweizen, Pale Ale, Amber Ale, and Coffee Stout, some of them with several awards won in the most critical beer competitions around the country. In addition, Cancún beers are canned. Apart from the fact that aluminum is the most recycled ecological material it keeps the beer fresh and prevents sunlight from damaging the content, reducing the risk of beer suffering from oxidation. Cancún Craft Beer can be found throughout the Riviera Maya, Cancún, and the Yucatan Peninsula.
source: l21.mx
CUERNO DE TORO CRAFT BEER
A brewery born in October 2015 in Mérida, the capital of the state of Yucatan with the intention of offering beers of the highest quality at a fair price. The original idea was conceived by the fusion of ideas of a local Chef and as a way of paying homage to the family of one of the creators by using products from the region and various malts. Its 3 specialties are the GYR OatmealSweet Stout, an Imperial Size Red Ale, and a Mexican IPA.
PUNTA SUR BREWERY
Divers and founders of Punta Sur created the first local brewery on the island of Cozumel after several years of learning from great master brewers, and experimenting with many recipes, to finally create a product they were proud of. Punta Sur is an environmentally friendly company, conscious and proactive in the treatment of its waste.
They have a Mexican version of the German Kolsch classic, fresh and light with subtle notes of fruit and a dry finish. Their specialty is a refreshing but sour beer made with lemon juice, local sea salt hand-picked in Las Coloradas Yucatan, and coriander seed. They have an IPA Bad Viz, a Belgian Saison, and the Jamaica Wheat Ale, among many others that you can try when you visit the beautiful Island of Cozumel.
LA HOLBOXEÑA
From the paradisiacal Holbox Island, in the northern state of Quintana Roo, the essence of this unique beer is the tropical flavor of roasted coconut, soft cocoa notes, and a perfect balance between the bitterness of the hops and 3 types of malts to create a Caribbean Porter. Visiting Holbox is a fabulous excuse to try this beer.
source: todobares.com
For many years, Mexican breweries have won contests around the Country and the World, little by little making their way through the Brewery world, always finding a way to reach your cooler.
To pair a perfect day in the Mexican Caribbean, there is nothing better than a cold beer, great seafood, and lots of Sun. One of the best places for an exhaustive beer testing whether local or foreign is El Club de la Cerveza and the CMC, Colectivo Mexicano Cervecero (Mexican beer collective) favorite between locals and tourists.
If you are on your way to the Riviera Maya, don’t forget that the Eating With Carmen Food Tour Team is always here to get you closer to the local culture, experience our Seafood Madness Tour, where you’ll have the opportunity to taste some of these delicious local craft beers paired with the best seafood dishes in the region with the exclusive guidance of our guides.
See you around Amigos! Salud!!!
-Abbeer.
