Beer is one of Mexico’s most prominent exports, and with good reason. Mexican beer is usually balanced and enjoyable to drink. So here’s a list of the best Mexican beers that you should know about.
In the past, Mexican beer was only brewed by the “Big Two,” Grupo Modelo or Cervecería Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma. Now there is an increasing number of microbreweries that have increased the variety of Mexican beers available. These new brews are popular choices in Mexico as well as around the world.
Dark or light, lime or no lime, Mexican beers are some of the best the world has to offer. So whether you’re vacationing there, purchasing beers to enjoy at home, or looking for a drink to go with some mahi-mahi tacos or chicken enchiladas at your favorite restaurant, Mexican beers are an excellent choice.
Mexico’s 11 Best Beers
If you want a taste of Mexico’s best, here are 11 excellent options, including bocks, Pilsners, IPAs, and lagers. These popular Mexican beers are perfect when paired with your favorite foods or on their own.
Find them on Drizly and get them delivered to your home within a few hours!
1. Negra Modelo
A well-loved brew by Grupo Modelo, Negra Modelo has more of a kick than many Mexican beers, which can tend to be lower in alcohol. Negra Modelo has a 5.4 percent ABV and a delicious blend of caramel, black malts, and Galena hops. It’s a dark brew, but like most Mexican beers, not heavy.
2. Corona
Mexico’s best-selling beer is Corona, best consumed along Mexico’s sunny Yucatan Peninsula or anywhere with sunshine and water. This light brew can be paired up with a lime wedge or enjoyed Michelada-style with tomato juice, hot sauce, and spices. Introduced to America in 1979, Corona and its amber cousin, Victoria, are among favorite imports in the U.S.
3. Pacifico
Another Grupo Modelo option is Pacifico, one of the most popular imported beers along the west coast of the United States. Crisp, light in color, and mildly sweet, Pacifico has an ABV of 4.5 percent. Its name may sound ocean-inspired, but it comes from cerveceria in Mazatlan, where it was first brewed in 1900.
4. Estrella Jalisco
A Grupo Modelo brewed 100 years in the making, Estrella Jalisco is a pale golden Pilsner with a 4.5 percent ABV. This clean, crisp beer is refreshing and light with no aftertaste. First brewed in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Estrella Jalisco, Spanish for “Star of Jalisco,” is one of Mexico’s most popular beers. And now, thanks to Drizly, you can get it delivered at home within a few hours.
5. Dos Equis
Translated to “Two X’s,” Dos Equis was originally named Siglo XX, with Siglo meaning “century” and the two X’s as Roman numerals for “20.” It was brewed originally as a tasty way to herald the 20th century. Dos Equis comes in Amber and Clara, which has a green bottle. Both are delicious and flavorful. It’s a great way to toast the 20th century in the 21st.
6. Tecate
Known for its sponsoring of sports teams, including three of Mexico’s most famous soccer teams, Chivas, Tigres, and Rayados, Tecate is no lightweight when it comes to flavor. Even Tecate Light has plenty of taste from its blend of hops and malts. It gets its name from Tecate, the Baja city where it has been brewed since 1944.
7. Modelo Especial
A crisp and balanced beer, Modelo Especial may be the most popular of the Grupo Modelo’s brews. It is lightly hopped with a hint of honey and citrus and an ABV of 4.4 percent. It was first brewed in 1925 in Tacuba, a city in northwest Mexico, and is very flavorful.
8. Carta Blanca
Cervecería Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma’s first premium beer, Carta Blanca is an American-style lager with an ABV of 4.5 percent. It’s known for its golden color and balanced flavor. One of Mexico’s oldest beer brands, this Pilsner-style brew is smooth and easy to drink, so add it to your list of Mexican beers.
9. Bohemia Oscura
With Oscura meaning “dark” in Spanish, you can tell Bohemia Oscura probably includes black malts. A bock-style Cerveza Bohemia Oscura is a hoppy blend of caramel and black malts with notes of coffee and nuts. Bohemia’s moniker comes from the Czech region by the same name. Bohemia has been brewed since 1905 and also has Weizen and Pilsner versions.
10. La Lupulosa
This brew by Tijuana-based Mexican craft brewery Cerveceria Insurgente is an IPA with an ABV of 7.3 percent. Citrusy like an IPA, La Lupulosa has a bitter aftertaste. Its name comes from “lupulo,” Spanish for “hop,” and it doesn’t disappoint those who enjoy hoppy IPAs.
11. Noche Buena
Spanish for “good night,” Noche Buena is brewed by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma. A German-style bock, Noche Buena has a reddish-brown color and a delicious malty caramel flavor with a hoppy finish. Its ABV is 5.9 percent. Noche Buena is a special edition beer explicitly crafted for Christmastime, so it’s usually only available from October to December.
Salud! Final Thoughts on Mexico’s Best Beers
That’s how to propose a toast in Mexico. Salud in Spanish means “To your health.”
BrewPublik is happy to lift a glass to Mexican beer, which is some of the most delicious cerveza the world has to offer.
Don’t think Mexican beer is only light and best for hot days or with tortilla chips and salsa. While Mexico does produce light and refreshing beers that are perfect for enjoying during warm weather, its cervecerias brew a variety of delicious beers.
Whether you like light, refreshing lagers and Pilsners, hoppy IPAs, or dark bocks, you’ll find the beers of Mexico to be among your favorites. Savor them on their own or pair them with foods – Mexican beers are a natural choice with tacos and seafood and grilled meats and vegetables. No matter how you enjoy it, we think you’ll find Mexican beer to be among the best the world has to offer.
If you enjoyed this list of Mexican beer brands, make sure you check out our best Korean beers!