Even though the warmer weather is taking its time this year, summer is here. I declare it.
The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, and the beer is getting tastier. While I’ll never be the guy to tell you not to guzzle down your favorite barrel-aged stouts or barleywines while you sit in a lawn chair in the sun, there are probably better options available. Specifically, American craft Mexican-style beers.
Is there any beer style more refreshing or thirst-quenching than a classic Mexican-style beer? I’ll wait. But while I do, let’s answer this question. What even is a Mexican-style beer?
What is a Mexican-style beer?
For those who may not know, a Mexican-style beer is just what it sounds. A beer crafted to capture the crisp, thirst-quenching qualities of a Corona, Modelo Especial, or similar Mexican favorites. Most often, it’s a pale lager, pilsner, or Vienna lager. Typically light, highly crushable, and brewed with barley malts, corn, and other lighter grains. Thanks to German influences, these beers often showcase floral, earthy Noble hops or varieties with similar character.
And while nobody will fault you for cracking open a bottle of Pacifico Clara, Victoria, or Dos Equis, today is all about American craft beer alternatives. Lucky for you, when you’re ready for a respite from the traditional Mexican-made lagers, there is a lot to choose from by American breweries.
There are more than 9,000 breweries currently operating in the US. And while they don’t all make a Mexican-style lager, this time of year (in the ripples of Cinco de Mayo and pretty much all summer long), many do. Below, you’ll see some of the best examples of Mexican-style craft beers that are worth adding to your spring and summer coolers.
Photo via 805 Beer
Firestone Walker 805
This 4.7% ABV Mexican-style blonde ale is brewed with 2-row malt, white wheat, honey malt, and West Coast ale yeast. It gets its hop presence from the liberal use of select hops. The result is a sublimely fresh, easy-drinking beer loaded with flavors like bready malts, sweet honey, lemon peel, floral hops, and a crisp, clean finish with little to no bitterness. There are few beers better suited for warm weather drinking than this sessionable blonde ale. It’s perfectly paired with yard games and good vibes in the sun.
Photo via Great Lakes Brewing
Great Lakes Mexican Lager with Lime
Great Lakes Brewing is the type of brewery that makes nothing but memorable, flavorful beers. One of the best for warm weather is the Great Lakes Mexican Lager with Lime. This 5.4% ABV Mexican-style lager is brewed with 2-row malts, flaked corn, and Mt. Hood hops. It gets added flavor from lime peel and lime purée. This creates a zesty, balanced beer filled with flavors like bready malts, sweet corn, and tart lime. It’s crisp, citrus-driven, and perfect for a humid day spent near or floating in a large body of water.
Photo via Stone Brewing
Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager
If you only purchase one beer from this list, make it Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager. This sessionable, 4.7% ABV Mexican-style lager is brewed with simple ingredients like water, barley malt, yeast, and Liberty hops. Its unique flavor comes from lime and sea salt. This creates a memorable, refreshing beer centered on flavors like caramel malts, sweet corn, lime peels, and a gentle salinity throughout. The citrus and salt elevate this lager to epic levels, making it one of the best choices for long spring and summer days.
Photo via Ska Brewing
Ska Brewing Mexican Logger
Not only does this beer have a nice bit of wordplay humor in its name, but it’s also an absolutely must-try Mexican-style beer. Even though it’s brewed in Durango, Colorado, this is a real old-world versus new-world beer. It’s brewed with water, yeast, and hops, but the lager yeast comes from Mexico City, and the hops are German-grown Saaz hops. This is truly a hybrid of multiple brewing traditions, and you can taste it in every sip. There are notes of bready malts, sweet corn, honey, citrus peels, and floral, Noble hops. One sip and this will likely become your new go-to summer beer.
Photo via Lone Tree Brewing
Lone Tree Mexican Lager
Mexican-style lagers don’t get more classic than the aptly-named Lone Tree Mexican Lager. This award-winning 5.3% ABV lager is brewed with pale malt, yeast, and flaked corn. It’s well known for its balanced, crushable flavor profile, featuring hints of fresh-baked bread, corn sweetness, honey, lemon peels, fresh-cut grass, and floral, earthy hops. It’s crisp, thirst-quenching on a hot day, and has little to no residual bitterness at the finish. All in all, a classic beer you’ll go back to again and again. Especially on the hotter days of summer.
