The Best Mexican Craft Beers in 2023
It is no secret that Mexicans enjoy a good beer, and over the years, the quantity and quality of craft breweries in Mexico has increased. For this reason, we have created this list of the best Mexican craft beers in 2022.
Certainly, there are many fabulous and delicious beers out there and we cannot name them all. So, we decided to give you the best 11 recommendations that you definitely must not miss when you go to Mexico.
Craft Beer #1: Chocolate by Jack
I must start with this beauty: Chocolate Jack is my favorite! It’s slightly toasted, with a hint of coffee, notes of chocolate, hazelnuts, and milk. Its aroma is intense and in the mouth it is soft and creamy making for a perfect balance on the palate. I really love this one because it’s almost as creamy as a shake.
You got to try it with a Mexican mole. You can also pair it with game, such as venison or armadillo, a rib-eye, or any strong-flavored steak.
Degree of alcohol: 7.5%
Style: Sweet Stout
IBU: N/A
Website: Jack
Craft Beer #2: Páramo by De Colima
Softly sweet. Tasting it highlights a prominent bitterness with a range of flavors from the three types of malt used to make it: pale ale, Vienna, and caramel. As you approach the glass, you are caught by tropical aromas, citrus, and passion flowers.
You should have a glass of this delicious beer with a cheeseburger, pork belly brochettes, or cochinita pibil.
Degrees of alcohol: 5.2%
Style: Pale Ale
IBU: 38
Website: Colima
Craft Beer #3: Bocanegra Dunkel by Bocanegra
De-li-cious! You will taste clove, orange, and even some sweetness that will remind you of banana bread. This is because its personality defines the aromas of ripe bananas and chocolate.
A perfect choice to pair with pork, roasted red meats, German sausages, and chocolate desserts.
Degrees of alcohol: 5%
Style: Dunkel Weizen
IBU: 15
Website: Bocanegra
Craft Beer #4: Foca Parlante by Wendlandt
You pour the beer into a glass and you see its dark brown color. You put the glass to your nose to distinguish the aromas of coffee and burnt caramel. From the first sip, you will taste a creamy mixture of toasted malt with oats, coffee, vanilla, and herbs. Then you will wonder “What is tastier than this?”.
You can pair it with seafood, oysters, aged cheeses, charcuterie, and chocolate-coffee-based desserts.
Degrees of alcohol: 5.5%
Style: Stout – American
IBU: 38
Website: Wendlandt
Craft Beer #5: IPA by Minerva
It’s bittersweet liquid poetry!
Its bitterness will leave in the mouth a memorable taste. Its pronounced fruity aroma and fresh citrus are elegantly balanced between the selected hop mixture and the sweetness of the special malt.
Perfect to accompany stews with cheese, pork rinds in green salsa, mashed potatoes, and tamales of mole with cream and cheese. You can also prepare a cheese board; any Mexican cheese combines very well with this beer.
Degrees of alcohol: 6.5%
Style: Indian Pale Ale
IBU: 55
Website: Minerva
Craft Beer #6: Penélope by Fauna
A delicious morning coffee in a bottle. It has a deep dark color, medium-bodied, coffee latte aroma, and toasted malts in taste.
Perfect pairing: Desserts + Penélpe = BFF. The best example would be a chocolate cheesecake, caramel, almonds, and nuts.
Degrees of alcohol: 6.2%
Style: Coffee Porter
IBU: 32
Website: Fauna
Craft Beer #7: Dark Lycan by Fauna
Dark Lycan is a hoppy, delicious, dark, and robust beer. It has a medium body, with flavors of citrus, pine, and blackberries. This delight takes us on a journey to the night forest from the first time it touches your palate.
It is recommended to accompany pork, beef cuts, and burgers.
Degrees of alcohol: 8%
Style: Black IPA
IBU: 50
Website: Fauna
Craft Beer #8: Lágrimas Negras by Rámuri
Beautiful and strong notes of coffee in its aroma. Slightly toasted character and an absolute creamy body. This beer is flavored with chocolate.
Lágrimas Negras isa black beer that has earned a great reputation, not only nationally but internationally. A perfect beer to accompany a dessert or to be converted into a dessert.
Degrees of alcohol: 10%
Style: Stout – Oatmeal
IBU: 65
Website: Rámuri
Craft Beer #9: Afortunada by Fortuna
Light, refreshing, and perfect for a sunny day. This delicious wheat beer has these delicate bananas, cloves, and spices aromas.
The perfect companion for charcuterie, bread, salads, seeds, semi-hard cheeses such as gouda or provolone, fish, and seafood.
Degrees of alcohol: 4.8%
Style: Hefe Weizen
IBU: 15
Website: Fortuna
Craft Beer #10: Winter Ale by Chaneque
Its soft creaminess will make you drink more than one. It is a tremendous mix of flavors between piloncillo, burnt sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, star anise, tejocote, and caramel. Its reddish color and light body give it a lot of elegance.
You can pair it with Christmas dinner and enjoy your family.
Degrees of alcohol: 6%
Style: Winter Ale
IBU: 6
Website: Tienda Chaneque
Craft Beer #11: Arrogante by El Secreto 1881
If you’re a bittersweet chocolate lover… this is the perfect beer for you. Arrogante is one of the darkest and most delicious Mexican craft beers you can drink. Its foam is beautifully dense and its flavor strong. It has delicious notes of coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and nuts.
Perfect pairing with grilled steak, desserts such as tarts or brownies, cheese boards, and nuts.
Degrees of alcohol: 8%
Style: Imperial Stout
IBU: N/A
Website: El Secreto 1881
To Sum Up
The craft beers are here to stay. There is a huge market for craft beer lovers just like us, and luckily every day they make them better.
These 11 beers are a Mexican treasure that you can’t miss if you visit the Aztec country. But… I have good news for you, some of these beers also have international shipments!
I hope you liked this post. I invite you to learn more about Mexican food here at Chef’s Pencil. And don’t forget to let us know which of these beers you’ve craved the most.
