======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ==== ======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ====
As a red blooded American born and raised in the bosom of the Santa Monica Bay, I consider myself somewhat of an authority on Mexican beers. I spent countless nights with dumbass high school buddies crushing cervezas that were stolen and/or consensually donated from my father’s stash in the garage fridge. When I moved to the Midwest to attend a large state school, I quickly realized that while the endless supply of Natural Light would intoxicate my body and mind, they did nothing for my soul. Each sip of a cheap domestic garbage-beer grabbed from an ice-filled trash can in a fraternity annex left me empty inside, I yearned for a beer with personality and panache.
Once I turned 21 and started bringing my own supply of Mexican imports to football blocks, I regained a piece of my identity that I’d barely known was missing. With a dark Mexican beer bottle in my hand I was whole again, and my spirit rejoiced. Whenever I have a cerveza in my hand, I feel like I’m back home with sand between my toes, a spliff tucked behind my ear, the salty spray of the mighty Pacific Ocean on my face and the smog-tinted Southern California sun beating down on my shoulders. A Mexican beer puts you in a carefree, tropical state of mind, no matter the weather forecast. So here is my ranking of the best beers from our southern brethren.
Corona
Due to sheer popularity and years of intelligent branding, this is almost always the first (and often times the last) Mexican beer sampled by American drinkers. It’s the Mexican import equivalent of jean jackets and Converse sneakers on a bar patio: basic as hell. Just because it’s the first Mexican beer you try, does that mean it’s the best? Probably the fuck not. In my experience, a Corona tastes good for a maximum of three sips. Once you take that third sip, the beer has become nauseatingly lukewarm and it becomes an actual chore to finish. Another major demerit on this beer’s ranking is that unlike other Mexican beers, Corona is absolutely undrinkable without a lime. I refuse to put that clear bottle to my lips if I don’t have a lime wedge floating in the beer, and I immediately lose all respect for any establishment that gives me a Corona without a lime. Seriously? Where the fuck are we, North Korea? I just gave you legal tender for this beer and you’re going to give it to me without a goddam lime? Get it together, we’re not animals.
Dos XX
Another beer that relies on clever branding and entertaining marketing campaigns to mask its lackluster taste. This is a six pack that I will grab from a gas station beer cave when I am running late to a pregame and can’t find a more preferable cerveza. This beer isn’t good or bad, it just simply is. Its another import that is a little grody when even slightly warm, but on the plus side it is surprisingly drinkable without a lime. Suck it, Corona.
Tecate
The former official beer sponsor of the SCORE Baja 1000 (a badass non-stop offroad race through the Mexican desert that is covered extensively in the highly recommended 2005 documentary Dust To Glory) is a tried and true pack-the-cooler cerveza. One of the original Mexican imports sold in a can in the US, this is a great beer to stuff in your Yeti for a day of aggressive outdoor raging and snappa tournaments with a rowdy crew of friends. Due to the effortless drinkability of this canned brew, Tecate has always stood out to me as the superior Mexican import for drinking games.
Modelo
NOW we’re cooking with fire. This is just a damn good cerveza, plain and simple. Modelo is easy to drink, it’s enjoyable with or without a lime, and there’s just something about that gold foil on the neck of the bottle that tickles my fancy. For whatever reason, Modelo always jumps out at me as the best beer pairing for authentic Mexican food. Whenever I’m at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint, I like to wash down my 3 enchilada combo and à la carte chile relleno with an ice cold Modelo draft. I also respect the fact that I’ve never seen a Modelo commercial, yet they’re still one of the top selling Mexican beer in the US. They’ve built a sterling reputation on nothing but great beer, word-of-mouth, and a UFC sponsorship deal. Keep doing you, Modelo. Don’t ever change.
Pacifico
*Cue ‘Undisputed’ by Ludacris*
This is it. The King of Mexican imports. The Crown Jewel of Mazatlán. In the 1970s, reputation of this legendary beer made its way to the US in the back of a surf van when a few SoCal surfers returned from a trip to Baja. I toast the souls of those stoned, sunburned heroes every time I press one of those beautiful amber bottle to my lips. With a delectable bitterness and a lingering aftertaste, this crisp lager makes you feel like on the deck of a panga off the coast of Cabo even when you’re stuck in a bar during a Midwest snowstorm in fucking March. Whether you’re sipping tall boys at a backyard cookout or throwing an armful of 24oz pounders into a Trader Joe’s bag as you run out the door to a tailgate, Pacifico is always the move. So the next time you’re looking for the perfect beer, follow in the footsteps of the West Coast titans who wrote the book on being chill as fuck. You’ll thank me later..
Respond
Came here to see Pacifico at No. 1, left happy.
Pacifico in the yellow can is the most aesthetically pleasing beer of all time.
I hear the fish bite better when you’ve got at least 12 of those in the boat
Am I the only who’s seen a ton of Modelo commercials? I agree with these rankings though
They’re great commercials too.
Ironically I saw my first one last night. Apparently the word on Modelo is out
opposite of import beer, but if you’ve ever had a Sol in Mexico you can’t deny it’s not half bad
Some driver who took my family from the airport to our hotel wouldn’t let my dad buy anything but sol when we stopped at a small store. it was an enjoyable beer
Indio is a great beer to grab at an Oxxo as well
Did you know Mexican beers originally had a lime in the top to keep flies out?
Also, Pacifico is great with tacos but few things are more refreshing than an ice cold Dos you pulled out of a cooler next to a body of water. (Agree about it tasting like horse piss when it’s warm though)
Dos with a lime all day
Pacifico and Modelo both make great Micheladas.
As a Mexican American born in Texas, this is a solid list. Here’s my list.
My Go to beer: Dos XX
Best tasting: Victoria, Pacifico
Best cheap Mexican beer: Sol
Best pool beer: Tecate can
Best full flavored beer: Bohemia, Negra Modelo
THIS is a solid list. Not that I will ever complain about drinking Tecate or Sol, but there’s Mexican beer beyond the gold ones, and Victoria is the absolute shit.
Bless you. Was just waiting to see if someone was going to mention Victoria. A damn tasty beer.
*makes beer list in phone*
Try Modelo with a lemon… picked up that trick while workin in the warehouse with the boys
You might be on to something
facts. blessings from texas