Perhaps you already know that Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, when Mexican forces emerged victorious against a much larger French army. It’s a state holiday in Puebla, where it’s observed with battle reenactments, parades and special feasts.
The boisterous Cinco de Mayo celebrations you’re more familiar with are a north-of-the-border thing. Californians began celebrating the holiday in 1863, but the festivities didn’t become widespread until the mid-20th century, boosted in part by the rise of the Chicano Movement in the 1940s.
But Cinco de Mayo didn’t reach its modern level of popularity until the 1980s, when advertisers — and beer companies, in particular — began promoting it as a festival of Mexican culture, food and, of course, drinks. By 2013, Cinco de Mayo beer sales had outstripped Super Bowl and St. Patrick’s Day, fueled by the big beer companies, as well as small independent breweries here and in Mexico, which has seen a big rise in its craft beer scene in recent years.
So with that in mind, here are five beers to try for your May 5 celebration. Consider it a cinco for Cinco:
Uno — Victoria
There’s no question that the beer style that defines Mexican brews is Vienna lager. That may sound like an unlikely pairing, but Mexico was once ruled by the Austrian empire’s Maximilian I, who brought his taste for the then-new Austrian beer style, developed by Anton Dreher, when he moved to his new royal digs.
While Maxmilian’s rule was short-lived, his influence on Mexico’s beer was not: Most of the lighter colored Mexican beers you can name are Vienna lagers or they are based on that style of beer. Victoria is brewed by Mexico’s behemoth Grupo Modelo, but it’s less well-known that most of their other beers, and it’s based on an earlier recipe that is more flavorful, too. The only Grupo Modelo beer that rivals Victoria in flavor is the brewery’s dark beer, Negra Modelo.
Also good: Dos Equis Ambar and Samuel Adams Boston Lager.
Dos — 21st Amendment El Sully
Named for 21st Amendment brewmaster and co-founder Shaun O’Sullivan, El Sully is a lager brewed with a strain of yeast from Mexico, and it uses signature Vienna malt and some flaked maize. The beer has emerged as a great outdoor activity beer and all-around hot weather beer that’s perfect for the Bay Area. It’s just a touch sweet and at 4.8 percent alcohol by volume, it’s smooth and easy drinking.
Tres — Baja Brewing Mexican IPA Por Favor
You knew there had to be an IPA on the list, given that beer style’s popularity. This one has extreme bitterness, with a 7 percent ABV. Baja Brewing was founded in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, by Colorado natives Jordan Gardenhire and his father Charlie. Baja Brewing offers other styles, as well, including a blonde ale, Cabotella, and an amber ale, Pelirroja.
Cuatro — North Coast Laguna Baja
Laguna Baja, from Fort Bragg’s North Coast Brewing, is another good Vienna lager. The name and the label were inspired by the gray whales’ migration from Baja, Mexico to the Arctic and back, a distance of 10,000 to 12,000 miles. The dark amber-colored lager is their take on the Mexican-style Vienna lager that’s only 19 IBUS and 5 percent ABV, an easy-drinking, slightly sweet beer.
Cinco — East Brother Red Lager
Richmond’s East Brother Brewing Co. makes a great version of Vienna lager: Red Lager is slightly drier and less hoppy than typical lagers. It’s a low 4.6-percent ABV with aromas of brown sugar, caramel and lightly toasted bread, with only a slight amount of bitterness from Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops and mostly sweet, biscuity flavors. The finish is clean and dry.
April 28, 2021 at 02:02AM
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5 Cinco de Mayo beer picks to get you fiesta ready - Marin Independent Journal
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