El Primero
Chihuahua Cerveza

 

Not sure what was wrong with this beer but it smelled of incredibly strong rotten eggs, sulfur, paper mill smell. I took just one sip (nothing noteworthy), but ultimately was scared to drink further and had to drain pour. No idea what was wrong with this beer.

L: Pours a somewhat hazy gold color with a tall head.
S: Smells rich of yeasty malts, bread, floral hops.
T: Has a very sour taste. Might be a storage issue from the store I bought it from? Tastes nothing like a lager/pilsner to me.
F: Light-bodied high carbonation, crisp.
O: Not for me.

12oz can poured into Duvel tulip. There are various numbers printed on the bottom of the can but none are clearly dates so who knows if this is still fresh. Maybe not because I bought these in late feb or early march I believe, making them at least 2 months old. Best case I'm cutting it real close. Funny how this is called Chihuahua but is made in California rather than the actual Chihuahua Desert area.

Appearance - Pours tiny head that almost instantly vanishes. Light gold body. Slightly hazy with some cloudiness. Kind of ominious. 2.25

Smell - Very musky and dusty. Getting lots of corn. Not exactly bad but on the very cusp of it. 2.25

Taste - Was almost afraid to taste it but it's actually not too bad. For an adjunct lager it's pretty in style and surprisingly comparable to the macros. 3.75

Mouthfeel - Has a nice round, medium body and is fairly smooth. 3.5

Overall - Bet this would be even better if I had it fresh instead of waiting 2+ months to crack it open. Not really a fan of the style but it's good for what it aims to be. 3.5

Not the worst I've ever had

Billed as an American made Mexican style Cerveza, was pleasantly surprised to find this locally contract brewed beer at local Grocery Outlet for $0.99 a 19.2 ounce can. Served it to my Hispanic wife and her family from Santa Barbara CA and they loved it. To me it is similar to Miller High Life with slightly more sweetness and slightly less grainy flavor. Hope it succeeds so I can support my local brewery, Fig Mountain during the pandemic, but this style has a crowded market.

Appearance:
Hazy pale yellow-gold, Head is MIA (la cabeza va rápido), Lacing? (jajajajaja!) We don't need not stinking lacing!

Aroma:
Creamy smelling malts, almost no hops. not much aroma in general. What is there is pleasant.

Flavor:
Here's where things get interesting... Dryish pilsner malts, slightly savory/umami middle (I attribute that to the Vienna malt+ pasteurization?), hops do not show up hardly at all. Mineral water and corn chips finish.

Feel:
This is where this beer excels. Light on the palate, just the right amount of carbonation for style--not too fizzy but just enough to make it not feel "flat" and no astringency or watery feel. Feels great going down. Good hot weather brew.

Overall:
A mixed bag. Plain and boring looking. Not much personality. Tastes a bit odd, but makes you feel good so you don't mind.

 

 

Solid lager! I’m not sure what I paid for the chungus sizes can (24 oz I think?) but probably about $3. Not bad for a lager that to me stands out because it’s refreshing and crisp BUT has a nice medium mouthfeel that finishes dry.

Flavors/hops are not outstanding, but there is a light hop character that compliments the biscuity/corn background.

This is a well crafted lager that straddles the line between macro and micro.

It’s worth a try if you like lagers, that’s for sure.

This just a funk fest. Not many redeeming qualities. Many other better options

I get what they are trying to do but in all honesty it’s an Americanized knock off (and not a particularly good one) of tried and true beers from Mexico. The color and appearance are fine but it’s all downhill from there. Funky coppery smell and the taste also has string metallic undertones. The feel is off as well on the palate. Go get yourself a Pacifico, Victoria or Dos Equis and you’ll be much happier