The "craft Mexican Lager" craze...

It isn't.

 

A Veiled version? I see what you did there. I kinda wondered the same thing. I'm not sure why they do that. Who wants to pay $12/4pk for a craft Corona?

 

Not like I expect it would have taco seasoning in it, but I'd expect that it would remind me of some lager(s) that are uniquely Mexican. Are there any Mexican lagers with a uniquely Mexican flavor profile?

 

I have been drinking Epics Mexican lager which is brewed with lime and sea salt. It is different but I keep picking up another 6 pack every time when I run out. It is unexpectedly addictive.

 

I see two varieties of "craft Mexican lagers" out there. We have the "craft Coronas" such as Ska Mexican Logger, which are sometimes brewed with adjuncts (Mexican Logger isn't). Nothing particularly "Mexican" about them, just very dry, easy drinking pale lagers. And then we have the darker lagers, such as Oskar Blues Beerito, which are a homage to Mexico's tradition of brewing Vienna Lager-like beers. Craft version of Negra Modelo and the like. Both styles will be in rotation this summer!

 

I wasn't aware there were that many Mexican Lager beers out there. I suppose I tend to skip over them and look for beers that suit my taste buds better. So many good things that I don't have to give my money or taste buds over to styles I don't much care for.

That said, we still don't even have many breweries popping out NE IPAs around here.... Funny to read posts and rants about breweries only doing one or two styles, when others get one or two annual releases if they're lucky.

 

Well stated.
I'm on the fence with these things myself (whichever version we are talking about). While its nice to see a craft brewery show off their skills, I find it hard to choose these beers when in a multi-selection craft environment.
However, if they could get these beers into a decent Mexican restaurant I may select them over the Coronas and Negra Modelos (which I kind of enjoy in these environments).

 

$12

 

What craze??

 

Bear Republic has had a Mexican Lager called El Oso for a long time. Five or six years, at least. I've always kind of thought that they originated the idea, or at least thought it up by themselves. I was kind of surprised when I started seeing them pop up at other breweries.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/610/12665/

Turns out they've been brewing it for 14 years, so maybe they were the first.

 

Gladly! Plus a mezcalito on the side, por favor.

 

Mexican lager is stupid either way you slice it. Either it's just a Vienna lager, or it's just an American pale lager. There is nothing special or particular to Mexican lagers. That does not mean they are bad beers (I quite like Negra Modelo and Victoria), but if we are going to complain about New England IPA being a style, we should be starting a war over Mexican lagers being a style all their own.

 

I'm on board with the craft Mexican lager, if you keep in mind that what you're getting won't taste particularly "Mexican" (whatever tasting Mexican may be). What we're looking at are German lagers interpreted by Mexican brewers, and then reinterpreted by American craft brewers. Which can certainly result in tasty, drinkable brews which are not too different than other American craft lagers. But if you're thinking of a lime-tequila-taco flavored beer, than you're barking up the wrong tree.

 

A few that I can think of are 21st Amendment - El Sully, Epic - Los Locos, Stony Creek - La Garza, Banded Horn - Wicked Bueno, all yellow light lagers, and Oskar Blues - Beerito in the Vienna style. I might have even seen others that I'm forgetting. I think they are mostly good easy drinking beers, though nothing I would get excited about. The Epic is a pretty unique take actually with the lime and sea salt added on top of the malty lager base.

 

I love Oscar Blues Beerito, horrible name, bad marketing. Excellent interpretation of a Vienna Lager which is all I care about

 

I had no idea that this was a thing...

 

I'm a big fan of fresh Flying Dog Numero Uno Mexican Cerveza. Very easily drinkable, refreshing and tasty without anything "extreme" to it. I periodically buy to mix in with other summer/lighter beer styles.

 

Define craft. I happen to like Dos Equis with my Mexican, so are you defining craft as lower volume and availability?

 

As I just finished a Von Trapp Vienna lager which was great - and I just returned from Boston the other day and I can honestly say the best beer I had was a Boston Lager at the Punter's Pub before going into the MFA Boston - I love a good Vienna lager and I buy OB Beerito whenever I see it. Which isn't enough unfortunately.