Paste magazine blind tasting Mexican lager

Maybe I missed it in the article but what defines a beer as being a "Mexican lager"? Needless to say but based upon the beers entered in the tournament it is not defined as a lager brewed in Mexico.

Cheers!

 

When I had Famosa in 2011, I ended up drain pouring it. Shrugs .

 

But that was before the PR this beer was provided in Paste Magazine: “But we wouldn’t be surprised if the Cult of Famosa begins to grow in the U.S., in the next few years.”

That beer will taste ‘better’ in 2018 doncha think?

Cheers!

 

I haven't seen it locally in years so I probably won't be able to say, either way.
Btw, I was rooting for Bohemia.

 

Ehhh, Negra Modelo doesn't qualify? It would easily win against that opposition

 

I reckon their Especial would be a better fit and might have been a real contender.

 

Me gusta mucho Beerito.

 

A mi también, but seems the contest is about "light" Mexican lagers

 

They could've saved a lot of time and effort by just asking me for the top two, Bohemia Pilsner and Modelo Negra. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

They say that they're only doing pale lagers in the article. No dark beers were admitted.

Especial is in there, OP just linked to the second page of the article, which misses out on the first round. Modelo Especial lost to Imperial in round one.

They note it in the article, but imagine my total lack of surprise that the two hoppiest beers came in first and second. Some of the time in this tasting they were going according to style, but mostly they're obviously going on enjoyment alone. Obviously Famosa and Bohemia aren't overly hoppy in comparison to most other beers, but it speaks to the issue that just because something is the hoppiest and most flavorful, people will think it's better, even blind, even in a style that's supposed to be about drinkability and balance (I'm referring to the adjunct lager style, not "Mexican lager," since I refuse to admit that it is a style all its own, either light or "negra"); they even say that Bohemia is the more balanced of the two in the final, with Famosa winning for the "more robust flavor profile," which seems like the opposite of what should happen since drinkability is the number one most important characteristic of the adjunct lager.

I haven't had most of these, so my gripes are mainly on the information the article gives me. I'll probably try them at some point just to be able to speak from experience about them. I remember enjoying Victoria and Pacifico when I had them. They aren't great, but they're fine on a hot day or in a Mexican restaurant. The way Paste does these, with little regard for style (except sometimes, randomly), is just irritating to me since it's an inconsistent methodology with no real consistency since there's no foundation for the results, and certainly nothing that anyone can extrapolate from it besides these specific people preferred, on enjoyment alone, these specific bottles of these beers on this day, and that's useless beyond being a slightly interesting read and a very, very rough guide for which beers one might be interested in.

 

Famosa over Bohemia? What a joke. Almost as funny as LandShart over Carta Blanca. Love me some Carta Blanca. Pacifico is a good alternative. If it were my personal (non-blind, non-braketed) list it would go something like

1. Carta Blanca
2. Pacifico
3. Tecate
4. Bohemia
   
5. Victoria
6. Modelo Negro
7. Mexicali
   
8. Modelo Especial
9. the rest of them

Don't forget Ska Mexican Logger if we're talkin' nouveau/craft Mexican lager

Truth. Thank you for saving me the effort.

 

This must've been an awful experience. And pretty pointless. All those beers are terrible!

 

One way of looking at it, if you are in a mexican restaurant, and are looking for a decent beer to try, remember this article. Having had most of those I would pretty much agree down to Bohemia losing. And as @Squire said if you find yourself in a mexican restaurant, get Bohemia or Negra Modelo (for some reason I always thought this as a vienna lager), both excellent beers

 

Corona performing terribly was a pleasant surprise, but to see Landshark move on and neither Tecate or Modelo even make it out of the first round raised some eyebrows for me. How was this seeding done? Cheers!

 

The whole style isn't exactly pleasant, needless to say this is one of Paste's worst tasting judgements to date.

 

I actually feel Bohemia is a damn good beer irregardless of circumstances. Never had Famosa before, so I can't comment on the final result.
Of the Mexican lagers I've had, I'd say Bohemia is far and away the best with Negra Modelo 2nd. From there I'd probably go with Dos XX Amber, Tecate, and Modelo Especial. After those you might as well just go domestic and save some $.

 

Was disappointing this wasn't included, always liked the amber compared to the lager especial.

 

Victoria FTW for me

 

Soft, dumb racism. Lumping all Latin American beers together as Mexican.