Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. Even if you don’t know that it’s a holiday to celebrate the Mexican army’s defeat of France in the Battle of Puebla, you can still enjoy a Margarita or Paloma and some cheesy, meaty, savory Mexican fare. But no Cinco de Mayo is complete without a Mexican beer or two.
I’ve spent a lot of time writing about (and drinking) beer, and I’ve enjoyed many celebrations of Cinco de Mayo. Regardless of the level of revelry, I always manage to sip a bottle of classic Mexican beer like Corona or Modelo. Now, this brings us to one question that might seem obvious, but still needs addressing: what is a Mexican beer?
What is Mexican beer?
If you envision a Mexican beer to be crisp, refreshing, and crushable, you’re mostly right. A majority of the Mexican beers available in the US are Mexican pale lagers. Another Mexican beer staple is the Vienna lager. You can thank German and Austrian immigrants in the late 1800s for both of these beers,, as these Europeans brought not only their customs and traditions but also their brewing prowess.
For a little background, the Mexican pale lager is the style most closely associated with Mexican beer. It’s the clean, crisp, very light lager most Mexican beer fans know and love. Examples include Corona Extra, Pacifico Clara, and Tecate Original.
The Vienna lager is darker in appearance and maltier in flavor and aroma. Still refreshing, you might drink a Vienna lager on a cooler spring or summer night. Examples include Negra Modelo, Victoria, and Dos Equis Ambar Especial.
Another style is the Munich dunkel, a dark lager that is even darker, maltier, and more robust. This is a great beer to pair with Mexican food and to accompany a backyard campfire.
The best Mexican beers to drink for Cinco de Mayo
Now that you’ve learned a little about the appeal of Mexican beer and its history, it’s time to find some to pair with all of your favorite Cinco de Mayo foods. Luckily for you, there’s a lot to choose from and, regardless of where you live, there are bound to be at least a handful of options at your local beer or grocery store.
How I choose my Mexican beers
Like with most things, when picking Mexican beers for this list (and for my personal drinking), I look for balance, flavor, and value above all else. Also, I want a mix of classic, crushable Mexican pale lagers, richer, maltier Vienna lagers, and malty, nutty Munich dunkel-style dark lagers. It’s always nice to change things up. Below, you’ll find my picks for must-have Mexican beers for Cinco de Mayo. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Pacifico Clara
Beers don’t get much more crushable than Pacifico Clara. If you enjoy crisp, refreshing pilsners, you’ll love this Mexican pale lager. Brewed with barley, hops, and corn, it’s a perfect beer for warm-weather drinking. This 4.4% ABV brew opens with aromas of honey, grass, and corn. The palate continues this trend, emphasizing corn sweetness, honey, freshly cut grass, and gentle citrus. The finish is crisp, thirst-quenching, and leaves you craving more. This no-frills beer pairs well with spicy, savory Mexican fare and good times.
Victoria
Victoria has been brewed in Mexico since 1865. This 4% ABV Vienna-style lager is brewed with simple ingredients like water, barley malt, non-malted cereals, and hops. It pours a deep amber and opens with aromas of caramel, toasted malts, and floral hops. The palate is centered on notes of toasted malts, dried fruits, honey, and gentle hops. The finish is crisp, thirst-quenching, and pleasantly malty. Its darker, maltier flavor profile works well with meaty dishes like carne asada and tacos pastor.
Corona Extra
No Mexican beer list is complete without Corona Extra. It’s brewed simply with water, barley malt, hops, yeast, and corn. The definition of no-frills, Corona Extra begins with a nose of honey, fruit, corn, and herbal, floral hops. Sipping it reveals hints of sweet corn, clover honey, fruit, caramel malts, and floral hops. The finish is crisp, clean, and sublimely refreshing, especially if you add a slice of lime. This is a great beer to pair with any Mexican dish. The spicier the better.
Negra Modelo
If you’re looking for another bolder, maltier brew for Cinco de Mayo, look no further than Negra Modelo. A Munich Dunkel-style dark lager, this 5.4% ABV brew is known for its nose of bready malts, candied nuts, and caramelized sugar. The palate leans heavily into flavors like caramel sweetness, toasted malts, candied nuts, dried fruits, and gently floral, herbal hops. The finish is dry, sweet, and memorable. This beer pairs well with grilled meats like chorizo, carne asada, and spicy fajitas. It’s also a great choice as a respite between crisp pale lagers.
