BajaNomad

New Baja Beer??

Dave - 9-6-2010 at 08:18 PM

The 'other half' went to Trader Joe's yesterday and brought home beer...Cerveza La Playa. At $2.99 a six pack she thought it a terrific bargain. The can says it's brewed in Baja by Cerveceria de la Playa. Doesn't taste like Mexican beer and even by U.S. standards is insipid swill. Anyone know which Mexican beer distillery makes this crap? It appears to be produced solely for the American market as no self-respecting Mexican would drink it.

The question now is whether to hold my nose and drink the other five cans or save it for judgment day. It's against my religion to throw it in the trash.

irenemm - 9-6-2010 at 08:20 PM

No don't toss it out. Use it in a beer batter for fish tacos.

No no!

mcfez - 9-6-2010 at 08:26 PM

Great slug and snail killer..pour into a plate...add salt. They love the beer.

bajamigo - 9-6-2010 at 08:48 PM

It was probably made in China.

tjBill - 9-6-2010 at 11:14 PM

Next time I'm loading up on two buck Chuck, I will get some. Then serve it to my baja friends and get their opinion.

tjBill - 9-7-2010 at 12:44 AM

Looked it up on the web and its made by Cervecerķa Mexicana in Tecate.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/cerveza-la-playa-lager/121203/

hahahahah

capt. mike - 9-7-2010 at 04:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by tjBill
Next time I'm loading up on two buck Chuck, I will get some. Then serve it to my baja friends and get their opinion.


Bill - if you actually stomach the infamous Chuckie wine....you might just like the beer!:lol::lol:

Bob and Susan - 9-7-2010 at 06:00 AM

yea

beer.jpg - 47kB

Santiago - 9-7-2010 at 07:18 AM

At my local Grocery Outlet (a place where groceries go to die) they had Cabana beer for $3.99/6-pack so I got some thinking it was a Mexican beer I hadn't seen before. Turns out to be from El Salvador. asi-asi

Bajahowodd - 9-7-2010 at 11:42 AM

Cerveceria Mexicana makes Mexicali Beer, which their web site says is widely distributed in San Diego, as well as being available in all Mexico Costco stores. They also claim to be a big private label producer, which includes the other Mexican beers at Trader Joe's such as Trader Jose's. Anyone out there ever had Mexicali beer? Oh, they also claim to be the third largest brewery in Mexico.

http://mexicalibeer.com/

Marc - 9-7-2010 at 07:29 PM

Couldn't be any worse than Corona or Pacifico.:barf:

sanquintinsince73 - 9-7-2010 at 08:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tjBill
Looked it up on the web and its made by Cervecerķa Mexicana in Tecate.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/cerveza-la-playa-lager/121203/

Even the paint job on the can looks sub-standard. Probably is made in China. Check for lead before you indulge.

sanquintinsince73 - 9-7-2010 at 08:43 PM

I had Victoria beer a few months ago in TJ. I swear it is the best beer I've ever had. Anyone know where to find it in San Diego??

DENNIS - 9-7-2010 at 08:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Marc
Couldn't be any worse than Corona or Pacifico.:barf:



Hey.....waidaminute. Corona is made in a huge, outside pond with Water Hyacinths floating on top.
Pacifico is Mothers Milk. :biggrin:

torch - 9-7-2010 at 08:52 PM

welcome sanq - sanq in 73 must have been something special. do you have a place there? oh and I've tried the beer and I had a few:):)

Marc - 9-7-2010 at 09:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by Marc
Couldn't be any worse than Corona or Pacifico.:barf:



Hey.....waidaminute. Corona is made in a huge, outside pond with Water Hyacinths floating on top.
Pacifico is Mothers Milk. :biggrin:


Momma don' 'low no beer drinkin' there!:lol:

[Edited on 9-8-2010 by Marc]

sanquintinsince73 - 9-7-2010 at 09:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by torch
welcome sanq - sanq in 73 must have been something special. do you have a place there? oh and I've tried the beer and I had a few:):)

Special indeed. I was 10 and Dad was 50. We would go down from L.A. once a month like clockwork. No electricity but sealife was more abundant and abalone everywhere.

There are several private branded beers...

Mexray - 9-7-2010 at 10:01 PM

...I've seen at places like Big Lots, Trader Joe's, etc...They are all offered in clear bottles that appear similar to Corona, to play of their image, I suppose...

The actual brewery name escapes me, but if you check the bottle and look it up you'll find they 'brew' a dozen or so different 'private' branded beers - if you can call it beer...hog swill is a better description, IMHO...

They all have been offered at 'bargain' prices, and the ones I've tried are ROT GUT!!!!...IMHO, Corona is mighty close to ROT GUT, as well!

If it's offered in a clear bottle - avoid it like the plague, IMHO...

Ray

briantroy - 9-7-2010 at 10:39 PM

Never heard or had a Victoria until a trip near Colonet a few years ago. Only available in ballenas/caguama (940 ml) where I was, but I found it an above average Mexican beer. Saw it recently at a place in downtown San Diego but that is the only place I have seen it north of Ensenada. Most Mexican lagers, in my opinion, tastes about the same (Tecate on the low end and Pacifico on the higher end). But, Victoria is actually considered a Vienna lager and has a distinct depth of flavor.

I never really understood why Mexico hasn't brached out in terms of brewing, until I heard a recent report on NPR and learned about the stronghold the major breweries have on the market. Here is a related story:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jun/22/mexicali-craf...

There are plenty of good brews in Mexico, especially lagers, but lack of variety in the darker beers and more complex varieties (Negro Modelo, etc) may be due to lack of malting facilities. I would love to see that change as Mexicans enjoy beer as much as anyone on earth!

David K - 9-7-2010 at 11:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by briantroy
Never heard or had a Victoria until a trip near Colonet a few years ago. Only available in ballenas/caguama (940 ml) where I was, but I found it an above average Mexican beer. Saw it recently at a place in downtown San Diego but that is the only place I have seen it north of Ensenada. Most Mexican lagers, in my opinion, tastes about the same (Tecate on the low end and Pacifico on the higher end). But, Victoria is actually considered a Vienna lager and has a distinct depth of flavor.
...


Enjoyed Victoria at Ed's Baja's Best Restaurant in El Rosario!

edit: fyi, Baja Angel tried the new Pacifico Light... and it was about as light as water... avoid!



[Edited on 9-8-2010 by David K]

tjBill - 9-7-2010 at 11:54 PM

Victoria was popular when I was in Mexico City. Told it was the beer of the proletariat.

Have not seen too much of it in Baja Norte.

sanquintinsince73 - 9-8-2010 at 01:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tjBill
Victoria was popular when I was in Mexico City. Told it was the beer of the proletariat.

Have not seen too much of it in Baja Norte.

When I had about 3 or 12 bottles a few months ago, I was told it was fairly new to Baja. I loved the subtle bitterness.

sanquintinsince73 - 9-8-2010 at 01:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by briantroy
Never heard or had a Victoria until a trip near Colonet a few years ago. Only available in ballenas/caguama (940 ml) where I was, but I found it an above average Mexican beer. Saw it recently at a place in downtown San Diego but that is the only place I have seen it north of Ensenada. Most Mexican lagers, in my opinion, tastes about the same (Tecate on the low end and Pacifico on the higher end). But, Victoria is actually considered a Vienna lager and has a distinct depth of flavor.
...


Enjoyed Victoria at Ed's Baja's Best Restaurant in El Rosario!

edit: fyi, Baja Angel tried the new Pacifico Light... and it was about as light as water... avoid!



[Edited on 9-8-2010 by David K]

You are making me homesick for Baja, DK.....I'll take the one on the right.

David K - 9-8-2010 at 02:18 PM

I have had it before in various Baja locals, just not as common a sight as Tecate, Pacifico, Corona (yech), or XX. I always order Victoria when I do have the rare opportunity to enjoy it.

Cyanide41 - 9-9-2010 at 09:19 AM

The worst beer ever had to be Sol Cero. Sol is not a great beer to begin with but this was a non-alcoholic version. It was picked up by accident once in San Felipe.

David K - 9-9-2010 at 09:35 AM

The Sol con limon y sal is to gag for! Poor hbmurphy on his first Baja trip with us picked up a sixer of it in El Rosario... The rest of us had Tecate and enlightened him how the locals must really like a lot of salt in their beer, otherwise that would surely be off the market by now! Regular Sol is good, for a light beer (not lite beer), but it is in a clear bottle (like Corona), so I usually go for Pacifico or XX!:light::cool:

[Edited on 9-9-2010 by David K]