BajaNomad

Two Baja Craft Beer Brands Now Available in Los Angeles

Gypsy Jan - 11-20-2013 at 10:14 AM

From The LA Weekly: http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/2013/11/baja_craft_beer_l...

By Sarah Bennett

"This past weekend, we here at Squid Ink veered from the usual Los Angeles beer research to take a mini road trip across the border and drink our way through the annual Mexicali Beer Fest.

With an estimated 80-plus breweries -- dozens of which have materialized in the last few years -- the state of Baja is currently the epicenter of Mexico's growing craft beer revolution. Many of these new producers of cerveza artesanal were on display for 10 hours (yes, a 10-hour beer fest -- whew!) last Saturday in the border city's Centro Hist�rico.

More than 2,000 mostly Mexican catadores (tasters) showed up to try everything from black saisons to ESBs from breweries like Agua Mala, Cerveceria Urbana and Border Psycho. But for the small contingent of L.A. beer lovers who had driven down for a chance to drink some fresh suds that will never make it Stateside, one Mexicali brewery held a larger significance than the others.

Cucap� is one of the country's largest craft breweries and recently became the first Mexican craft beer to be exported to the United States. After a year and a half of experimental distribution in San Diego (and even more experimental brewing at its Mexicali facility; they poured a red coffee IPA at the fest), the brand is making a push of its core labels into greater Los Angeles.

Along with Old Mission Brewery in Ensenada -- which is releasing bottles under the name Ensenada Brewing Company to avoid confusion with San Diego's Mission Brewery -- the Mexicali makers of Chupacabras pale ale, Runaway IPA and Obscura brown ale are making their regional debuts this month.

Bottles from Cucap� and Ensenada Brewing are slowly starting to roll out to select accounts throughout L.A. and Orange County and on Saturday, Nov. 16, Angelenos will have the opportunity to try all the offerings from these first two America-bound Baja brands at an open event hosted by the L.A. Beer Bloggers group at Colonia Taco Lounge in La Puente.

With a theme of "The Rise of Craft Beer in Mexico," the casual get-together will feature talks with Cucap� owner Mario Garcia and head brewer Carlos Martinez (who are driving up from Mexicali), as well as insight from reps for Ensenada Brewing Company, whose Horchata Obscura and Red Agave IPA eventually will be on more than 250 SoCal shelves.

Though Ensenada Brewing and Cucap� are only two of Baja California's numerous and varied microcervecerias, the chance to sip on a small slice of Mexico's burgeoning craft beer scene is a surprising treat, even in Latino-infused L.A. And if importers are smart, this month's small arrival of cerveza artesanal will be merely the beginning of a major surge of American-influenced Baja beers to the States."

weebray - 11-20-2013 at 11:03 AM

Heineken group, Modelo group and 0xxo (a venereal disease) have a tight grip on the market here in La Paz. Not likely good beer anytime soon here. There is a small craft brewery here but the product is not very good and IS very expensive. Additionally their popcorn is inedible.

David K - 11-20-2013 at 04:35 PM

A few years ago, at the Baja-by-the Sea event in San Diego:

weebray - 11-20-2013 at 04:39 PM

Oh terrific, I can get good beer in San Diego. Well that just makes my day!

weebray - 11-20-2013 at 04:42 PM

And, by the way, the guy in the photo is NOT a beer drinker, he's an imposter. I offer as proof, his belly, he doesn't have one!

weebray - 11-20-2013 at 04:44 PM

In fact it looks like his belt is LOOSE!!!!!!! Unbelievable on all counts.

David K - 11-20-2013 at 04:50 PM

The Tijuana Brewery used to be sold in Costco... and other dealers and restaurants... They only sold mixed cases, and not everyone likes dark beer or not everyone likes lighter beer... too bad, as they were both good.

At least Pacifico has been established here and it is available everywhere! I can remember when it was a rare thing to see in CA.

weebray - 11-20-2013 at 05:07 PM

One of the most enjoyable first memories of my travels south was my first ice cold ballena as soon as we crossed the border. In those days it was "can't steer without my beer". And while I may be a little less enthusiastic these days it's still a pleasure to sit around the campfire with a cold Pacifico on one side and a warm mujer on the other.

chuckie - 11-20-2013 at 05:24 PM

So? Most of ya all dont need to come to Baja anymore? Its more than the beer...It's like..........well ..........Dennis..............

David K - 11-20-2013 at 05:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chuckie
So? Most of ya all dont need to come to Baja anymore? Its more than the beer...It's like..........well ..........Dennis..............


THE BAJA FEELING !! :light::cool::bounce:



dasubergeek - 11-20-2013 at 06:46 PM

Baja beer tastes better in Baja than it does in La Puente. And I'm including cold cans of Tecate in that statement.

Taste test

bajaguy - 11-20-2013 at 09:10 PM

Buy some Tecate and pacifico here in baja, buy the same beer in the States. Do a side-by-side taste test......there is a difference.
Quote:
Originally posted by dasubergeek
Baja beer tastes better in Baja than it does in La Puente. And I'm including cold cans of Tecate in that statement.

David K - 11-21-2013 at 09:46 AM

Agree, but specially Tecate... I think it might be because the Tecate sold in the US is from their mainland brewery and the Tecate sold in Baja is from Tecate?

Petey - 11-21-2013 at 12:03 PM

Baja Brewing Company's Cabotella will be available in California in a couple of weeks as well.

DENNIS - 11-21-2013 at 12:34 PM

This is going to bring on some butt-ugly advertising campaigns like the one that put Corona with lime on the map.
Jeeezo...these Madison Avenue folks would try to sell chickenchit to a chicken.

CortezBlue - 11-21-2013 at 01:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Buy some Tecate and pacifico here in baja, buy the same beer in the States. Do a side-by-side taste test......there is a difference.



Quote:
Originally posted by dasubergeek
Baja beer tastes better in Baja than it does in La Puente. And I'm including cold cans of Tecate in that statement.


I honestly don't think there is much of a difference between Tecate US or Mex. I drink mainly XX and it seems the same as well.

But not true with tortillas, spoiled by good Mexican tortillas

David K - 11-21-2013 at 02:28 PM

I only stock XX and Pacifico in my U.S. fridge... the same or close enough to their Baja counter-parts.

Baja Craft Beers

bajaguy - 11-21-2013 at 08:54 PM

If you want to sample craft beers from about 40 Baja craft brewers, every March in Ensenada there is a craft beer festival

Hook - 11-21-2013 at 11:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
This is going to bring on some butt-ugly advertising campaigns like the one that put Corona with lime on the map.
Jeeezo...these Madison Avenue folks would try to sell chicken-chit to a chicken.


Well, I really dislike Corona but their on-the-beach ad campaign is very clever. And effective, I suspect. It wouldn't be running this long if it weren't.

As for the lime, well, they had to do something that improved the flavor without costing them anything. And so, they encouraged people to use something that didnt cost the brewer and it mostly covers up the bad taste of Corona. :lol:

[Edited on 11-22-2013 by Hook]

dasubergeek - 11-22-2013 at 10:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
If you want to sample craft beers from about 40 Baja craft brewers, every March in Ensenada there is a craft beer festival


And one in Tijuana in July. You can also go to a craft beer bar, like BCB, Tasca or Beer Box in Tijuana; Cervecer�a Wendlandt in Ensenada; or Cervecer�a del Valle on Hwy. 3 between San Antonio de las Minas and Francisco Zarco.

bajaguy - 11-22-2013 at 11:19 AM

Yes, you can, but don't get as much variety as in the festival. A lot of these craft brewers just sell locally
Quote:
Originally posted by dasubergeek
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
If you want to sample craft beers from about 40 Baja craft brewers, every March in Ensenada there is a craft beer festival


And one in Tijuana in July. You can also go to a craft beer bar, like BCB, Tasca or Beer Box in Tijuana; Cervecer�a Wendlandt in Ensenada; or Cervecer�a del Valle on Hwy. 3 between San Antonio de las Minas and Francisco Zarco.

David K - 11-22-2013 at 11:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
This is going to bring on some butt-ugly advertising campaigns like the one that put Corona with lime on the map.
Jeeezo...these Madison Avenue folks would try to sell chicken-chit to a chicken.


Well, I really dislike Corona but their on-the-beach ad campaign is very clever. And effective, I suspect. It wouldn't be running this long if it weren't.

As for the lime, well, they had to do something that improved the flavor without costing them anything. And so, they encouraged people to use something that didnt cost the brewer and it mostly covers up the bad taste of Corona. :lol:

[Edited on 11-22-2013 by Hook]


My feelings about Corona as well... however, I do like lime on most all my Baja foods and drinks, but not because THEY taste bad, lol! I like cilantro and on most Baja foods too!! I haven't tried it in beer, however! LOL