Mexican Cerveza

[Fadeux]

The lime is another US thing. You never see anyone in Mexico with a lime wedge on the bottle.

And yeah, while not being a great beer, Sol is far better than corona. That's my goto beer when I'm out and I know I'm gonna be drinking more than usual, tomorrow being one of those days (business xmas party)!!!!

Not true, the lime thing actually came from mexico, but the reason they use it is to keep the bugs out of the bottle on its long walk out to your beach towel.

But yes, it is an American thing, I've bartended for quite a while, and people just expect mexican beer to be served with lime. Even ***** Modelo, people expect a lime. I always look at them crosseyed. Then bud came out with bud lime, and landshark. It's just another mental virus that americans love to spread.

 

[Christian]

I wont touch Corona, it's nasty. My favorites from south of the border are Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo and Pacifico

 

[jkarp]

Ashamed to say, I like Corona. With or w/o lime. It's a guilty pleasure.

 

[Terry08]

Well since starting this thread the Coopers Cerveza I have brewed has now been in the secondary for nearly 2 weeks and on tasting it I am quite pleased with the result. I do not know what goes in it but there was quite a bit more spent yeast at the bottom of the fermentor than I am used to.

It appears to be a very light beer with just a hint of bitterness and slight sweetness. I never liked lime with any Lager type.

I think that this will be a hit with the ladies on a hot day served up at about 2 deg c in a frosted thin Champagne flute.
I am sorry it will not be ready untill mid January next year. Still it is usually in the high 30's most of the time so a light beer is all you are after in those conditions.

I have never been to Mexico. My brother has and he said the beer was served too warm (Over 5 deg c) and the local brew he tried was far below Aussie standards.

He knows his beer. He was in Vietnam and told me he shared many a beer with an American patrol team he found himself assigned to. He reckoned it was a good drop they got their hands on and there was plenty of it. The Australian troups where not looked after as well so sought out some of their American mates to look after them.

Several years ago I met some crew off a big American Battle ship that visited and was in Sydney Harbour. They where the first Americans I had met and I was very impressed with their manners, My wife was also pleased when they addressed her so nicely. They where seaman and in uniform and I suppose on there best behaviour but they certainly did their country proud and impressed the people in the small sports club they came to have a drink in.

So that is the impression I have of you Yanks. I guess we Australians consider you all to be our big brothers.

 

[Terry08]

Well it is now just over 2 weeks in the bottle and I tried one today after 1 day in the fridge. It has not fully carbed but the taste is great. It seems to carb a lot slower that Draught's I make. Looks like another two weeks till the next try.

Just as well I have stock

 

[kornbread]

You should try one of yours side by side with a Carona to see how they compare and let us know the results.

 

[Terry08]

What me buy a beer?. Why do you think I make my own.

Actually I did have one a week ago, so cold it was hard to establish the correct taste. I did not mind it but from memory it did not have as full a flavour. Quite refreshing on the day, temp 35c.

I have 2 litres in a water sprayer that I am experimenting with that is building up pressure but I did over carb by about 10%.

Interesting thing is the small amount I tried, out of that sprayer, came out as foam and stayed clung to the glass.

Note to self stick nozzle into a poured beer and add a head. Ahh! I'm good, any excuse to have another beer.

This must be why beer poured from a tap frothes better, must be the nitrogen introduced from the air via venturie effect.

You have heard it here but it may be a way to put a head on a good beer that looses one fast, One of my problems using can kits. The beer comes out great but any type of beer other than the dark types tend to be well carbed but with minimum head retention.

You know the steamer that frothes milk only to make a Cupachino.

I aplologise for jumping subject but I like to add things I wish to try as well as take up any suggestions given to me. No I will not jump off the harbour bridge, I'm scared of heights.

 

[Terry08]

kornbread asked

You should try one of yours side by side with a Carona to see how they compare and let us know the results.

Well I was pleasently surprised. I found both Corona and my Ceveza both have a distinctive taste. For a hot country and temperatures last week touched 42c in the shade out west of Sydney where I live. So a light ice cold beer is very refreshing. served 2 to 3c.

Sorry Corona and the makers, Coopers does a better job. Better rounded taste and my beer has only been in the bottle for 3 weeks. 30 bottles have been put aside to age. Wouldent add lime though. There was a fad to have Lager and lime at one time. It did not move me.

Last comment Corona is a pleasent refreshing clean tasting beer and it or its type is a great addition to anyones celler. I do not understand why so many here seem to bag it. It is not a beer for cold countries where a slightly more robust beer is the go.

My taste varies with the seasons. Mid winter, ours not yours I prefer a good red merlot preferable Margaret River (Western Australia) Best wine growing area in the world. We sell more wine to Europe than we import.

Still that's my spin. I do not expect it to reflect the views of others

 

[user 30639]

Is Corona really a yuppie beer?

Terry, nice to see that it came out alright. I've been thinking of making a cerveza and having it ready for the summer.

 

[bkov]

its been awhile since ive read through this thread but is this the kit you used?
Mexican Style Cerveza 20 minute boil kit :: Midwest Supplies Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies

 

[bkov]

and is yours very similar to corona? or just a good beer?

what yeast did you use? did you add the 2pounds sugar like those kits say?

 

[Terry08]

The kit and yeast is part of a Coopers kit available in supermarkets in Australia. I add 1 kg of Dextrose to bring the Alcohol to 4.5%. I used to add the Kilo (2lb) of sugar but found that sometimes imparted a slight citrus flavour.

I prime with a measured amount of sugar in the bottle. I generally use the 750ml (Long Necks).

The taste is very simular although I prefered my brew. Maybe it is due to the fact that I have aquired a taste for my homebrew types and it has adusted my pallet.

As I said it is a very nice summer drink. I had one last night after a fairly hot day 32c served a tad over freezing. I guess that affects taste a bit. In winter beer has more flavour as I drink it warmer. I take the beer out of the fridge for a while to warm up.

In conclusion as I said before. I am suprised that the style gets bagged as it too has its place and if there are any Mexicans out there, this is one Aussie who now reckons your beer style is very drinkable, I am glad of the experiance.

 

[bull8042]

.......
In conclusion as I said before. I am suprised that the style gets bagged as it too has its place and if there are any Mexicans out there, this is one Aussie who now reckons your beer style is very drinkable, I am glad of the experiance.

I happen to really like some of the Mexican beers as well, so you are not alone.
And to those who claim that lime in beer is not a "Mexican thing", wrong. Perhaps you just haven't been to parts of Mexico away from the tourist areas.....

 

[keelanfish]

I like Mexican beers as well. Favorites are Pacifico and Negra Modelo. I've searched through the forums looking for recipes and am a little disheartened at the lack of information. Anyone got a good Vienna Lager recipe similar to Negra Modelo?

 

[imabulldogg]

IMHO Pacifico and Modelo are the best; and the best thing if you are a bottler like me, the pacificos are great bottles to re-use.

Corona is for those who do not know that Mexicans make good beer. Yuppie-scum

 

[keelanfish]

Found this article today on Mexican Lagers. I think I might give the recipe a try and have it ready for Cinco de Mayo.

How to make Mexican Lagers - Beer, Wine, Homebrew, and Everything Fermentable! - fermentarium.com

 

[bull8042]

Found this article today on Mexican Lagers. I think I might give the recipe a try and have it ready for Cinco de Mayo.

How to make Mexican Lagers - Beer, Wine, Homebrew, and Everything Fermentable! - fermentarium.com

That looks enticing. Let us know how it goes..... I have to see if I can get my fermentation chiller down to lager temps before I try it.

 

[jkwest]

The Lime wedge IN the beer is an American thing..the lime circle on top of the bottle is a Mexican thing...keeps the fly's off of your bottle...


and, I tell you what...nothing beats a 6er of Coronas when your out mowing the back 5 acres...

 

[Terry08]

Flys in Mexico. The same problem as in Australia but the problem is abating due to introduced African "Dung" beetles to cover the sheep and cattle droppings. It is working slowly and unless strong wind force the flys towards the cities there is not much of a problem. Anyway flyscreens and chemical warfare works.

My wife goes off her trolley if a fly gets in the house and its eradication becomes paramount.

Clubs and bars have fly zappers that keep flys controlled if they get in. Most only have draft beer a common type is Carlton Cold usually by stubbie not tap.

Ahh! thought I would share

 

[ewbish]

Hahaha, the corona jokes are endless. Corona though is more of a "mainland" beer, far more popular in Sonora and elsewhere in mainland mexico than on the baja peninsula.......which seems to be owned by Tecate.

Every podunk taco stand down mex 1 from Ensenada to Cabo sells tecate. You can get tecate in cans, bottles, .5 liter cans, 1 liter cans, .5 liter bottles, 1 liter bottles, and in a friggin' bucket if you ask for it. Corona is a rarity, all the clubs have it, and the motels, and most gas stations.

It's easier to buy tecate than water or gatorade in baja. The 2nd most prevalent drink seems to be Monster energy drinks;-)

Here's me and a buddy in a little town in Baja on one of our rides (the red 450X is mine). This corona shop only sold tecate. I should make this pic my avatar.

 

[ewbish]

Huh, can't get it to show up as an avatar.

 

[cell]

Me too, I brewed a can of Cooper cerveza. That's roughly 1 year ago and I still have 20 bottles. I brewed using DME instead of sugar. However, nobody likes that kind of beer so I'm stuck drinking it alone... well I kind of boiled the whole thing when I wasn't suppose to... still drinkable, but you have to be drunk first!

 

[harrydrez]

Heeeeeey, don't you dare saying Corona isn't that good of a beer.
I'm Mexican and I know what I'm talking about........................it's not that good of a beer, it is a piece of crap beer!!!!!

Seriously, i have no idea why Corona is so popular in the US. Here in Mexico it's popular because is the cheapest sh*t you can find. There are better (not great, just better) beers in Mexico besides Corona. I'll take and Indio or XX Ambar anytime!

It's popular because it's advertised, hard. Just like bud, miller, and coors. ****ty beer that has a multi-billion dollar advertising budget.

 

[loge]

hi all new here and new to brewing ive just purchased a coopers mexican cerveza kit also a 1kg bag of muntons enhancer as the shop didnt stock coopers enhancer 2 will this do the same? could any 1 help me out here on how to brew it ive also heard that the yeast in the kit isnt no good but heard saflager 23 is the 1 to use is this correct?please could any 1 give me some tips on how to brew this kit thanks regards mick.

 

[camiller]

hi all new here and new to brewing ive just purchased a coopers mexican cerveza kit also a 1kg bag of muntons enhancer as the shop didnt stock coopers enhancer 2 will this do the same? could any 1 help me out here on how to brew it ive also heard that the yeast in the kit isnt no good but heard saflager 23 is the 1 to use is this correct?please could any 1 give me some tips on how to brew this kit thanks regards mick.

If you don't actually have the ability to maintain proper lagering temperatures for fermentation switching to a lager yeast probably won't make the beer any better.

If you read Terry's posts earlier in the thread I think he was quite pleased with the results by simply following the directions and using the yeast packaged under the cap. If your kit isn't too old (see the best by date on bottom of can) the yeast should be fine. The Coopers Ale yeast is fairly flavor neutral and is the same as that used in their commercial breweries.

Since the actual makeup of the "enhancer" from either company is not public I can't say for sure what perceptible difference if any might arise from using Muntons vs. Coopers. Both are a mixture of dextrose and dry malt with no indication of the proportion of each. I'd just go with what you have.

Personally I think anyone brewing from a kit should follow the directions as closely as possible the first time at least, then based on that initial result decide how you might like to modify the process/ingredients to make the beer distinctly your own. If you make this beer again you might try using just dry malt instead of the enhancer (or just dextrose) if for no other reason than to learn how the beer changes when you substitute ingredients.

Best of luck.

 

[rico567]

Heeeeeey, don't you dare saying Corona isn't that good of a beer.
I'm Mexican and I know what I'm talking about........................it's not that good of a beer, it is a piece of crap beer!!!!!

Seriously, i have no idea why Corona is so popular in the US. Here in Mexico it's popular because is the cheapest sh*t you can find. There are better (not great, just better) beers in Mexico besides Corona. I'll take and Indio or XX Ambar anytime!

Yes. And para mi, if I want a lighter Mexican beer I'll drink Pacifico, and I like Negra Modelo for dark.