BeerCast #46 – Mexican Mariachi
Choked by the toffee traffic of a north London Friday evening rush hour, turfed out onto the cold January roadside whilst a passenger had a heart attack and after a soundcheck in which i had to create a drum kit out of left-over bits of guitar amps and beermats. It was with some relief that i sat down in Cambridge’s Chipotle Mexican restraunt to enjoy a well earned lamb fajita. It was perhaps this combination of exhaustion and hunger which led me, in a strange new land to temprailiy forget my non-beer beer drinking ways and order a Negra Modello with my fajita.
How did it go down? … well you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out..
1. Pacifico (4.5%abv)
Pacifico Brewery, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México. 330ml glass bottle
A rather fancy but somewhat obscure website tells us much about the surrounding peninsula where the beer is brewed but nothing about the beer itself. Nevermind, wikipedia tells us that it was first brewed in these parts in 1900 by germans and hence is brewed in the traditional german pilsner style. Cerveza Pacifico Clara is it’s full name (clara means clear, obscura is the dark version). The Pacifico brewery was bought by brewing giant Grupo Modelo in 1954.
What They Say –
“Ever so lightly sweeter beer. No noticeable sourness in taste, acceptable balance and a clean finish, slight lime dryness for aftertaste.” [SamN, ratebeer.com]
What We Say…
Andy – 4.5; Andrew – 4.5; Marc – 4; Francis – 4; Jess – 3; Nick – 3
2. Dos Equis XX Amber (4.5%abv)
Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
The most interesting show in the world says the website. Contortionists, crossbow-weilding lovers, death-defying acrobats, burlesque sirens, and a human slinky are many of the items on the menu.
Sounds exciting, but is the beer?
What They Say –
“Dos Equis Amber is a traditional Vienna style amber lager with a rich, big flavour. Think of it as Lager’s dark moody cousin” [Official Website]
What We Say…
Andy – 7; Marc – 5.5; Francis – 5; Andrew – 5; Nick – 4; Jess – 4
3. Negra Modelo (5.4%abv)
Grupo Modelo, Mexico
Their website says… well, not much really. Perhaps that’s because they spend more time and money on the beer than the website. This is the beer which inspired this podcast, i hope it’s worth it!
What They Say –
“Pours a brownish color, nice carbonation, small white head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some hops, slight caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, malty, slight hop note. Medium body. Slightly drinkable, would not buy again.” [wasatch, beeradvocate]
What We Say…
Andy – 7.5; Francis – 7; Andrew – 6; Marc – 6; Jess – 6; Nick – 5.5
Panellists – (clockwise from top left) Andy&Jess, Marc, Francis, Nick, Andrew
BeerCast panel verdict
Negra Modelo (38/60)
Dos Equis XX Amber (30½/60)
Pacifico (23/60)
We’ll hand back over to the Edinburgh office for the next Podcast.
Till the next time mon amis!
