Episode 354 - American-Made Mexican-Style Lagers

Explicit content warning

11/18/20 • 76 min

We’re on flavor sabbatical for a week, so we’re looking around for minor trends to cover that we haven’t properly explored. As a twist on the traditional German lager, Mexican-Style lagers usually use maize or corn as part of the grain bill, but we find that no two American-made takes on this style are the same. (Thankfully!) There’s also an ongoing game involving America’s most prominent mutation of Mexican culture: Taco Bell. We also try and solve a nice balloon mystery, get hoisted by our own stupid petards, develop exciting new bar games, and gush over our new obsession - The Bell Beefer.

Beers Reviewed

Buckledown Brewing - Cactus Pants

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Mexico Calling

Crane Brewing Company - Odd Bird

21st Amendment Brewery - El Sully

On Tour Brewing Company - Cities

Beers Reviewed

Buckledown Brewing - Cactus Pants

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Mexico Calling

Crane Brewing Company - Odd Bird

21st Amendment Brewery - El Sully

On Tour Brewing Company - Cities

Previous Episode

Episode 353 - Cruz Blanca Luchadors 2020

For a few years running, Cruz Blanca’s Luchador series has been perhaps the most inspired and creative lineup of the holy trinity of Chicago barrel-aged beer special releases. We get a mouthful on this episode, as we drink through all eight of these big and burly beers aged in a seemingly endless number of different barrels. And it’s only half stouts; find out what kind of magic Cruz gets up to with Imperial Blonde Ales and Imperial Rice Ales. In addition to our complete remote tasting (with head brewer Jacob Sembrano giving us frequent text updates), we talk about the new life philosophy to help endure the rest of the year, our desire for some dry-bushed beers, and why we might be bailing on barrel-aged December prematurely. Suizo!

Beers Reviewed

El PopStar (Imperial rice ale aged in American whiskey finished Spanish sherry barrels)

Tigre Blanco (Imperial rice ale aged in Italian muscatel barrels with white vermouth botanicals)

Coco Fantasma (Imperial blonde ale aged in bourbon, rum, and rye whiskey barrels with chocolate, coconut, and almond)

Loco Dinero (Imperial blonde ale aged in bourbon, rum, and rye whiskey barrels with Sparrow Coffee)

Rey Gordo (Imperial stout aged in 11 year Bardstown bourbon barrels)

Rey Cuvee (2017 + 2018 + 2019 Rey Gordo blended and barrel-aged in American whiskey finished Spanish sherry barrels)

Senior Bandito (Imperial stout aged in rye whiskey barrels with sweet cherry, cinnamon, and spices)

Tarzan Boy (Imperial stout aged in South American rum barrels with banana, Oaxacan coffee, piloncillo, and vanilla)

Next Episode

Episode 355 - Triple IPAs

Once more of a niche taproom-only style, the Triple IPA has become a more common sight on the shelves thanks to craft beer customers who never say no to more. Hazy or not, these five beers are aiming for the target between too sweet or too strong, and a few veer a bit off course. But they’re still fun to drink, and we find ourselves in mid-show form pretty early on. Also, we are looking to improve our specialized email closings, attempting to decode the Enigma, addressing the butt chugging critics, and getting absolutely riled up over potato pancakes. Stream ya later!

Beers Reviewed

Hop Butcher for the World - Brain Forest

Old Irving Brewing - E.Nigma

Double Nickel Brewing Company - Family Style

Untitled Art - Hazier TIPA

Hailstorm Brewing Co. - Dominatrix