4 Mexican Craft Beers for Cinco de Mayo

26/04/2016

Cinco De Mayo - The Battle & The Brewery

What is Cinco De Mayo?

Cinco De Mayo (or 5th May) is a big day in Mexico's history for this is the date when the Mexican Army succeeded in the unlikely defeat of the French at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. Whilst not a huge win overall in the Franco Mexican war, Cinco De Mayo represented a significant victory for Mexico and increased confidence.

The date has since become a day for celebrating Mexican culture and heritage and often includes parades, street festivals and mariachi music. Cinco De Mayo celebrations now extend well beyond Mexico’s borders, particularly in the US.

The Battle of Puebla (in a nutshell)

The Battle of Puebla was the result of a series of events following the Mexican Civil war which had put the Mexican economy under threat. In 1861 Mexican President Benito Juárez was forced to suspend payments of foreign debts, a decision that led to the English, Spanish and French invading Mexico, occupying the port of Veracruz.

In 1862 the English and Spanish fleets left Mexico having reached an agreement but the French were not satisfied with the terms and French troops began marching towards Mexico City. Battles ensued as the French took control, forcing the Mexican troops to retreat to the heavily fortified Puebla.

On May 5th 1862 the French army mounted an ill-advised attack on the Mexican army. The Mexicans stood firm as the much larger and well equipped French troops attacked. By the third wave of attacks the French were low on ammunition and the Mexicans were able to retaliate.

The French counted many more losses than the Mexicans and withdrew their army to a safe distance to regroup. The Mexicans stood their ground and the French decided to retreat completely, marking the end of the fighting saga and, against all odds, the Mexicans winning the battle.

The Cinco De Mayo Brewery

The Cinco De Mayo Brewery opened in 2012 in the town of Atlixco de Puebla, an iconic place of both beauty and historic value. The brewery was founded by a group of Mexicans with a great passion for beer.

The high standards of this brewery become clear when you try the highly acclaimed Spiced Blonde Ale, apply named SAGA, after the series of events that occurred leading to the Battle of Puebla on the May 5th,1862. SAGA has a base malt and is spiced with orange peel and coriander. Pouring a beautiful golden colour, this ale is fruity and fresh with citrus notes.

Bring on the fiesta with more Mexican craft beers from Cucapa

Cerveceria de Baja California was one of the first microbreweries in Mexico, starting brewing in 2002 and now running a brewpub in Mexicali city. In 2006 they launched the Cucapa range in honour of the native tribe of the area - Cucapa meaning "people of the water". The water in Baja California is perfect for brewing and adds to the unique quality of their beers. The Cucapa range includes multiple World Beer Championship Gold & Silver Medal Winners, hold 4 out of 5 highest places according to the Beverage Tasting Institute and the micro-brewery was voted in the top 100 in the world in Craft Beer Magazine

The Cucapa beers and branding are based on a blend of Mexican and American cultures that relates to their living on the border with the U.S. They incorporate a mix of both cultures in everything they do, which really shines through in the beers.

With three of their beers available in the UK; Honey Amber Ale, Chupacabras American Pale Ale and Clasica Blonde Ale, it's a great selection of styles under one brand to add to your bar or restaurant listing.

How can you celebrate Cinco De Mayo?

Encourage your customers to try a Mexican craft beer! Tell them about the history of Cinco De Mayo and get into the spirit of this Mexican celebration. Book a Mariachi band, create some Mexican food and beer pairings, throw a street party... whatever you do, just make sure you do it with some excellent Mexican craft beer.