If you’re looking for the perfect beer to beat the heat, look no further than the Mexican Lager. Forget those generic party drinks; we’re diving into crafting a truly exceptional version of this increasingly popular style. Many might associate Mexican Lager with a certain clear bottle and a lime, but craft brewers have revolutionized this beer, creating incredibly flavorful and nuanced brews. It’s time to explore how you can brew the Best Mexican Lager right in your own home.
Understanding the Mexican Lager Style
While not strictly defined as an official beer style in guides like the BJCP or BA Style Guidelines, the modern Mexican Lager has emerged as a distinct and beloved category. Generally, these are pale lagers, though variations can lean towards Vienna lager or even dunkel in color. The flavor profile is typically subtle and balanced. Expect light honey or grainy malt notes, possibly a hint of corn-like sweetness (either from DMS or flaked maize), low bitterness (IBUs), and minimal hop flavor or aroma. Even darker renditions prioritize color over rich caramel or roasted flavors. A hallmark of the best Mexican Lager is its light body, brilliant clarity (achieved through filtering, fining, or patient aging), and refreshing character – perfect for sunny days and warm weather enjoyment.
Key Ingredients for the Best Mexican Lager
This recipe leans slightly towards a richer profile than some “classic” Mexican Lagers but still remains firmly in the pale spectrum, aiming for a pleasing light gold hue. It’s inspired by a clone of Flying Dog’s Numero Uno, enhanced with a few key modifications for an even better result.
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Grains:
- 6 lbs (2.7 kg) of Maris Otter: Forms the backbone of the malt profile, providing a clean, slightly biscuity base.
- 3 lbs (1.4 kg) of Flaked Maize: This is crucial for that authentic Mexican Lager character, lending a gentle grainy sweetness and a subtle corn tortilla-like flavor.
- 4 oz (113 g) of Munich Malt: Adds a touch of breadiness and depth to the malt complexity, preventing the beer from becoming too thin. For a lighter body, you can substitute 1 lb (454 g) of Maris Otter with Pilsner malt, but keep the Munich for flavor richness.
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Hops:
- A small amount of any hop variety at the start of the boil to achieve approximately 12 IBUs for foundational bitterness.
- 1 oz (28 g) of Motueka Hops (5 minutes before end of boil): This is the secret ingredient to elevate your Mexican Lager to the best! Motueka hops impart a wonderful lemon-lime citrus aroma and flavor, mimicking the lime often associated with Mexican Lagers but in a more refined and integrated way. This late addition contributes a few more IBUs (aiming for 15-20 total) and avoids the potential harshness or pithy flavors of actual lime or lime peel additions.
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Yeast:
- Option 1: Wyeast 2278 (Czech Pils) or White Labs WLP001/Wyeast 1056 (American Ale): While White Labs offers a dedicated Mexican Lager yeast (WLP940), it’s known for producing diacetyl, which is undesirable in this style. Wyeast 2278 or WLP001/Wyeast 1056 are excellent alternatives. They ferment cleanly and brightly, delivering the crispness essential for the best Mexican Lager. Fermenting at the suggested temperature minimizes ester production even with ale yeast.
Brewing Process for the Best Mexican Lager
The brewing process for this Mexican Lager is straightforward, making it accessible for homebrewers of all levels.
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Mash & Boil: Standard mashing and boiling procedures apply. Flaked maize doesn’t require special handling. Adding kettle finings (like Whirlfloc, Protafloc, or Irish moss) towards the end of the boil is recommended to enhance clarity in the final beer.
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Fermentation: Lager fermentation requires cooler temperatures. For this recipe, start fermentation at 56°F (13°C) for the first week after fermentation signs are visible. Then, allow the temperature to rise to around 70°F (21°C) to ensure complete attenuation.
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Cold Crashing & Packaging: After fermentation is complete, cold crash the beer to further improve clarity. Package and carbonate to approximately 2.0 volumes of CO2. Avoid over-carbonating, as it can make the beer feel too heavy. Lager the beer cold for at least six weeks to allow flavors to fully develop and smooth out.
Enjoying Your Homebrewed Mexican Lager
Brewing this best Mexican Lager recipe now means you’ll have a fantastic and refreshing beer ready just in time for the hottest part of summer. Its clean, crisp flavor and subtle citrus notes make it the ideal companion for warm weather and outdoor gatherings. Skip the lime wedge and savor the nuanced flavors of your expertly crafted Mexican Lager. You’ll find this homebrew is far superior to any mass-produced version and truly embodies the best of the Mexican Lager style.
